Chute na Santa incident



Chute na Santa is the term by which it became known and by which the Brazilian population refers, even today, to a controversial episode that occurred on October 12, 1995. Sérgio Von Helder, former bishop of the Universal Church of the Kingdom of God (Igreja Universal do Reino de Deus), uttered verbal and physical insults against an image of Our Lady of Aparecida, to which the day's holiday was dedicated, during the morning program O Despertar da Fé, broadcast by Rede Record. Von Helder protested against the character of the national holiday of October 12, in which Nossa Senhora Aparecida is entitled patron saint of Brazil, refuting the validity of Law 6.802/1980. The event caused strong repercussions in a large part of Brazilian society.

The Episode
At Rede Record studios in São Paulo, pastor Sérgio Von Helder broadcast the evangelistic program O Despertar da Fé, during the night, live throughout Brazil. Since protestant churches consider the use of religious images and the veneration of saints, characteristics of catholic liturgy and worship, as idolatry, pastor Von Helder decided to "criticize her" for the day's holiday, which has a strong significance for Catholics, acquiring a great image of Our Lady of Aparecida, delivering punches and kicks to the statue. Among other gestures and speeches, he called the image "ugly, horrible and disgraced doll".

"We are showing people that this doesn’t work, this isn’t holy at all 500 reais - 5 minimum wages - this image costs in the supermarket, and there are people who buy it!! Now if you want a cheaper saint, you can find up to 100 [reais]. Can God, the creator of the universe, be compared to a doll like that, so ugly, so horrible, so disgraced!?"

- Sérgio Van Helder

Reaction
The day after the program was aired on Rede Record, there was extensive news coverage of the episode, presenting the fact as a deliberate outrage to the patroness of Brazil, and therefore, to the catholic faith, and as a demonstration of religious intolerance on the part of the Universal Church. Several Brazilian newspapers and magazines published an article or note about it, notably Rede Globo.

The insult to the image of Our Lady of Aparecida provoked strong indignation in catholics, but also and in followers of other religions, including evangelicals. There have been complaints from the police and the court against pastor Von Helder. Prosecutors and ordinary people have sued the Universal Church in various forums, alleging crimes such as vilification and disrespect for the fundamental constitutional right of freedom of worship. For several days, the scenes of the kicks and judicial developments of the case remained in the news.

Despite the scandal, catholic clerics argue that theologically the discussion would be irrelevant, as the image was not consecrated by a catholic religious, only a piece of plaster remains, and the pastor bought the image only to attack it and to reach the catholic faith. Likewise, some Catholics argue that Von Helder's act of intolerance was a misunderstanding of Catholic belief, since the images fulfill the function of "mere photographs, serving to remember the holy men [and women] of the past".

Repercussion
Many authorities have commented on the event, which has become the subject of anecdotes and a symbol of religious intolerance in Brazil.

In 1997, singer Gilberto Gil released his 33rd album, entitled Quanta. In it is present the song "Guerra Santa"(Holy War), of his authorship, in which he harshly criticizes the bishop and Prosperity Theology.

The Tale of the Saint
Rumors arose that the bishop of the UCKG (IURD) would have gone astray and surrendered to roman catholicism after alleged leg pains that were miraculously healed, however, this story was denied by IstoÉ magazine in the article "The Tale of the Saint" ("O Conto da Santa") by Chico Silva.

The episode inspired the song "Milagre da Santa", recorded by a country duo.

Dom Bettencourt, who published the rumor in the renowned catholic magazine Pergunte e Respondermos, confessed that he also learned of the case on the internet.

Catholic Church
Pope John Paul II warned that Catholics "do not respond to evil with evil". The archbishop of Rio de Janeiro, Dom Eugênio de Araújo Sales said that "unless we controlled our emotions, there would be a risk of a holy war". He also stated that the federal government would be partly responsible for the incidents, for making (without criteria, other than politicians) public radio and television concessions.

In the first days, the National Conference of Bishops of Brazil, in a note, condemned the incident that occurred, but adopting a conciliatory stance declared it wanted respect, avoid controversy and conflict.

In order to invigorate and bring about the mobilization of the Church, clerics (priests, bishops and archbishops) led walks, marches and gatherings of relief to the saint.

Universal Church of the Kingdom of God
The Universal Church did not officially comment on the incident, according to records, due to the fear that was installed, Macedo would have offered 10 minutes of television programming (via Rede Record) for catholic leaders, which was refused. Initially defensive, Universal later claimed religious persecution through the media.

Attacks, invasions, stoning, temple fires and bomb threats were also reported.

"He (Sérgio Von Helder) acted like a boy and TV Globo turned me into a monster."

- Edir Macedo

"The investigation is the product of an inquisition against my client."

- Márcio Thomaz Bastos

Pastor Ronaldo Didini, who gained fame with the 25ª Hora talk show on Rede Record, supported Von Helder's actions, lost support and influence within the church itself, including the command led the program and left the church in 1997. The trigger for leaving was supporting Celso Pitta in the race for the city of São Paulo, contrary to Universal's guidance, which was favorable to José Serra in 1996.

The events took on such proportions at the time that the top of the church decided that Sérgio Von Helder would be sent to the United States and Ronaldo Didini, at the time presenter of 25ª Hora for supporting Von Helder at the time, he was sent to South Africa.

Government members
President Fernando Henrique Cardoso spoke about the event, condemning religious intolerance. The Communications Ministry said it would investigate whether the pastor broke communication laws by attacking a religious image, supported by politicians like Afanásio Jazadji.

"Brazil is a democratic country known for its tolerance, any manifestation of intolerance hurts its spirit of unity, as well as its Christian spirit."

- Fernando Henrique Cardoso

Conviction
On April 30, 1997, Sérgio Von Helder was convicted by the judge of the 12th Criminal Court in the city of São Paulo (SP), Ruy Alberto Leme Cavalheiro, to two years and two months in prison for crimes of religious discrimination and vilifying the image. The judge determined that it be carried out in a semi-open regime, as he is the primary defendant. Because of his primacy, the judge granted him the benefit of appealing in freedom. With that, only if the decision is confirmed in the second instance will the bishop be collected from the agricultural penal colony to serve the sentence. The defense has not yet been served with the sentence.

When the sentence was handed down, Von Helder was in the United States, where he was transferred shortly after the scandal of aggression against the image of the saint. The novelty of the matter and the consequent lack of jurisprudence, forced Judge Leme Cavalheiro to carry out intense research to substantiate the decision, which has 16 typed pages.

The case also surprised the Brazilian justice because of its originality, with a similar precedent only in a process for political discrimination instituted in the State of Rio Grande do Sul on the charge of preach nazism.

The criminal process was stopped at the São Paulo Court of Justice, and Von Helder moved back to Brazil in 1998. He was promoted to coordinator of the Universal Church in the North and Northeast regions and in August took over the general direction of TV Itapoan in Salvador, Bahia.

On November 10, 1999, Von Helder was sentenced again, to two years in prison, with the right to a conditional suspension of sentence, for inciting religious prejudice.

Today
According to UOL in 2009, the sentence against Von Helder was reduced. One of the crimes imputed to Von Helder, the vilipendio, prescribed: "The punishment was converted into a fine that today would be about R$ 2,000", calculates Judge Cavalheiro, then judge at TJ-SP.

Sérgio Von Helder and his family live in the United States and continues to work within the Universal Church, Von Helder is in the country legally, with a missionary visa, and works especially in California, with Spanish immigrants. The portal, affiliated with Folha de S. Paulo, says that he never regretted the kick in the image.

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