Brazil bishops condemn insults by Bolsonarist deputy against the Pope and the Church

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – In an inflammatory speech, D’Avila insulted the archbishop of Aparecida and the Brazilian Bishops’ Conference (CNBB), referring to them as “scoundrels, crooks and pedophiles,” while calling Pope Francis “a scoundrel too”.

“The Bishops’ Conference has become the main proponent of liberation theology and turned the vaccine issue into political proselytism to convert good people to their ideology, they are crooks,” he accused.

In a communiqué, the bishops of Brazil have categorically repudiated “the abominable attacks uttered by the state deputy,” in which “they condemn the unrestrained hatred of the deputy.”

They assured that they will take this case to the highest judicial levels to demand “immediate and exemplary punishment by the relevant authorities.”

In reaction, the president of the Episcopate, Walmor Oliveira, said that the bishops “have never wavered in the most difficult situations, they have always fulfilled their mission, dignified by respect for their religious, moral and social relevance in Brazilian society.”

Likewise, the bishops “have never consented to violent attitudes from anyone. They have never allowed themselves to be intimidated,” thus they speak out “against a mediocre and hateful discourse, lacking in lucidity, an abominable model of political posture that needs to be extirpated and judicially corrected for the good of Brazilian democracy.”

They argue their position based on the social doctrine of the Church, which “will always maintain its freedom to express its moral judgment on social issues that so demand it, such as the fundamental rights of the person, the common good or human salvation.”

REPARATION AND REDRESS

The Bishops’ conference has urged the Legislative Assembly of the State of São Paulo “to take effective internal, legal and regulatory measures so that this outrageous disrespect be redressed in proportion to its gravity.”

They have also ratified “their unconditional respect and affection for the Holy Father, Pope Francis, as well as solidarity with all the bishops of Brazil.”

Therefore, they hope for a prompt reaction from the president of the Legislative Assembly of the State of São Paulo, Carlão Pignatari, to ensure that “an exemplary and inspiring position is taken by all legislative houses, judicial bodies and other segments such that Brazilian society may not be sacrificed nor be a prisoner of mediocre minds.”