The bank accounts of several Catholic priests and dioceses in Nicaragua have been forcibly frozen by communist dictator Daniel Ortega.

Martha Patricia Molina, a Nicaraguan lawyer and researcher, says the bank freeze represents "one more arbitrary action of the dictatorship against the Nicaraguan Catholic Church."

"It's something that is going to be common for more priests and even laypeople," Molina added in a statement.

Since the bank freezes were implemented, Nicaraguan police have reportedly begun investigating the priests and dioceses in question for alleged money laundering.

"Although they were not charged at the time their accounts were frozen, the priests are being investigated and possibly in the future they will be charged with the crime of money laundering, which is what the police are investigating at this time," Molina said.

UN group says Ortega regime guilty of "crimes against humanity"

This "attempt to cripple the Catholic Church," as LifeSiteNews describes the situation, includes the frozen bank account of the Diocese of Estelí, managed by Bishop Rolando Álvarez Lagos of Matagalpa, who was condemned to 26 years in prison on charges of being "a traitor to the country."

Álvarez's' alleged crimes involve "undermining national security and sovereignty, spreading fake news through information technology, obstructing an official in the performance of his duties," as well as "aggravated disobedience or contempt of authority."