Kicking of the saint
Encyclopedia
The "Chute na santa" incident was a religious controversy that erupted in Brazil
on late 1995, sparked by a live broadcast of a Universal Church of the Kingdom of God
(UCKG) minister kicking the image of a Roman Catholic saint.
, the patron saint
of Brazil, is celebrated. That dawn, on O Despertar da Fé (The Awakening of Faith), a national live television program by UCKG broadcast on Rede Record
(owned by the same church), televangelist bishop Sérgio Von Helde was expressing his thoughts about his church's teachings on "imagery" and "idolatry" on the saint's day, when an actual icon
of the saint was shown. Then, as he walked around the image, talking about its inability "to see" and "to hear", he started to kick the image, proclaiming its "inability to react, because it's made of clay
".
On the following day, Rede Globo
's Jornal Nacional
denounced the incident, causing a nationwide commotion. The event was perceived by Catholics as a major act of religious intolerance
, causing a public outcry. Several temples of the UCKG were a target of protests, and Von Helde had to be transferred to South Africa
until the end of the controversy.
titled Decadência (Decadence), which showed the saga of Mariel Batista (Edson Celulari) a corrupt Protestant pastor. According to a Rede Record documentary about the imprisonment of Edir Macedo
(UCKG founder and Record owner), some lines of the character were based on public speeches by him.
urged Catholics not to "respond evil with evil". Dom Eugênio de Araújo Sales
, then Archbishop of Rio de Janeiro
, said that "unless we control our emotions, there is the risk of a holy war..
President Fernando Henrique Cardoso
, when questioned about the incident, said that "Brazil is a democratic country known by its tolerance" and that "any demonstration of intolerance hurts its unison spirit as well as its Christian spirit".
. In this song, featured in the album Quanta, Gil criticizes prosperity theology
, one of the tenets of UCKG and other popular Neopentecostal churches in Brazil.
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
on late 1995, sparked by a live broadcast of a Universal Church of the Kingdom of God
Universal Church of the Kingdom of God
Universal Church of the Kingdom of God is a Pentecostal Christian organisation established in Brazil on July 9, 1977, with a presence in many countries...
(UCKG) minister kicking the image of a Roman Catholic saint.
The incident
The incident took place on October 12, 1995, the same day of the national holiday in which Our Lady of AparecidaOur Lady of Aparecida
Our Lady of Aparecida is the patron saint of Brazil, venerated in the Catholic Church. A dark-skinned Marian image, Our Lady of Aparecida is represented by a short, clay statue of the Virgin Mary, currently housed in the Basilica of the National Shrine of Our Lady of Aparecida, in the town of...
, the patron saint
Patron saint
A patron saint is a saint who is regarded as the intercessor and advocate in heaven of a nation, place, craft, activity, class, clan, family, or person...
of Brazil, is celebrated. That dawn, on O Despertar da Fé (The Awakening of Faith), a national live television program by UCKG broadcast on Rede Record
Rede Record
Rede Record de Televisão is a Brazilian television network, founded in 1953 by Paulo Machado de Carvalho, also founder of Rádio Record. Currently it is owned by businessman Edir Macedo, founder and bishop of the Universal Church of the Kingdom of God. Since 2007 it is Brazil's second largest...
(owned by the same church), televangelist bishop Sérgio Von Helde was expressing his thoughts about his church's teachings on "imagery" and "idolatry" on the saint's day, when an actual icon
Icon
An icon is a religious work of art, most commonly a painting, from Eastern Christianity and in certain Eastern Catholic churches...
of the saint was shown. Then, as he walked around the image, talking about its inability "to see" and "to hear", he started to kick the image, proclaiming its "inability to react, because it's made of clay
Clay
Clay is a general term including many combinations of one or more clay minerals with traces of metal oxides and organic matter. Geologic clay deposits are mostly composed of phyllosilicate minerals containing variable amounts of water trapped in the mineral structure.- Formation :Clay minerals...
".
On the following day, Rede Globo
Rede Globo
Rede Globo , or simply Globo, is a Brazilian television network, launched by media mogul Roberto Marinho on April 26, 1965. It is owned by media conglomerate Organizações Globo, being by far the largest of its holdings...
's Jornal Nacional
Jornal Nacional
Jornal Nacional is a Brazilian news program aired by Rede Globo since September 1, 1969. It was the first news program broadcast live by a television network throughout Brazil.-History:...
denounced the incident, causing a nationwide commotion. The event was perceived by Catholics as a major act of religious intolerance
Religious intolerance
Religious intolerance is intolerance against another's religious beliefs or practices.-Definition:The mere statement on the part of a religion that its own beliefs and practices are correct and any contrary beliefs incorrect does not in itself constitute intolerance...
, causing a public outcry. Several temples of the UCKG were a target of protests, and Von Helde had to be transferred to South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
until the end of the controversy.
Network rivalry
Some see the incident as another clash between Rede Record and Rede Globo. A few months prior to the incident, Globo had broadcast a mini-series by Dias GomesDias Gomes
Alfredo de Freitas Dias Gomes was an important Brazilian playwright.He was born on October 19, 1922 in Salvador, Bahia and died in a car accident in São Paulo, in 1999. He started writing plays at age 15 and later wrote soap operas. He wrote the first ever colored soap opera in Brazilian...
titled Decadência (Decadence), which showed the saga of Mariel Batista (Edson Celulari) a corrupt Protestant pastor. According to a Rede Record documentary about the imprisonment of Edir Macedo
Edir Macedo
Edir Macedo Bezerra is a Brazilian religious leader. Macedo was raised Catholic, but by 1970 was a Pentecostal. He founded the "Neo-Pentecostal" Universal Church of the Kingdom of God in Rio de Janeiro state, Brazil in 1977....
(UCKG founder and Record owner), some lines of the character were based on public speeches by him.
Reaction
Pope John Paul IIPope John Paul II
Blessed Pope John Paul II , born Karol Józef Wojtyła , reigned as Pope of the Catholic Church and Sovereign of Vatican City from 16 October 1978 until his death on 2 April 2005, at of age. His was the second-longest documented pontificate, which lasted ; only Pope Pius IX ...
urged Catholics not to "respond evil with evil". Dom Eugênio de Araújo Sales
Eugênio de Araújo Sales
Eugênio de Araújo Sales is, as of 2011, the longest-serving cardinal in the Roman Catholic Church, having been elevated by Pope Paul VI on April 28, 1969. He served as archbishop of São Sebastião do Rio de Janeiro for thirty years until his resignation was accepted in 2001, when he had already...
, then Archbishop of Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro , commonly referred to simply as Rio, is the capital city of the State of Rio de Janeiro, the second largest city of Brazil, and the third largest metropolitan area and agglomeration in South America, boasting approximately 6.3 million people within the city proper, making it the 6th...
, said that "unless we control our emotions, there is the risk of a holy war..
President Fernando Henrique Cardoso
Fernando Henrique Cardoso
Fernando Henrique Cardoso – also known by his initials FHC – was the 34th President of the Federative Republic of Brazil for two terms from January 1, 1995 to December 31, 2002. He is an accomplished sociologist, professor and politician...
, when questioned about the incident, said that "Brazil is a democratic country known by its tolerance" and that "any demonstration of intolerance hurts its unison spirit as well as its Christian spirit".
Cultural references
The "kicking of the saint" episode is referenced in the 1997 song "Guerra Santa" , written and performed by Gilberto GilGilberto Gil
Gilberto Passos Gil Moreira , better known as Gilberto Gil or , is a Brazilian singer, guitarist, and songwriter, known for both his musical innovation and political commitment...
. In this song, featured in the album Quanta, Gil criticizes prosperity theology
Prosperity theology
Prosperity theology or gospel is a Christian religious belief whose proponents claim the Bible teaches that financial blessing is the will of God for Christians. Most teachers of prosperity theology maintain that a combination of faith, positive speech, and donations to Christian ministries will...
, one of the tenets of UCKG and other popular Neopentecostal churches in Brazil.