The National Council of Christian Churches of Brazil (CONIC) expresses solidarity with the young evangelical Camila Montovani who, after a series of threats, will have to leave the country. Next, check the note of CONIC, jointly with the Ecumenical Forum ACT Brazil.
Solidarity note to Camila Montovani and her family
“Blessed are the people who promote peace,
for they shall be called the daughters of God “(Mt 5: 9)
The National Council of Christian Churches of Brazil (CONIC) and the Ecumenical Forum ACT Brazil (FEACT) express unreserved solidarity with Camila Montovani and her family members.
One of the actions of Camila, a young evangelical, is to provide solidarity and pastoral support to evangelical women who suffer domestic violence and cannot break this cycle because they are guided by religious leaders that “the Christian woman should be submissive to her husband.”
We recall that in the Bible stories of the Old Testament many women dared to defy the oppressive system, among them Vashti, who did not submit to King Ahasuerus (Est 1: 1-22).
For quite some time, Camila’s leading role has provoked the anger of fundamentalist evangelical religious leaders. Today, anger has become hate.
The threats became serious. Her house and her relatives were watched and Camila was left without a fixed place to live. She was forced to change her routine. The severity of the threats forced Camila to leave the country.
CONIC and FEACT supports Camila and her family. They denounce that other evangelicals, engaged in movements for the promotion and defense of human rights, are suffering similar threats.
The harassment experienced by these people is a consequence of the use of the Christian faith to legitimize practices of violence and speeches of hatred. Religious fundamentalism does not accept pluralism or criticism of religion – even when it causes some kind of oppression or violence.
The Christian faith cannot be manipulated to subjugate people, nor to dominate territories, imposing fear on people. Christian faith cannot be associated with weapons and organized crime.
Evangelical faith is not violence. It is not based on exclusiveness or authoritarianism. It is guided by the loving grace of God and by freedom. This is the testimony of the many evangelical traditions in the country. We will not accept that our tradition of faith is exploited for the promotion of hatred, racism, sexism and other forms of domination and violence.
May the peace of Jesus Christ, his radical testimony of life, contrary to all state and religious oppressive power, guide and strengthen us.
National Council of Christian Churches of Brazil
Ecumenical Forum ACT BRAS