the U.S. Congress to provide them with military aid. This set the stage for a sharp confrontation between Obando and the Sandinista government. The Sandinistas, who already in July 1984 had expelled ten foreign priests (who had expressed solidarity with another religious figure who had been accused of being a contrarevolutionary), responded by rebuking Obando repeatedly in public forums. Despite the popular support the Sandinistas enjoyed at the time, this episode certainly damaged that support, as Obando was (as reported by journalist Stephen Kinzer) enduringly popular among Christian Nicaraguans. Volte-face and Support for Daniel Ortega In 2004 Obando suddenly and unexpectedly announced reconciliation with Daniel Ortega in a deal which offered support for the FSLN in return for Ortega's acquiescence to extending the ban on abortion to all cases, as the then government subsequently legislated, and for not pushing for corruption charges against Obando's protege Roberto Rivas (who was subsequently appointed head of the Supreme Electoral Council). Obando continued to support Ortega in the 2006 and 2011 presidential elections, despite increasing claims by opposition figures that Ortega had manipulated the electoral system (with the help of Rivas). Obando also presided over the 2005 marriage of Ortega and Rosario Murillo See also The Catholic Church and the Nicaraguan Revolution References Additional sources External links Catholic-hierarchy.org 1926 births 2018 deaths People from Chontales Department Nicaraguan cardinals Salesian cardinals Salesians of Don Bosco Nicaraguan anti-communists Cardinals created by Pope John Paul II Grand Crosses with Star and Sash of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany Roman Catholic bishops of Matagalpa Roman Catholic archbishops of Managua Nicaraguan Roman Catholic bishops