Healing Relationships in Society: the Struggle for Citizenship in Brazil

Abstract

AbstractThe article describes the transition to democracy in Brazil and the churches ‘role in what is generally called democratic consolidation, in and after this transition. The key term is “cidadania” (citizenship), which is the real participation of citizens in democracy, in which they are conscious of their citizenship and strive to exercise their rights and duties. Today, this participation is being complicated by continuously strong social and economic disparities, as well as by an ambiguous cultural model that runs contrary to the equality of all and a positive notion of law.During the military regime (1964‐85), the Roman Catholic Church took a very critical dance over against the state and provided, especially through the famous Base Ecclesial Communities (CEBs), the most important space for opposition. The Evangelical Church of the Lutheran Confession in Brazil (IECLB) made a significant move towards a more critical accompaniment of the state's policies following the transfer of the 5th general assembly of the Lutheran World Federation from Porto Alegre to Evian, France, in 1970.After the transition to democracy, the impact of CEBs declined and the Roman Catholic hierarchy tended to return to more spiritual tasks. Even so, the National Bishops' Conference continues to be an important organ commenting frequently on public issues, as does the IECLB leadership. The IECLB is especially strong in providing an ecclesial model that fosters democracy and approximates ecclesial and secular citizenship. The biggest Pentecostal church in Brazil, the Assemblies of God, contributes more indirectly to citizenship by restoring the lives of marginalized people who become “decent and honourable”.The final part of the article reflects on theological challenges, the concretisation of liberation, a vision for the whole of society, congruence between ecclesial and secular citizenship and the relationship between society and the image of God. If churches would cooperate more ecumenically, they could make an even stronger contribution to cidadania in Brazil, and live out their mid/urn to the world as citizens of both the heavenly and the earthly kingdoms.