Brazil: Bishops urge politicians not to exploit religion to win votes

Our Lady of Aparecida. Image Primopiano

Source: CNBB/Fides

Brazil's Catholic bishops have appealed for politicians not to exploit religion to win votes. In an official statement released on 11 October, the President of the Brazilian Bishops' Conference (CNBB) said: "We regret that in the current election campaign, faith and religion are increasingly being used as a means of winning votes in the second round."

Parliamentary and presidential elections were held in Brazil on 2 October, during which the country's 27 governors were elected. But the main focus of the highly polarized election campaign was the election of the new president.

Among the 12 candidates, the favourites were outgoing President Jair Bolsonaro of the extreme right and Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, known to all as "Lula", for decades the leader of the left, who served as President from 2003 to 2011.

Neither candidate managed to get 50% of the votes needed to win the first round: Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva received 48.43% of the votes and Jair Bolsonaro 43.20%. According to the electoral rules, therefore, the second round will be held on 30 October.

"In particular, religious arguments must not be used by the candidates when they talk about their electoral programs and other topics related to the elections," emphasized the Bishops' Conference of Brazil in its statement. "Religious manipulations always distort the very values of the Gospel and distract from the real issues that need to be discussed and addressed in our Brazil," the bishops said.

The final part of the text affirms that "the Bishops' Conference strongly condemns the exploitation of religion by all candidates in the election campaign". The bishops therefore urge all citizens "to take this moment as an opportunity to reflect and launch initiatives that focus on the dignity of the human person and the search for a more just, fraternal and united country".

Archbishop Orlando Brandes of Aparecida expressed his views today, 12 October, the feast of Our Lady of Aparecida, Queen and Patroness of Brazil, which takes place in the Marian Shrine of Aparecida and is attended by thousands of faithful who worship the Blessed Mother there.

The Archbishop commented in particular on the announced visit of the outgoing President of the Republic Jair Bolsonaro. According to the statement, as in previous years, the shrine will allow for the visit of the incumbent head of state while trying to ensure the usual visit of pilgrims.

However, the statement also clarifies that Jair Bolsonaro's participation in the rosary prayer that will take place in the city of Aparecida, is not part of the official celebrations organized under the supervision of the Archbishop of Aparecida.

"The initiative comes from an independent group unrelated to the national shrine and the official program for the day," the statement says.