Radio Maria, the prominent Catholic radio station, found its operations severely hampered after its bank accounts were frozen and its legal status revoked this past April. The station, which has been a beacon of Catholic evangelization for more than 40 years, no longer had access to its funds at the Nicaraguan Banco de la Producción, causing a significant disruption in its operations.
The crisis began on April 13, when Radio Maria announced that its accounts had been frozen without prior justification. Róger Munguía, the station’s general coordinator, initially called the block “unjustified.” The bank later cited a lack of up-to-date documentation as the reason for the freeze. Despite these challenges, Radio Maria remained hopeful and expressed confidence in its ability to continue its mission of evangelization.
The situation took a turn for the worse on July 9, when the Nicaraguan government officially revoked Radio Maria’s legal status.
This drastic action, reported by different local independent websites and Vatican News, effectively removes the station from the airwaves. Interior Minister María Amelia Coronel authorized the dissolution of Radio Maria, along with 12 other organizations, and published the decree in the official government newspaper, La Gaceta de Nicaragua.
Leaving a void
The government justified the closure by claiming that Radio Maria had failed to prepare a budget for the 2019-2023 period and that its board of directors had expired on November 8, 2021.
The station had already decided to reduce its broadcasting hours from 24 to 14 hours a day – a move forced by the financial constraints resulting from frozen accounts.
The impact of this closure is profound. For decades, Radio Maria has been a vital source of spiritual guidance and community for many Nicaraguans, offering programs that fostered faith and provided education and spiritual comfort to its listeners. Its absence leaves a significant void in the country’s religious and cultural landscape.
The crackdown on Radio Maria is part of a broader trend of increasing restrictions on media and nongovernmental organizations in Nicaragua, compounding concerns about the erosion of civil liberties and freedom of expression under the current regime.
The closure of Radio Maria is a poignant reminder of the ongoing struggles of religious and media organizations in regions experiencing political and social turmoil. The global Catholic community watches with hope and solidarity, praying for a resolution that will allow Radio Maria to resume its mission.
