Even after Supreme Court ruling, Bolsonaro defends keeping churches and temples open

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – After the Federal Supreme Court (STF) gave the go-ahead for mayors and governors to ban services during the pandemic, President Jair Bolsonaro once again defended the opening of churches and temples, even though the country recorded more than 4,000 deaths on Thursday, April 8th.

“We have to give the human being a chance to recover, to be comforted, to get a word of support,” argued the president in an interview with CNN. Contrary to scientific studies, he claimed that the possibility of transmission of Covid-19 in these places is “almost zero” if social distancing measures are respected.

In Thursday’s trial, the full Supreme Court decided, by 9 votes to 2, to affirm Justice Gilmar Mendes’ holding that there is no constitutional violation in the prohibition of holding masses and in-person services, since the drastic measure, taken by governors and mayors, is intended to preserve lives in the face of the worsening pandemic.

In his speech to CNN, Bolsonaro cited Article 5 of the Constitution, which deals with religious freedom, to criticize the Court’s decision. “(The article) is there belonging to a chapter of the immutable clauses. Nothing can be modified there. Nothing, zero,” the president said. “I completely respect our Constitution. There is not an iota outside the four lines of the table. It would be good if everyone played inside the four lines.”

Scientific studies abroad have already indicated risks of proliferation of the new coronavirus with the holding of in-person religious services. According to scientists, these events bring together factors that favor the transmission of Covid-19, such as gathering a large number of people in closed spaces or promoting activities that increase the chance of spreading the virus, in which those who attend speak loudly and sing, and embrace and hold hands.

Still without citing any scientific data, the president justified the need for churches and temples to be open to a supposed increase in suicide cases. “Almost daily I see suicide on WhatsApp. Something that didn’t exist with this frequency,” he stated. “Generally, when a guy is in a depressive situation he looks for God. And where do they look? In the Church. In time. And the temple is closed,” he affirmed.