Times of Israel 6 October 2018
MONTEVIDEO, Uruguay (AFP) — Evangelical churches are
flourishing across traditionally Catholic Latin America and as the
religious movement grows, its influence — including in this weekend’s
elections in Brazil — is transforming the region and swinging its
politics to the right, analysts say.
Sharply opposed to abortion, same-sex marriage, the legalization
of marijuana, and leftist ideology in general, the evangelical movement
has boosted conservatives and helped unseat a slew of left-leaning
governments across the region.
Powerful evangelical churches are now helping tip the balance
in Brazil, where far-right candidate Jair Bolsonaro is riding high in
the polls ahead of Sunday’s presidential election first round.
“The recent elections in Chile, Costa Rica, Mexico, Colombia,
Guatemala, and the upcoming one in Brazil reveal both greater electoral
polarization and a shift to the political right,” says Andrew Chesnut,
director of Catholic Studies at Virginia Commonwealth University.
In Mexico, “even though he’s left of center, Lopez Obrador felt he
had to make an alliance with a small conservative party founded by a
Pentecostal pastor, to ensure his victory,” Chesnut says, referring to
President-elect Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador.
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