THOUSANDS OF FAITH LEADERS RAN FOR OFFICE IN BRAZIL
BY RAPHAEL TSAVKKO GARCIA
NOV 20, 2020
Nearly 13,000 candidates with religious titles ran for office in Brazil's Nov. 15 local elections – an increase of 24 percent compared to previous municipal elections. However, the total number of religious leaders who ran for office is even greater, given that not all elected candidates and politicians use a clear religious title.
Religion has always played an important role in Brazilian politics, including the formation of a powerful group in the National Congress known as Bancada Evangélica (Evangelical Caucus, officially the Evangelical Parliamentary Front), formed in 2004 but active at least since 1987. And today, the far-right government of President Jair Bolsonaro is heavily supported by religious leaders associated with the Bancada Evangélica.
With 203 members, the Bancada Evangélica seeks to expand its conservative agenda throughout the country. The group has members from several political parties – even a few members of traditional left-wing parties. If the Bancada Evangélica were classified as an official party, it would be the largest in the Brazilian legislature.
Brazil’s historical ascension of religion in politics
Silas Fiorotti, a doctor of anthropology at the University of São Paulo, coordinates the Religious Diversity in the Classroom project – a progressive initiative that promotes discussion of religious freedom and tolerance in classrooms across Brazil. He told Sojourners that evangelicals have become a dominant force in Brazilian politics. “Over the past two decades, the evangelicals have perfected their work in party politics: They have largely adopted the strategy of bargaining, they have increased their presence in the leadership of political parties; they have negotiated positions, debt forgiveness of the churches, and ownership of TV channels with the federal government; they have benefited from funding for electoral campaigns; and they have turned the evangelical churches into the main electoral corrals.”
More:
https://sojo.net/articles/thousands-faith-leaders-ran-office-brazil
More than a little creepy. Uncivilized, taking advantage of ignorant people.