The Catholic Church, Religious Pluralism, and Democracy in Brazil

Abstract The Roman Catholic Church, which gained prestige and power for helping lead Brazil back to civilian rule in 1985, has faced the difficult and more complex challenge of maintaining its influence in the increasingly pluralistic society that has since emerged. This paper appraises the role of the Church and its new religious competitors in Brazilian democracy. Resumo A Igreja Católica no Brasil adquiriu prestígio e poder ao ajudar o país a voltar à democracia em 1985. Agora, ela enfrenta um desafio mais difícil e complexo ao tentar manter sua influência numa sociedade cada vez mais pluralista. Este trabalho avalia o papel da Igreja e a nova competição religiosa dentro do quadro da democracia brasileira.