Brazil's Environment Minister Marina Silva, a Pentecostal Christian, faces criticism from fellow Christian politicians for her environmentalist stance. Silva was ambushed by senators during a hearing regarding a bill that would relax environmental regulations in the Amazon. The senators' attacks were condemned by human rights organizations as racist and misogynistic. A reconciled version of the 'devastation bill' passed a final vote despite Silva's opposition.
about 2 months ago
Brazil's political landscape is deeply polarized, mirroring divides seen in other nations, particularly along political and religious lines. Many evangelical Christians in Brazil align with conservative factions, opposing progressive policies on minority rights, social services, and environmental protection, especially following former President Jair Bolsonaro's push for aggressive Amazon development 1. A significant exception to this trend is Marina Silva, Brazil's current Minister for Environment and Climate Change. A devout Pentecostal, Silva is a vocal environmentalist serving in the left-leaning administration of President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, a position that has led to "savage treatment" from her fellow Christian politicians 1.
Minister Silva has faced considerable opposition, including a "political ambush" in the Senate where senators, some from the Evangelical Parliamentary Front, attacked her during a hearing ostensibly about oil exploration 1. These attacks, which human rights organizations condemned as racist and misogynistic, occurred amidst legislative efforts to weaken environmental protections 1. A "devastation bill," which would lift many regulations on Amazon development, passed Congress despite Silva's objections, placing President Lula under pressure to approve it 1. This legislative rollback is paradoxical, given Brazil is set to host COP30, the international climate change conference, in the Amazonian city of Belém 1.
Silva's background sets her apart from many Brazilian politicians. A 67-year-old Black woman from Acre, she comes from a community of seringueiras (rubber tappers) and only learned to read and write at 16 1. Her early life was influenced by Catholic liberation theology, and she later converted to Pentecostalism at age 40, becoming a member of the Assembly of God church 1. Throughout her career, Silva has maintained a strong ethical stance and advocated for environmental protection, consistently refusing to instrumentalize her personal faith for political gain 1. This position disappointed conservative evangelical leaders who hoped she would champion their moral and cultural priorities, leading many to shift their support to Jair Bolsonaro, who openly used religion as a political tool 1.
Despite the political alignment of many evangelicals with anti-environmental policies, studies indicate a nuanced perspective among the broader evangelical community. Brazil's Institute of Religion Studies (ISER) found that many evangelicals express concern about environmental degradation, often viewing it as a form of sin or a sign of the end times 1. A 2024 ClimaInfo study revealed that 97% of Brazilians, including evangelicals, notice the impact of the climate crisis in their daily lives, with 70% of evangelical churchgoers agreeing that the world faces a global climate crisis 1. However, this awareness often does not translate into political engagement or influence their voting behavior 1. Many evangelicals tend to focus on individual responsibility for the environment, such as waste management, rather than advocating for systemic change through political participation 1.
The disconnect between environmental concern and political action among evangelicals is attributed to several factors. Most churches do not integrate climate issues into their programming, and leadership often resists this agenda 1. Some evangelicals adopt an apocalyptic worldview, believing the end is near, which diminishes the perceived need to care for the environment 1. This theological interpretation is exploited by political movements like Bolsonaro's, which use the Bible and evangelical religion as instruments of power 1. Minister Silva, conversely, uses her faith to model that Christian belief need not align with environmental neglect, maintaining a calm and resolute stance on environmental protection despite political attacks 1.
What is the Church's teaching on environmental stewardship?
The Catholic Church teaches that environmental stewardship is a moral obligation and an essential part of the Christian faith, rooted in the understanding that creation is a gift from God . This responsibility is often referred to as "care for our common home" .
The Catholic Church has long taken an active interest in environmental questions, with the Holy See participating in environmental conferences since 1972 . Popes Paul VI, John Paul II, Benedict XVI, and Francis have consistently emphasized the importance of environmental stewardship . Pope Francis's encyclical Laudato Si' is a significant contemporary document that deepens the Church's teaching on "care for our common home," addressing issues like pollution, climate change, and the loss of biodiversity .
The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops also affirms that care for creation is a moral issue and a religious duty, calling for effective initiatives in energy conservation, renewable energy, and addressing global climate change with a focus on prudence, the common good, and the impact on the poor . They also highlight the rising number of environmental migrants who lack legal protections .