Brazilian Bishops Sign Letter Criticizing Bolsonaro Government

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – A group of 152 Catholic Church archbishops and bishops signed a letter with harsh criticism of President Jair Bolsonaro. In the document, the clerics mention that the federal government demonstrates “omission, apathy, and rejection for the most impoverished,” as well as “inability to tackle crises”.

“The contempt for education, culture, health, and diplomacy also astounds us.”

Throughout the text, the bishops state that the situation “is visible in the anger displayed toward public education; in the call for obscurantist views; in choosing education as an enemy and in the repeated gross mistakes in selecting Ministers.”

The letter, which was to be published last Wednesday, July 22nd, was eventually suspended for analysis by the Permanent Council of the National Conference of Bishops of Brazil (CNBB), but the text was leaked on Sunday.

The CNBB’s communication secretary reported that the document “is unrelated to the conference. It is the responsibility of its signatories.”. The Planalto Palace said it will not comment on the case.

“Letter to the People of God”

Also according to the text, entitled “Letter to the People of God,” the bishops and archbishops state that the President of the Republic uses the name of God to “spread messages of hatred and prejudice”.

“How can we not be outraged at the use of God’s name and his Holy Word, blended with prejudiced speech and stances that encourage hatred, rather than preaching love, to legitimize practices that are not consistent with the Kingdom of God and its justice?”

The document also calls for “union” through dialogue, as opposed to the government’s actions. At this point, the religious leaders call readers to “a broad national dialogue involving humanists, those committed to democracy, social movements, men and women of good will, so that respect for the Federal Constitution and the Democratic State of Law may be re-established…

“[…] with ethics in politics, with transparency in information and public spending, with an economy aimed at the common good, with social and environmental justice, with ‘land, roof and work’, with joy and protection of the family, with full and quality education and health for all.”

Covid-19

In the letter, the clerics state that Brazil is experiencing “one of the most difficult moments in its history”, living in a “perfect storm”. This storm, in the words of the bishops, would result in an “unprecedented health crisis” and an “overwhelming economic collapse,” with tension “caused to a great extent by the President of the Republic [Jair Bolsonaro] and other sectors of society.”

“Analyzing the political scenario, we clearly perceive the incapacity and inability of the federal government to tackle these crises,” reads an excerpt from the letter.

Based on biblical verses, the text mentions the current moment of the pandemic faced by the country and the growth of cases and deaths by the novel coronavirus. “We are witnessing anti-science statements that try to naturalize or normalize the scourge of the thousands of deaths by Covid-19.”

“This discourse is not based on ethical and moral principles, nor does it withstand confrontation with the Tradition and Social Doctrine of the Church.”

The document closes with the Church’s request to the Brazilian people for union to movements that “seek new and urgent” alternatives for the country.

“Therefore, let us awaken from the sleep that immobilizes us and makes us mere spectators of the reality of thousands of deaths and the violence that assail us,” it concludes.

Source: G1