The evangelical Christian block makes up one third of Brazil’s Congress, and one particular Pentecostal church has been effective at mobilizing its voters: the Universal Church of the Kingdom of God. Last year, UCKG bishop Marcelo Crivella became the first bishop of a Pentecostal church to be elected mayor of a major Brazilian city — in this case, Rio de Janeiro. And as more evangelical leaders come into power, politics in Brazil are starting to shift toward the right. Reporter Catherine Osborn brings us a story from the field, which examines whether Crivella is really keeping church and state separate as mayor.
Catherine Osborn, correspondent in Rio de Janeiro
(Inset image: Marcelo Crivella gives a speech in Rio de Janeiro.)
Street vendors protest a plan by Rio's Mayor Marcelo Crivella to arm city guards, who the vendors say harass them and steal their wares.
Cosme Felippsen (center) speaks against a plan to arm city guards during a protest by street vendors. He says his nephew was killed by local police, who are known to shoot suspected criminals.
Cosme Felippsen (far right) at home with his family (Photos by Catherine Osbborn)
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