Brazilian Catholicism Research Articles

Tradição, Família e Propriedade (TFP), anticomunismo e a comunidade de inteligência dos EUA

The following article investigates the positions of the United States intelligence community in terms of the potential alignment, or not, between the Brazilian fundamentalist Catholic group with anti-communist leanings, Tradition, Family, and Property (TFP) and the anti-communist crusade led by Washington during the period of the Cold War (1947-1991). Selected sources of investigation are documents declassified by the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) available from the agency itself and the US Department of State, which were published by the Opening the Archives project at Brown University. The sources were approached according to the method of document analysis and from the theoretical prism of Mannheim’s interpretation of styles of thought. As a result, we identify that the American declassified documents recognize the TFP’s potential to indirectly meet the US’s needs in Brazilian territory, despite the fact that the organization was deemed by the American intelligence Community to be incompatible with Brazilian Catholicism’s world view and its sometimes irrational actions were also not aligned with the anti-communist standards proposed by Washington.

Diversity as a gift: LGBTQI+ Roman Catholic organizations in twenty-first-century Brazil

This paper aims at examining the pluralization of Brazilian Catholicism with regard to the presence of sexual and gender diversity in Roman Catholic environments, in the context of the anti-gender attacks and growing use of Christian elements as political weapons in Latin American public debate since the 2010s. We set out to investigate the strategies used by Brazilian LGBTQI+ Roman Catholic groups to sustain their religious identity, beginning with a brief general comment on the ongoing Christian conversations on sexual and gender diversity, in an effort to go beyond the consolidated common sense of Christianity and sexual and gender diversity being irreconcilable. Next, we proceed to a brief overview of how Roman Catholic conversations on sexual and gender diversity have developed in Brazil in recent years. A short history of LGBTQI+ Roman Catholic communities in Brazil follows, highlighting their most relevant features. Finally, we move on to addressing such communities’ theological production. What we seek to understand is how the organization of openly LGBTQI+ Roman Catholic communities results in the emergence of new theological and ecclesial subjects.

Catholic Church and Conservative-Traditionalist Groups: the Struggle for the Monopoly of Brazilian Catholicism in Contemporary Times

The Roman Catholic Church in Latin America was crossed by numerous currents of political thought in the mid-twentieth century and early twenty-first century. A pivotal moment for the reconfiguration of the Catholic structure took place in the 1960s, with the movement of distension with modern values carried out by the Second Vatican Council (1962–1965). From then onwards, we see the resurgence of movements more to the right, anti-modern in value, although they are present in modernity. What ideas and values are the symbolic vertebrae of these Catholic movements that see Catholic tradition as a stronghold under attack? The article intends to explore the hypothesis that these traditionalist movements and groups that emerged in the second half of the twentieth century, especially in conflict with the directives of Vatican II, have values and ideas loaded with religious pessimism and political reactionarism and reflect the complex relationships between Catholicism and modernity. Based on research in primary and secondary documental sources located in the historical-sociological epistemological horizon, it is intended to present an overview of these groups, some of them more institutionalized, others more diffuse, their distinct origins, and their convergence towards a religiously traditionalist perspective while it is politically reactionary.

Strong Church, Weak Catholicism: Transformations in Brazilian Catholicism

In this paper we explore data on Catholicism from the 2010 census in Brazil, as well as other data from the Center for Religious Statistics and Social Investigation. Using these statistics, we question those arguments that explain the reduction in the number of Catholics in Brazilian society as a problem in the institution’s adaptation in response to the challenges of evangelization, or as a lack of ministerial vocations to meet the religious demands of the people. Pursuing an alternative argument, we consider the weakening of the relationship between the Catholic institution and traditional popular Catholicism to be a fundamental aspect of this decline.

Contemporary Brazilian Catholicism and Healing Practices: Notes on Environmentalism and Medicalization

Contemporary Brazilian Catholicism and Healing Practices: Notes on Environmentalism and Medicalization

On Faith and Miracle: A Cosmological Perspective on Faith and Miracle as ‘Social Categories of Understanding’ in Brazilian Catholicism

Abstract The concepts of faith and miracle frequently appear in the anthropological literature on Christianity. Yet these phenomena are rarely employed as social categories of understanding, and this is particularly true for research related to Catholicism. By way of my own ethnographic experience in three different fieldwork sites of Brazil’s Northeast (Agüera - where apparitions of the Virgin Mary occur; Monte Santo - a Catholic pilgrimage sanctuary; and Casa Amarela, a neighbourhood in Recife, the capital of Pernambuco state), I argue that a cosmological perspective is central to understanding Brazilian Catholicism. Furthermore, and perhaps more importantly, such a perspective reveals faith and miracle as key elements to an understanding of Catholicism as it is lived in this context. As such, I suggest rethinking faith and miracle as “social categories of understanding,” which dialectically organize Catholic logic and cosmology: the interconnectivity of humans, nature, and the supernatural.

Corporeidades no catolicismo brasileiro

Quando discutido para além dos determinismos biofisiológicos, o corpo mostra-se um objeto valioso de estudo, embora ainda sejam discretas ações a esse respeito. Com isso, indaga-se quais são as constituições corporais estabelecidadas pelo catolicismo brasileiro, uma vez que as religiões possuem em seu amálgama a busca pela organização da experiência nômica humana por meio da oferta e da difusão de estruturas de legitimação e plausibilidade, que constroem um cosmo coeso. Para tanto, foi realizada uma pesquisa de bases etnográficas com os católicos da comunidade tricentenária de Brumal (MG), buscando-se observar as diferentes constituições corporais e os diferentes usos do corpo durante as manifestações dessa comunidade de fé. Do mesmo modo, procedeu-se à seis entrevistas com moradores da localidade, maiores de 18 anos e de ambos os sexos. Nessa perspectiva, constatou-se que o corpo em movimento assume, nos diferentes momentos instituídos por tal solução sacral, maneiras de o católico viver e se situar em relação ao sagrado.

The Position of the Biblical Canon in Brazil: From Catholic Rediscovery to Neo-Pentecostal Marginalisation

This study analyses the historically significant shifts in the diffusion and reception of the bible in Brazilian Christianity. It questions whether Brazil is turning Protestant, given the marginalisation in Brazilian neo-Pentecostalism of scripture, which is the fundamental pillar of Protestant faith. While scripture has traditionally been marginal to Brazil's popular Catholicism, it was regarded as the primary medium for access to the sacred in classical Pentecostalism. Whilst Brazilian Catholicism rediscovered the bible through the liberation theology movement, a contrary trend of marginalisation of scripture is evident in the Brazilian neo-Pentecostal church Igreja Universal do Reino de Deus (IURD). Although there is a performative use of the bible in IURD, the original meaning of the biblical texts is given little weight within this performance. Based on this evaluation of the bible's position, the article suggests that neo-Pentecostalism stands in continuity with popular Catholicism and discontinuity with classical Pentecostalism in relation to the biblical canon.

O jornal Imprensa Evangélica e a formação do leitor protestante brasileiro no século XIX

This article has as corpus the first Protestant newspaper published in Brazil - Imprensa Evangelica - published fortnightly, from 1864 to 1892, in Rio de Janeiro by missionaries of the Presbyterian Church USA along with the first Brazilian followers of the movement. The goal is to detect, from the analysis of selected texts, the formation strategies of Protestant readers in national context. To do so, it investigates literary genres present in the newspaper, its contents and interdiscourses connected to both the North American Protestantism as the Brazilian Catholicism. The relevance of the study is due to the fact the newspaper be the first Protestant publication produced in Brazil to circulate throughout the national territory. The theoretical framework used is the History of Book and Reading, Comparative Literature and History of Brazilian Protestantism.

Cruzada pela democracia: militantes católicos no Brasil republicano

A expressão 'cruzada democrática', utilizada por militares em 1964, demonstra raízes ideológicas no catolicismo e no discurso anticomunista norte-americano. Estudar a fundamentação desse uso na tradição do catolicismo brasileiro permite vislumbrar o modo pelo qual o ultramontanismo - o projeto antiliberal do papado católico romano desde o início do século XIX - se manifestou na política brasileira republicana até o período da ditadura de 1964.

Santuário de Caravaggio e a modernização de espaços sacralizados

Este artigo discute alguns elementos modernizantes presentes nos ritos de peregrinação e devoção da religiosidade popular, no catolicismo brasileiro, mais especificamente, na Romaria de N. Sra. de Caravaggio, em Farroupilha, RS. A problematização proposta considera a estrutura e a espacialidade do Santuário, na cidade, o trajeto de peregrinação de devotos em dias centrais dessa festividade e os discursos e lógicas de apropriação de bens simbólicos na devoção. As lógicas operantes dos atores-devotos imbricados neste “ato de fé”, típico das devoções Marianas, se estabelecem em práticas que tecem uma gesticularidade própria, na trama abrangente de significações importantes à composição, ruptura ou atualização da religiosidade popular que, em tempos mais recentes, são “enfrentadas” pela racionalidade modernizadora que (re)configura o espaço/tempo do agir devoto. Seguido deste contexto, poder-se-á também visualizar, entremeada à estrutura ritual da Romaria de Caravaggio, uma identidade regional que permanece ora latente, ora manifesta, nos rituais devocionais desse evento.

Catolicismo japonês no exterior: a missão aos Nikkei no Brasil

O artigo descreve uma ativa missão católica entre os imigrantes japoneses no Brasil, inclusive com o suporte governamental e com atividades da Igreja Católica Japonesa. Ainda que a conversão dos japoneses e descendentes (Nikkei) tenha sido vista em grande parte como um fenômeno passivo e de acomodação, a análise do processo tem que levar em consideração o caráter de esforços missionários bem como a disputa latente entre o Xintoísmo nacionalista e o Catolicismo brasileiro.

The Catholic Church, moral doctrine, and HIV prevention in Recife, Brazil: Negotiating the contradictions between religious belief and the realities of everyday life

Religious beliefs have had a key role in shaping local responses to HIV and AIDS. As the world's largest Catholic country, Brazil is no exception. Yet little research has been conducted to document how religious doctrine is enacted in practice among its lay leaders and followers. In this article, we present ethnographic research from Recife, Brazil, conducted to understand the way in which religious doctrines are interpreted at a local level. Contextualised within the sociology of contemporary Brazilian Catholicism, we draw on interviews with clergy members, lay leaders, and parishioners to discuss how the Catholic Church's vision of sexuality translates into everyday lives of its followers. We explore the disjuncture between the Catholic ideals of fidelity and delaying sex until marriage with the everyday reality of the Church's followers, highlighting the role that gender plays in defining sexual roles and expectations. We conclude by posing questions for future research and HIV prevention strategies considering the formal institutional response of the Brazilian Catholic Church to AIDS on the one hand, and the social and cultural contexts in which Catholics live their daily lives on the other.

Mythological Relations Between the “Lavandeira” Birds Fluvicola nengeta and Motacilla alba in Northeast Brazil and Northwest Spain: Possible Cultural Implications for Conservation

The bird species Fluvicola nengeta (Tyrannidae) and Motacilla alba (Motacilidae) are widely known as lavandeiras and are directly associated with mythological traditions in Europe and South America. F. nengeta is considered a sacred animal in popular Brazilian Catholicism. We investigated the possible implications of mythical beliefs for ethnoconservation of these species. Two versions of the lavandeira myth were examined–a South American tradition common in north and northeastern Brazil, and a European version known principally from Galicia, Spain. Each version of the myth was divided into small component units called mythemes, which were subsequently analyzed and compared. The two bird species have similar morphological and behavioral characteristics that probably aided the “migration” of the European mythology to the Americas–showing that human populations that are geographically distant but culturally linked and that interact with very similar natural elements will demonstrate similar cognitive schemes. The analysis of myths represents an appropriate strategy for ethnoecological studies and for ethnoconservation efforts, especially when related to species falling under an ideologically motivated protection such as the lavandeira birds.

Elementos socio-históricos da Renovação Carismática Católica

The purpose of this article is to present the main characteristics of the Catholic Charismatic Renovation, emphasizing its history, doctrine and presence within the Catholic Church. In this manner, I will discuss some elements of the movement’s political actions and its posture with respect to other religions as well as its relations with other sectors of Brazilian Catholicism. This analysis leads to the conclusion that as a result of the growth in the charismatic movement, Catholicism is experiencing an entrenched practice concerned with the dispute among followers within the religious camp to the detriment of the evangelization model concerned with the social situation of the individual.

Santos Populares no Brasil: Catolicismo e Misticismo

The Brazilian Catholicism exhibits several mystical elements which show the influence of miscigenation on religion, language and culture. During the Portuguese colonization, the Catholic cult was impenetrable to the most of people. To surpass linguistic obstacles set by the Latin, white, black and indian associated ancient beliefs and external displays of faith (as processions) in order to take part in the religion. This blend of different elements resulted in religious syncretism. The legends about saints' supernatural abilities, besides the comparison between African divinities created a good environment to a great cult of Saints and the powers attributed to them. Among the most popular saints in Brazil are Saint Anthony, the twins Cosmas and Damian and Saint George. Despite the fact that nowadays Catholic Mass and rites are spoken in Portuguese, this belief in personal contact with the supernatural sphere of religion is common in Brazilian everyday life, being the prayers and the procession the climax of religious feeling. The best-known Portuguese saint, Anthony (born Fernando de Bulhoes) carries a series of legends around his life and abilities. Born in Lisbon in 1195, Anthony died in Italy in 1231. His worshippers believe he helps people to find lost things, to find a love, to help someone to marry, to protect animals and so on. George was a soldier to the Roman Empire during the reign of Diocletian, Emperor who persecuted Cristians. He was converted to Chritianity and was tortured and beheaded. The martyrdom of George occured in April, the 23 th in 303 A.D. This date is his feast day. In Brazil, Saint George is largely associated to the African orishacalled Ogun. The Warrior Saint is invoked as protector from all kinds of evil. The twins Cosmas and Damian were born in Arabia in the 3rd century AD and were executed around 287 AD. In Brazil , Cosmas and Damian were associated by the African entities called ibeijis, being regarded as protectors of children. Their feast day is celebrated in the Roman Catholic Church in September 26 since 1969, but their believers continue to celebrate the former date, September 27. The afro-religious temples use to receive children in order to bless them and offer candies for them. In the big cities take place many Festas de Cosme e Damiao . Besides this, many common people use to informally, outside any cult, offer childrenlittle toys and candies in the streets or even organize feasts by their own. According to the tradition, to please a child makes Cosmas and Damian (or the African entities) bring good luck to the host. The oldest church in Brazil (built in Igarassu, Pernambuco, in 1535) was honored to the twins.

Uma Análise do Catolicismo Brasileiro no Segundo Império

Based on a 1837statement of Daniel Parish Kidder about the “tolerant character of the Brazilian Catholicism”, the author researches on the groups of Catholicism in the Second Empire (1840-1889) in Brazil. Both main groups, conservative (Ultramontanism) and Liberal (Galicanism, Jansenism and Masonry), are analyzed, starting from the impact of Iluminism in Portugal, going through the arrival of the Portuguese court to Brazil, up to the formation, development and decline of the Brazilian Empire.

Missionários da 'boa imprensa': a revista Ave Maria e os desafios da imprensa católica nos primeiros anos do século XX

O artigo discute o papel da imprensa católica no Brasil de primeiros anos do século XX. De modo especial, focaliza o desempenho da revista mariana popular Ave Maria, fundada em 1898. Discute como o catolicismo institucional brasileiro, ao consagrar um projeto fundado na criação e expansão da imprensa confessional, pretendeu defender com eficácia os múltiplos interesses da Igreja, em face de progressivas exigências políticas e culturais.

The Failed Prophecy of Shinto Nationalism and the Rise of Japanese Brazilian Catholicism

This article deals with the main religious transition that accomplished the redefinition of Japanese Brazilian identity after the Second World War. State Shinto was the main world view of the Japanese immigrants in Brazil until the 195os, playing a key role in the Japanese resistance of Brazilian acculturation process and in the cognitive dissonance that resulted in the Shindo Renmei movement. The Catholic Church began its proselytizing inside the Japanese community in the 1920s, initially attending to Japanese Catholics and the nisei. After the Second World War the Church participated in the clarification campaigns against Shindo Renmei. With the collapse of Shinto nationalism the missionary activities were especially directed towards the nisei and for that the incorporation of Japanese Catholic symbols proved highly effective. The combination of Japanese and Brazilian Catholic elements represented the development of a hyphenated religiosity, facilitating the trend of Catholic belonging and at the same time offering some cultural continuity.

Localizing and Globalizing Processes in Brazilian Catholicism: Comparing Inculturation in Liberationist and Charismatic Catholic Cultures

As autoras discutem como o catolicismo da libertacao e a Renovacao Carismatica Catolica no Brasil tem se posicionado de modo variado e distinto diante das forcas culturais globalizantes e homogeneizadoras tanto no catolicismo universal e quanto na sociedade mais ampla. Argumentam que, adotando nocoes distintas de global e local, esses dois movimentos do catolicismo contemporâneo se identificam com tendencias especificas do catolicismo global e se confrontam com processos de sincretismo, aculturacao e inculturacao. Atraves da analise do sentido dado a tradicao, do uso da musica, da pratica de peregrinacao, as autoras mostram como ambos os movimentos conseguem construir culturas religiosas diferentes e formas distintas de inculturacao num contexto repleto de tensoes entre o local e global. The authors discuss the various ways in which liberationist Catholicism and the Catholic charismatic movement in Brazil take positions in the overall globalizing and homogenizing cultural forces in universal Catholicism and wider society. They argue that in their discourses and practices, these two contemporary Catholic movements refer to notions of both local and global and identify with specifi c parts of global Catholicism by confronting processes of syncretism, acculturation, and inculturation. Through an analysis of the meaning of tradition and roots, the use of music, and the practice of pilgrimage, the authors show how both movements manage the construction of distinctive religious cultures and forms of inculturation in the context of tension between the local and the global.