Evangelical movement in Brazil gains support for Silva

World Today

Presidential candidate Marina Silva is currently the favorite to win Brazil’s election. She would be the first environmentalist president, as well as its first Evangelical one. CCTV America’s Stephen Gibbs reports.

The Protestant evangelical movement in the traditionally Catholic country is increasingly significant, and has been one of the most dramatic social changes there in the last three decades. Nearly one quarter of all Brazilians now identify as Evangelical.

Silva is well known in Brazil for her Evangelical beliefs as well as her background as an environmentalist. However, she did not gain the trust of many Evangelical voters until she clarified that she was opposed to gay marriage.

The growth of the Evangelical movement parallels to the growth of Brazil’s middle class. An aspirational lifestyle is embraced at the Evangelical church.