This was another act of Bolsonaro that goes against the Protestant dogma. He has been divorced twice, constantly curses and supports the arms policy criticized by many evangelicals. The slogan of his election campaign was also adopted by the Greater East of Brazil in Rio de Janeiro, one of the country's leading Masonic institutions, viewed with reservations by Protestants.
Bolsonaro is catholic, but flirts with the evangelical church and, consequently, with this electorate, much disputed by politicians. He was baptized in the Jordan River in Israel by Pastor Everaldo Dias Pereira of the Assembly of God in 2016. Last year, Bolsonaro attended various services and has guaranteed that he will appoint an STF (Supreme Court) minister "terribly evangelical."
Despite this, Eliazar Cecon, president of the General Assembly of God (CGADB) Political Council, told UOL that Bolsonaro is not considered a member of the Church. The Assembly of God, linked to the CGADB, has 30 million members in Brazil, with 104,000 pastors in 59 affiliated conventions, in all Brazilian states. Representation in the National Congress is made up of 16 deputies and three senators.
"I can assure you that he, the President of the Republic, is not a member of any of our affiliated conventions. So we in the Assembly of God see him only as President of the Republic, not as a member of the Church," he said.
According to the pastor, when the attitude of a member violates the declaration of faith, he is subjected to legal disciplinary proceedings, in accordance with the bylaws to which he is bound. "As pastors, we never impose members on their conduct, we only advise them within our Declaration of Faith (Creed)," he said.
About Bolsonaro, Cecon said "we can't charge neighbors' attitudes. I am a father and grandfather. As a parent, I teach and charge only the attitudes of my children. I have no right to correct my neighbor's child," he said.
The president of the Evangelical Parliamentary Front of the National Congress, Deputy Silas Camara (Republicans-AM), said that pastors do not advise church members to gamble and that he himself never gambled. Nevertheless, he stated that he does not see in Bolsonaro's attitude "nothing that thousands of Brazilians do not do" and that it will not hinder his relationship with evangelicals.
"Everyone knew this in the 2018 election and preferred him, with his limits and shortcomings, but committed to God, family, and people, who are our agenda. Others apparently have no such difficulties, but the heart is full of evil purposes," defended the deputy, who is also from the Assembly of God.
Asked about the attitudes of the president, Deputy Marco Feliciano (non-party-SP), who is pastor of the Revival Cathedral, a neopentecostal denomination linked to the Assembly of God, said that this is something "intimate" and that Bolsonaro is Catholic and his wife is evangelical. First Lady Michelle Bolsonaro attended the Attitude Baptist Church in Rio de Janeiro.
"The president is Catholic, you have heard it countless times and read about it,” he said. On the issue of gambling, Feliciano replied that he does not want to “get into it."
Pastors Silas Malafaia and Everaldo did not respond to the report. Malafaia has already written an article condemning gambling, stating that it may be an innocent joke, but it becomes an addiction that dominates those who are fascinated by the idea of betting too little and winning too much.
Source: Constança Rezende - UOL
