Nicaragua
516. Memorandum of Conversation
Political Officer Cheek met with Archbishop Obando y Bravo to discuss the political role of the Church and increased confrontation with the state. Obando y Bravo indicated that the Church had an obligation to fight injustice and other evils, and criticized the Government of Nicaragua for acts of violence against the population.
Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1970–73, POL 15–7 NIC. Confidential. The meeting took place in the Archbishop’s office. It was transmitted to the Department as an Enclosure to Airgram A–104 from Managua, November 3, which is published as Document 517.
517. Airgram A–104 From the Embassy in Nicaragua to the Department of State
The Embassy reported on trends in Church-State relations during 1972, which began to deteriorate with a May pastoral letter criticizing the Nicaraguan Government and calling for change.
Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1970–73, POL 15–7 NIC. Confidential. Repeated to Guatemala City, San Salvador, San José, Tegucigalpa, and USCINCSO for POLAD. Drafted and approved by Cheek; cleared by Warner. Stamped notations on the Airgram indicate that it was received at the Department of State at 3:28 p.m. on November 6, the Bureau of Inter-American Affairs on November 8, and the RS/AN Analysis Branch. Attached and published as Document 516 is a memorandum of conversation between Political Officer Cheek and Archbishop Obando y Bravo.