Nicaragua Expels a Dozen Priests, Sends Them to Vatican

Nicaragua has expelled a dozen priests held as political prisoners as the increasingly tyrannical regime continues sending clergy into exile and cracking down on the Catholic Church. The 12 priests boarded a flight for Rome Oct. 18 after an agreement for their release was reached between Nicaragua and the Vatican, according to a statement from the Nicaraguan government. The priests “will be received by the Vatican Secretary of State,” according to the statement, which called the process “an effort to preserve peace and support the Catholic community.”