A falsehood about Brazil's patron saint pits Supreme Court justices against each other mid-campaign
A false report that presidential candidate Flávio Bolsonaro backed stripping Our Lady of Aparecida of her title as Brazil's patron saint has produced contradictory rulings from three Supreme Federal Court justices, a clash with the Catholic bishops' conference and a dispute dominating the final week of campaigning before Sunday's vote.
A false report surfaced during the Brazilian presidential campaign that candidate Flávio Bolsonaro backed removing Our Lady of Aparecida's status as the nation's patron saint. This claim led to contradictory rulings from three Supreme Federal Court justices, sparking a disagreement with the Catholic bishops' conference and dominating the final week of campaigning.
Bolsonaro, a Liberal Party senator and evangelical, denied any involvement in the alleged initiative and released videos to prove his stance. The falsehood was further amplified by a comedian's post associating his family with the supposed attack. The Supreme Electoral Court ordered the removal of posts related to the claim, but the matter went to the full court.
President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, aiming for re-election, vowed to defend the patron saint and respect all religions.
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