text: The Bishops’ Conference of Scotland has issued the following statement on the situation in Nicaragua:
  “Alarmed by the increased persecution of the Catholic Church in Nicaragua, following the arrest and detention without trial of clergy and the summary closure of eight radio and television stations run by the Catholic Church, the Bishops’ of Scotland express their solidarity with the Bishops’ Conference of Nicaragua.
  We urge the government of Nicaragua to enter into a respectful dialogue with the church.
  “We offer the promise of our prayers for a just resolution to the current situation, which will allow the people of Nicaragua to enjoy such fundamental rights as freedom of speech and freedom of religion and permit them to worship, pray and manifest their faith freely.
  “We urge the government of Nicaragua to enter into a respectful dialogue with the church in the hope that both church and state may coexist peacefully. We pray too that good relations between the Holy See and Nicaragua will soon be restored.”
  The statement follows the sentencing of Bishop Rolando José Álvarez Lagos of Matagalpa to more than 26 years in prison during a court hearing in Managua on Friday.