"The purpose of this march, and of all the other ones we have organized over the years, is to conquer Brazil for Jesus Christ," said Camila Nascimento, a spokeswoman for the Reborn in Christ Church.
What a novel idea.
ping
Posted on 05/26/2005 8:05:37 PM PDT by Pharmboy
SAO PAULO, Brazil (AP) - At least 1.5 million evangelical Protestants rallied in the heart of this city's financial district Thursday, demonstrating their growing clout in the world's largest Roman Catholic country. Brazil's 13th "March for Jesus" began Thursday morning as hundreds of thousands of faithful from several evangelical sects walked more than 1 mile from the University of Sao Paulo's School of Medicine to skyscraper-lined Avenida Paulista.
The number hymn-singing marchers swelled and by the time they reached Avenida Paulista the crowd had grown to 2 million, according to the Reborn in Christ Church that organized the event. Sao Paulo's police department placed the number at 1.5 million.
The financial district was packed with sound trucks blaring catchy religious tunes and wave after wave of people with colorful T-shirts, banners and headbands proclaiming their love for Jesus Christ.
"The purpose of this march, and of all the other ones we have organized over the years, is to conquer Brazil for Jesus Christ," said Camila Nascimento, a spokeswoman for the Reborn in Christ Church.
"We came to praise the Lord Jesus," said Ruben Gouveia as he headed toward the huge elevated stage spanning the avenue where preachers preached and gospel singers sang. "The nation's soul is sick and can only be saved if all of Brazil discovers Jesus Christ."
Evangelical churches like Reborn in Christ and the Universal Kingdom of God have grown rapidly in recent decades in this predominantly Roman Catholic country.
Millions of Brazilians have been attracted by the dynamic services of evangelical churches and the promises from some of them that divine intervention will improve lives.
The fact is the "shouting churches" have the best music in the world. Not at all surprised they can attract Brazilians.
The fact that they can get 2 million protestants marching in a Catholic country and there is NO VIOLENCE says volumns. Terrific.
Jefferson and the other Founders made a conscious decision to allow immigration by Catholics from Catholic countries.
Prior to the Revolution it had not been the case that Catholics were particularly welcome in the English North American colonies (unless they'd already been there like in Canada).
As you likely know, one thing that the Protestant immigrant to America wanted to avoid was the factionalism and reformation/counter-reformation violence of Europe. For example, Niew Amsterdam allowed Jews in before they allowed Catholics. However, it quickly became apparent that everyone that came here saw the vision of America.
Story book stuff. Superstition run amock.
Interesting. If there's one thing Brasilians need (and all of us) it's strength in their faith in God.
True about the Catholics in the colonies--except for Maryland. The only Catholic signer of the Declaration was from there.
"Story book stuff. Superstition run amock"
What would you rather see running amok...human values supporting Christian "superstition" as you term it or Islamofascism...because it is coming down to that choice?! Islam is like a cancer that takes root in a corner of immunological weakness. Islam takes root in a values and moral vacuum, where there is only human misery and despondency, where there is nothing that gives the human soul hope and vision.
yet 2 million march for Jesus and you hear nary a word.
It would only have garnered media attention if one of the speakers uttered a negative word about Islam, or, some scuffles broke out.
Care to explain?
You are just angry that God hates you.
"The purpose of this march, and of all the other ones we have organized over the years, is to conquer Brazil for Jesus Christ," said Camila Nascimento, a spokeswoman for the Reborn in Christ Church.
What a novel idea.
ping
Phew...that's pretty harsh.
I can hear the claims now. "Brazil isn't a Christian country. It's a Catholic country, and Catholics belong to the Whore of Babylon!" ;-) :-Þ
Although Maryland began as an English Catholic colonial place of refuge, it was taken over by Protestants some time in the 1680s. Catholics, though more numerous there than elsewhere, then suffered various civil disabilities for the next century.
Widespread Catholic/Protestant intermarriage in Maryland mitigated the problem thereby allowing estates to stay in the families.
Interestingly enough the folks around St. Marys, which was the focal point for the earliest Catholic settlers, established a "colony" themselves in Kentucky at the earliest possible time for European settlement. They called it Marysville. It's still there and families in both places retain ties, usually by sending their daughters to St. Mary's college at St. Marys, MD. There've been several newspaper articles about this.
Odds are if you have a Smallwood ancestor in Maryland you are a relative.
BTW, having a statue is not enough. Brazil is a large country, and pagan customs and religious beliefs are widespread. It's obvious St. Peter's missionaries needed some help.
Others are helping.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.