Excellent article on the rise of the evangelicals in Brazil - Pope problem

[Nothing Without Hope]

http://mondediplo.com/2005/04/15evangelists
April 2005 issue of Le Monde Diplomatique
The rise of the evangelicals in Latin America

Brazil: religion of the poor

By Regina Novaes, April 2005

IT WAS often said during Brazil’s local elections last year that religion and politics do not mix. Everybody said that, especially the religious authorities and candidates of all faiths, but the sentiment was not reflected in newspaper and magazine headlines the Brazil’s largest cities, São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro. “The gospel according to the politicians” (Veja, June 2004); “Politics and pastors share a stage” (O Dia, 27 August 2004); “César, Conde and Crivella use God’s name to attract voters” (IG, 26 August 2004); “Infamous mix in the evangelical pulpit” (O Globo, 18 August 2004); “The battle for the evangelical vote” (O Dia, 11 October 2004); “Bittar condemns mixing of politics and religion” (O Dia, 11 October 2004); “Holy war in Baixada (O Globo, 11 October 2004).

In Brazil separation of religion and politics has been part of the republican ideal since the late 19th century. But in real life, the Catholic church, the evangelical organisations and the leaders of the kardecist (1) and Afro-Brazilian spiritualist religions have always influenced politics from places of worship. They have also been party to electoral agreements, with surprising ideological differences, in candidates and parties. One historical fact guaranteed the natural order of things: until the early 20th century almost 100% of Brazilians professed loyalty to the Vatican. The hegemony of the Catholic church was the consequence of this, and it was not a source of polemic.

A century later, in the largest Catholic country in the world, things have changed. According to official statistics, Catholicism has lost much of its glory. In 1980, 88% of the population professed Catholicism; by 2000 that was only 73.9%. The faithful had joined the evangelical movements, particularly the Pentecostals (2). Ten years ago, the evangelicals had a membership of 13.5 million Brazilians (9.1%); now that is almost 26.2 million (15.5%). In 1990-3 in greater Rio de Janeiro, five new evangelical churches were founded every week

The Pentecostal churches arrived in Brazil early in the 20th century, but first began to expand with industrialisation in the 1950s, when radio was the main medium. In the 1960s and 1970s the churches benefited from broadcast concessions granted by the military dictatorship. Those continued and shaped the current structure of communications. Services, expressions of faith and sermons can be heard live on the radio. The emotions aroused by the “presence of the Holy Spirit” are broadcast on television, where the bible and real life issues - unemployment, lack of money, emotional problems, alcoholism, drugs and violence - are dealt with simultaneously.

(snip)

[imenja]

1. This is a trend throughout Latin America

Evangelical protestant religions are on the rise. I fail to see how this relates to a "Pope problem." In general, the Brazilian evangelicals are extremely strict in their demands for congregants. They allow no syncretic blend of African and Christian religion practices as the Catholic Church does (African celebrations, such as lavagens, washing of church steps on days celebrating various African orixas, deities). The Protestant Churches insist African religions are inherently evil, the work of the devil. In some, like the Church of Christ, women are not allowed to wear makeup, shorts, or short skirts; neither men nor women can drink or dance. Many of these churches are run by American missionaries. Some set up in poor neighborhoods, collect large amounts of money from the poor and send it back to the United States. Other groups are not exploitative. But all of the evangelical churches are far more conservative and strict in their demands than Catholicism. This offers a certain appeal for some looking for a clear structure in their lives. The idea of immediate reward is also one appeal of evangelicalism that analysts cite.

There are many reasons for the expansion of protestantism throughout Latin America. A number of historians and anthropologists have explored some of them. "The Pope problem," however, is one argument I have not seen.

Edit: It's interesting to observe that the article cites the military dictatorship as a period in which protestantism rose. That was a period of increased concentrated of wealth in the hands of the poor. Evangelical religions tend not to offer the social justice message that Catholicism does. It would thus not be surprising that the military would have granted them special media access.
The Archbishop of Sao Paulo, Cardinal Arns, along with the Protestant minister Jaime Wright, led a secret operation to document the brutality and torture of the dictatorship. The Sao Paulo Archdiocese continues to be known for its commitment to social justice.

[GOPBasher]

2. I wish instead of evangelical churches rising, the mainline Protestants

did. The evangelical churches can be quite conservative and divisive. Why can't mainline churches begin to grow, both here in the US and all around the world.