Thursday, October 28, 2010

Pope Calls Upon Brazilian Bishops to Speak out against Abortion as Election Approaches

Pope Calls Upon Brazilian Bishops to Speak out against Abortion as Election Approaches

By Matthew Cullinan Hoffman, Latin America Correspondent
VATICAN CITY, October 28, 2010 (LifeSiteNews.com) - Pope Benedict XVI is telling Brazil's Catholic bishops to speak out against ideologies that justify abortion, only days before a hotly contested presidential election in which the frontrunner has been accused of supporting the decriminalization of abortion.
In a speech delivered to a group of Brazilian prelates present in Rome for a regularly-scheduled visit, Benedict stated that "in defending life we should not fear opposition and unpopularity, refusing any compromise and ambiguity that conforms us to the mentality of this world."
Calling abortion "an intrinsically evil act" that is "morally unacceptable and incompatible with the dignity of people," the pope added that "when political projects contemplate, openly or in veiled fashion, the decriminalization of abortion or euthanasia, the democratic ideal -- which is only truly such when it recognizes and safeguards the dignity of every human person -- is betrayed at its foundation."
"Any defense of political, economic, and social human rights that does not include the energetic defense of the right to life from conception to natural death is totally false and illusory," the pope also said.
The pope's words are likely to be read as an affirmation of Brazilian bishops and other religious leaders who have raised their voices in recent weeks against the ruling Labor Party and its frontrunner presidential candidate, Dilma Rousseff.
Rousseff and the Labor Party have publicly endorsed the decriminalization of abortion in Brazil, but during the election Rousseff has backpedaled from her previous stance. She now says that she is "personally against" abortion and even calls it an act of "violence" against women.  She has signed a public statement stating her personal opposition to decriminalizing abortion, but has refused to say that she will veto pro-abortion legislation.
The vocal and very explicit opposition of some bishops in the Brazilian episcopate such as Luiz Gonzaga Bergonzini of the diocese of Guarulhos, has been denounced by other Catholic bishops, one of whom accused Gonzaga Bergonzini of violating campaign laws. His letter encouraging people to vote against the Labor Party was removed by the National Conference of Brazilian Bishops from its website during the campaign.  The pope's words are likely to bolster such prelates in their conflict with their more timid colleagues.
Previous LifeSiteNews coverage:
Pro-Abort Frontrunner for Brazilian Presidency Fights Rising Tide of Pro-Life Sentiment
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2010/oct/10101401.html
YouTube Censors Pro-Life Sermon Seen by Millions of Brazilians
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2010/oct/10100701.html
Brazilian Government Threatens Catholic Church over Opposition to Pro-Abort Presidential Candidate
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2010/oct/10100809.html
Brazilian Presidential Front Runner Declares Herself 'Personally Against' Abortion
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2010/sep/10093001.html
Brazilian Pastor Threatened by Government for Opposing Pro-Abortion Policies
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2010/sep/10091713.html
Divulgation: www.lastdayswatchman.blogspot.com

Monday, October 18, 2010

Former Brazilian Soldiers Say they Were Forced to Have Sex with Homosexual Superior

Former Brazilian Soldiers Say they Were Forced to Have Sex with Homosexual Superior

By Matthew Cullinan Hoffman, Latin America Correspondent
MARABÁ, Brazil, October 14, 2010 (LifeSiteNews.com) — A group of former Brazilian soldiers say that a lieutenant colonel sexually harassed and forced recruits to engage in sex acts with him in order to continue their military careers, according to the Brazilian television network R7.
However, despite photographic and video evidence, formal complaints by six soldiers, and numerous witnesses interviewed by R7, the Brazilian military denies that evidence implicating the colonel exists.
Following the initial complaints in 2009, Alberto Almeida was promoted from the rank of major to lieutenant colonel and put in charge of a local hospital, where he also engaged in sexual harassment and misbehavior, according to witnesses.
Soldiers who worked under Almeida say that the colonel attempted to kiss them on the mouth and touch their genitals, and repeatedly invited them to his home.  He is also accused of holding parties for young recruits at an isolated beach known as a hangout for couples, and inducing them to have sexual intercourse in exchange for career benefits.
Video supplied to R7 shows one of the beach parties, where Almeida is shown in a bathing suit opening the flap of a tent where soldiers are sleeping together, and making sexual insinuations.  Fifteen recruits reportedly participated in the outing. Other photos show Almeida dressed as a woman and embracing young soldiers, one of whom is dressed as a fairy, in sexually suggestive ways.
In addition to two male soldiers who say they suffered harassment under Almeida, R7 interviewed other witnesses who worked at the hospital, including a female soldier who was discharged from the military for insubordination following her own complaint against Almeida.
“The whole world knows" about the behavior of Almeida, former Sergeant Rubenice Dias Martins told R7, "but no one has the courage to tell the truth, out of fear of being persecuted, and even of being fired."
She is now seeking legal recourse against the military, and wants to be restored to her previous position.
"I don't have anything to be ashamed of," said Dias Martins. "They are the ones who should be ashamed."
Click here to see original video report by R7 (in Portuguese).
Divulgation: www.lastdayswatchman.blogspot.com

Saturday, October 16, 2010

Brazilian Presidential Frontrunner Signs Pledge Not to Decriminalize Abortion

Brazilian Presidential Frontrunner Signs Pledge Not to Decriminalize Abortion

By Matthew Cullinan Hoffman, Latin America Correspondent
BRASILIA, October 15, 2010 (LifeSiteNews.com) — Besieged over the her past support for abortion and homosexuality, and slipping in the polls, Brazilian presidential frontrunner Dilma Rousseff has signed a public statement claiming to be "personally against abortion," and pledging not to "take the initiative to propose alterations of points that have to do with abortion legislation and other topics concerning the family and the free expression of any religion in the country."
The statement comes after Rousseff unexpectedly lost the first round of voting in the presidential election, a defeat widely attributed to her party's pro-abortion and homosexualist activism, which includes measures to decriminalize abortion and prohibit statements condemning homosexual behavior as "discriminatory."
Following a massive internet campaign by Evangelical Protestants and Catholics against Rousseff and her Labor Party, Rousseff finds herself unexpectedly facing a runoff against Social Democrat José Serra, and her lead has dropped from 13% to only five percent.
Although Rousseff's signed pledge may placate some, its carefully nuanced wording is likely to raise even more questions.  Her statement does not promise to oppose pro-abortion and anti-family measures, confining itself to an assurance that Rousseff will not propose such changes herself.
However, the fact that Rousseff has been forced to buck her own party and sign the pledge is an indication of the strength of pro-life and pro-family sentiment in Brazil. Recent polls have indicated a large and growing majority of over 70% against any changes to existing legislation regarding abortion, which withholds criminal penalties only in rape cases and danger to the life of the mother. 
Previous LifeSiteNews coverage:
Pro-Abort Frontrunner for Brazilian Presidency Fights Rising Tide of Pro-Life Sentiment
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2010/oct/10101401.html
YouTube Censors Pro-Life Sermon Seen by Millions of Brazilians
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2010/oct/10100701.html
Brazilian Government Threatens Catholic Church over Opposition to Pro-Abort Presidential Candidate
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2010/oct/10100809.html
Brazilian Presidential Front Runner Declares Herself 'Personally Against' Abortion
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2010/sep/10093001.html

Thursday, October 14, 2010

Pro-Abort Frontrunner for Brazilian Presidency Fights Rising Tide of Pro-Life Sentiment

Pro-Abort Frontrunner for Brazilian Presidency Fights Rising Tide of Pro-Life Sentiment

By Matthew Cullinan Hoffman, Latin America Correspondent
BRASILIA, October 14, 2010 (LifeSiteNews.com) — Dilma Rousseff, the current frontrunner in Brazil's presidential elections, was regarded as a shoe-in by political pundits only two weeks ago.  As the handpicked successor of the most popular president in the world, Luiz Lula da Silva, Rousseff's victory was all but written in stone.
However, following her surprise upset in the first round of voting on October 3, Rousseff now finds herself locked in an increasingly difficult battle against a rising tide of pro-life and pro-family sentiment in the country, which sees Rousseff and her Labor Party as the main proponent for such controversial measures as the decriminalization of abortion and homosexual "marriage."  It is becoming increasingly evident that if Rousseff is not able to jettison her pro-abortion image, she may lose the presidency over the issue.
Rousseff's first round loss was widely attributed to a campaign waged over the internet by Evangelical Protestants and Catholics to urge voters to vote against Rousseff and the Labor Party because of its abortionist and homosexualist ideology.  Following the campaign, which included the video of a sermon seen by four million Brazilians on YouTube, Rousseff lost the majority of votes she needed by three percentage points, garnering only 47% of the vote.
Now, as more Catholic bishops and priests have added their voices to the chorus denouncing Rousseff, she is finding her lead over her rival José Serra slipping.  Recent polls have shown that Rousseff's lead of 13% over Social Democrat José Serra during the first round of votes has fallen five percentage points.  Rousseff is now beating Serra by only 54% to 46%, placing Serra increasingly within striking distance of victory in the elections on October 31.
In the days following the upset, an increasing number of Catholic bishops and priests have added their voices to the chorus condemning Dilma, including Aldo di Cillo Pagotto, Archbishop of the diocese of Paraíba, who recently issued a YouTube video of himself denouncing the Labor Party for dishonest tactics and for working with international organizations to implement an abortionist agenda in Brazil.
The position taken against Rousseff and the Labor Party by pro-life forces in Brazil is bolstered by recent polls, which indicate that the vast majority of Brazilians are against the further decriminalization of abortion in Brazil.  One poll just taken by the Datafollha agency found that 71% of Brazilians wanted no change in the existing law, which withholds criminal penalties for abortions only in cases of rape, or danger to the life of the mother.
In response to the pressure, Rousseff has begun to backpedal from her own previously stated position on the issue, also held in general by the Labor Party, in favor of the decriminalization of abortion.  In recent debates held against Serra, she has reportedly stated her opposition to decriminalization, as has Serra himself. However, Rousseff has made it clear that she opposes prosecuting women who come to hospitals for help after inducing an abortion.
Now, Rousseff is also reportedly preparing a written rebuttal to the attacks against her, and has also obtained a commitment to do the same by her allies among Evangelical protestants, who have formed a significant segment of the coalition that brought the Labor Party to power in 2003.  That coalition is now threatened by the rift among Evangelicals over the abortion issue, as well as the Labor Party's promotion of the homosexual political agenda.
However, Rousseff's attempt to redefine herself as a pro-life candidate may be too late to protect her from the consequences of years of pro-abortion activism by the Labor Party.
Roseann Kennedy, a commentator for the CBN radio network, notes in a recent column that Rousseff and her partisans have ceased to use the word "abortion" altogether, and are confining themselves to general statements about the value of life, precisely because if they speak they "run the risk of leaving the campaign of their candidate Dilma [Rousseff] even more entangled in contradictions, because the resolutions of the [Labor Party] make clear their position in favor of the practice of abortion."
Previous LifeSiteNews coverage:
YouTube Censors Pro-Life Sermon Seen by Millions of Brazilians
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2010/oct/10100701.html
Brazilian Government Threatens Catholic Church over Opposition to Pro-Abort Presidential Candidate
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2010/oct/10100809.html
Brazilian Presidential Front Runner Declares Herself 'Personally Against' Abortion
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2010/sep/10093001.html
Brazilian Pastor Threatened by Government for Opposing Pro-Abortion Policies
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2010/sep/10091713.html
Divulgation: www.juliosevero.com

Monday, October 11, 2010

Courageous witness in Brazil

Courageous witness in Brazil

Courageous witness by Chamelly Stephanie

Christian friends, you are not alone in your struggle, no matter where you are. Your brothers and sisters follow the same God and the same Savior.
And, as He said: Narrow is the way that leadeth unto life and few there are that find it.
A young woman recently contacted Julio Severo’s Portuguese-language blog about her pro-life experience during Brazilian elections. First I need to say I admire and feel a certain solidarity with my courageous Catholic friends in the pro-life movement.
Having said that, let’s look at the question this young woman poses:
How can the Church be silent?
First, on the subject of apostasy, this site has so far focused mostly on the Protestant church, as shown here and here, for example. Apostasy is endemic to Christianity, is predicted in the Bible and is part of the age-old human trait of sin. Now, to answer Chamelly’s question, we must turn our attention to the Catholic church.
I think the big question that Chamelly must come to terms with is: How can the Church endorse or at least tolerate the totalitarian ideology of socialism as it is manifested, for example, in Latin nations like Brazil?
The fact is, for centuries, the Church in Europe was itself a totalitarian entity. For example, it prohibited commoners from reading the Bible on their own. Further, there have been numerous examples of Catholic priests endorsing socialism in Latin America and some Popes (like the pro-Moscow John XIII) have collaborated with totalitarian regimes. Pius XII signed the Reich Concordat with Hitler rather than opposing the Third Reich.
As for the Church’s silent consent to socialism, a little literary history sheds light on that.
In 1516, Thomas More, a prominent and influential English cleric, who became Lord Chancellor in 1529, wrote a novel expounding his philosophy of social and political thought, describing a model of the ideal state he dreamed of and wanted for all of humanity. In it he describes a perfect society in which life is micromanaged — regimented down to the last detail included the clothes one may wear — and wealth is distributed equitably. As in the USSR, travel is restricted and citizens must apply for permission to travel. Those who travel without permission can be sentenced to a lifetime of slavery.
Historian Igor Shafarevich reports on this novel:
And the picture of equality is utterly destroyed when we learn that life… is largely based on slavery. Slaves do all the dirty work.
Describing what happens to rebellious citizens, More writes:
“If even after this treatment [being enslaved] they still rebel and put up resistance, they are slaughtered like wild beasts.”
The title of More’s novel was “Utopia,” and it has served as a general model for most socialist states like the USSR, Mao’s China, Pol Pot’s Cambodia, Castro’s Cuba and others, which have been responsible for the deaths of over 100 million, not counting the babies slaughtered by abortion in “civilized” countries like the USA and European nations — which would at least double that number.
More ran afoul of the powers that be in England by endorsing the Catholic church and was executed by Henry the 8th’s regime.
So what did the Catholic church do with this man who endorsed totalitarian socialism, slavery and brutal executions of dissidents?
In 1935 they canonized him. He is now a Saint.
This is the apostasy and false Christianity that Jesus warned us about, Chamelly.  We need to follow His commandment:
“come out from among them and be ye separate.” 
Don Hank

Translation of Chamelly’s email:

Hi, Julio. How are you?
It is a huge pleasure to speak to you.
I have been following your blog for quite some time, and I feel the same as you do about what is happening in Brazil, namely, the efforts by a group of authoritarian citizens to legalize iniquity in our nation, and the pushing of PLC 122 [hate-crime legislation proposed by members of the leftist PT, or Workers’ Party, of Brazilian President Lula da Silva] to muzzle criticism against homosexuality] that impacts our principles or faith.
Last Sunday I made a silent protest, when I went to the ballot box in the morning. All day long I wore a t-shirt, which is my way to warn about the threat that is called PT. The incredible thing is that I had already paid to a printing shop in Taquara-JPA, here in Rio de Janeiro, for my order to print the shirts with some slogans, but when I went to get them October 2, the employee said that his shop could not make the printed T-shirts. Why? Just because of political issues! So I decided to make them myself by hand.
I went to vote, and an election official at the voting place tried to prevent me from wearing my shirt, without realizing that on election day I was in fact entitled to make a silent protest under Brazilian Law 9.504/97. Of course, I exercised my right and I voted, wearing my T-shirt “ABORTO NÃO, PT NÃO” (No abortion, no PT), because today I have free speech, am not muzzled and do not live in a dictatorship. But for how long?
That same Sunday morning, I went to the church I attend, and a leader asked me to put on a jacket, because that day was an election day and the message on my shirt was very strong. This individual said that “it could get him in trouble later.” Believe me, the worst thing that can happen is not to be judged in the streets; it is be crucified within the church, which actually should warn its members about what is happening backstage in the Congress and Senate — that everybody there is not as beautiful as they appear.
How long will the church remain silent, without opposing what is happening in Brazil?
I am proud to be able to read your blog revealing truths, and to see your courage. I am proud to see Rev. Silas Malafaia attracting an outdoor crowd 600 strong in Rio de Janeiro to defend human procreation, to see such an important leader as Rev. Paschoal Piragine putting on YouTube a video warning the church of the major problems that occur when you elect a PT member again.
If one cannot speak about political issues within the church, then why do Brazilian churches distribute voter info and suggest candidates to vote for? Such hypocrisy! Why does the church have such fear of being judged, of being crucified by the media? Isn’t this the same church that says it was crucified with Christ? I do not care about the things they say, or whether they throw stones, or if the church I attend has a big name. I am not going to cover my eyes and later, when our Bible is banned from distribution, cry out “Oh, it’s so hard to follow Jesus!”
I want to see how the Church of Christ will behave when things get really hard.
What I have decided to do amounts to the silent shout of an individual that is disgusted when learning of PNDH-3 and PLC 122/06. This is an effort — who knows? — to change, personal views of people blinded by the fantasy and manipulation of Globo Network, by the Workers’s Party and others, into a reflection on the number of murders of our children and the homosexual dictatorship that will take place if these follies are established in Brazil.
I decided that, until October 31, I will wear no other shirts but these, to reach the largest number of people. I am tired of not seeing anyone doing anything, of seeing the Church silent in the face of these follies. Whether I am judged or not, crucified or not (I have already been crucified with Christ on the cross of Calvary), I am going to defend my faith and the Word that is my guide. I fear the Lord, not people. This world has nothing to offer us. They want to make sport of God’s Word, family, children and all things perfect that God dreamed of for man. The time has come for God’s people to say NO to all of this. I have courage, and by faith I am going to do that which gives me peace, in spite of the world.
God gave us a Spirit of courage, not fear!
A big hug to you and may God give us strength to keep up this magnificent work.
May Jesus bless you.
Respectfully,
Chamelly Stephanie
Translated by Julio Severo. Translation edited by Don Hank
Original Portuguese language blog here:
English version originally published in Laigle’s Forum:
Other articles on the Brazilian presidential elections:

Brazilian Government Threatens Catholic Church over Opposition to Pro-Abort Presidential Candidate

Brazilian Government Threatens Catholic Church over Opposition to Pro-Abort Presidential Candidate

By Matthew Cullinan Hoffman, Latin America Correspondent
BRAZIL, October 8, 2010 (LifeSiteNews.com) — Brazilian President Luiz Lula's personal secretary, Gilberto Carvalho, yesterday warned the leadership of the National Conference of Brazilian Bishops that if attacks against Labor Party presidential candidate Dilma Rousseff continue, the Catholic Church's agreement with the government might be revised, according to a report that originated with the Valor Economico newspaper, and was repeated by the Italian news agency ANSA.
The agreement, known as a "concordat," is a type of treaty signed by the government of Vatican City and various governments worldwide.  The Brazilian concordat includes government support of Catholic schools and other benefits, which were awarded to the Catholic Church in Brazil in 2009.
Rousseff's candidacy has been opposed by many Catholic bishops and priests because of her clear position in favor of eliminating criminal penalties for abortion, which is condemned by Catholic teaching as an "unspeakable crime.”
Today, following the report of the threat, the National Conference of Catholic Bishops (CNBB) issued a statement distancing itself from condemnations of Rousseff and the Brazilian Labor Party, while continuing to call on voters to make their decision in light of the values of human life and family.
The leadership of the CNBB writes that "we profoundly lament that the name of the CNBB - and of the Catholic Church itself - has been inappropriately used throughout the campaign, being the object of manipulation."
 
The CNBB goes on to add that "we reaffirm ... that the CNBB does not endorse any candidate, and we recall that the choice is a free and conscious act of every citizen.  Faced with such a great responsibility, we exhort the Catholic faithful to keep in mind ethical criteria, among which are included especially the unconditional respect for life, the family, religious liberty, and human dignity."
The CNBB's statement also affirms that "certainly, it is the right - and even the obligation - of every bishop, in his diocese, to guide his own flock, above all with regard to matters respecting the faith and Christian morality," in an apparent acknowledgment of statements made by prominent Catholic leaders in Brazil, including the head of the CNBB's first southern division, who denounced the candidacy of Rousseff in videos published on YouTube in late September in the name of all of the divisions' member bishops.
A well-known Catholic priest who broadcasts on the network New Song (Canção Novo) also recently gave a sermon in which he denounced the ruling Labor Party as pro-abortion, homosexualist, and Marxist, and said that he would never vote for them or perform a homosexual "marriage." The Labor Party is now demanding equal time on the Catholic channel for Rousseff's campaign to respond to the charges made against her.
Although Rousseff claims to be personally "against abortion," she continues to call it an "issue of public health," and has not retracted her previously stated position in favor of eliminating criminal penalties for killing the unborn.

Thursday, October 07, 2010

YouTube Censors Pro-Life Sermon Seen by Millions of Brazilians

YouTube Censors Pro-Life Sermon Seen by Millions of Brazilians

By Matthew Cullinan Hoffman, Latin America Correspondent
October 6, 2010 (LifeSiteNews.com) - Google's YouTube service decided to give an "X" rating on Tuesday to a pro-life sermon given by a Brazilian pastor that has been seen by over four million people, and which appears to have had a serious impact on the Brazilian Presidential elections.
Viewers who attempt access to the link are now given a warning that "it is possible that the content of this video or group is inappropriate for some users in accordance with the way that the YouTube user community has indicated."  In order to see the video, users must now log in to YouTube and indicate that they are eighteen years of age or older.
The video depicts a sermon given by Paschoal Piragine Jr, pastor of the First Baptist Church of Curitiba, in which he denounces the pro-abortion and homosexualist policies of Brazil's ruling Labor Party.  During the sermon Piragine shows a video to his audience that includes photos of aborted babies, and ends with a call to vote against the Labor Party.
During the same time as millions of Brazilians were viewing the video, the Labor Party's presidential candidate Dilma Rousseff saw her support from Evangelicals drop dramatically, provoking threats of legal action against Piragine by at least one high ranking government official.
In combination with similar statements made by Catholic bishops and priests and other Evangelical pastors, Rousseff lost several percentage points of voter support and failed to win the Brazilian presidential contest on the first voting round on Sunday.  She will now face a runoff in early November.
Following Rousseff's defeat, which her party's leadership has blamed on "fascists," YouTube announced the partial censorship of the video, without giving a detailed explanation.
Reinaldo Azevedo, a columnist for Brazil's Veja magazine, decried the measure, accusing YouTube of "a form of censorship against the Evangelical pastor," and asking "who requested it?"
Quoting YouTube's message calling the video "inappropriate" for some users, Azvedo responded: "Well! You don't say!  Inappropriate for whom?  Especially for the Labor Party, huh?"
Azvedo said that the video "is not exposing anyone's privacy and it is not slander.  It is political criticism, whether you agree with it or not."
Previous LifeSiteNews coverage:
Brazilian Pastor Threatened by Government for Opposing Pro-Abortion Policies
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2010/sep/10091713.html

Tuesday, October 05, 2010

Internet, abortion and religion affected Brazilian presidential elections

Brazil has long accepted far-left Lula da Silva as their beloved president. Relying on natural resources and help from our far-left White House resident, he has kept the Brazilian economy on course and enjoyed popularity.
As you might expect, Brazil didn’t seem to mind that their most popular presidential candidate, Dilma Rousseff, is a communist and a terrorist. After all, history classes in Brazil don’t teach that communism killed off 100 million, so they simply aren’t aware of the death connection. (Of course, how many Americans are?).
So the last thing you might expect of this country that tolerates Marxism is resistance to abortion.
But abortion turns out to matter to Brazilians.
God has a mysterious way of working.
Donald Hank

Internet, abortion and religion affected Brazilian presidential elections

By Julio Severo
Abortion and religion may have provoked a run-off in the presidential election in Brazil.
Polls in the in the past months had consistently been giving Dilma Rousseff a victory of 51-59%. Rousseff is the chosen candidate of popular socialist President Luiz Inácio “Lula” da Silva to replace him in the Brazilian presidency. According to the Brazilian Constitution, a candidate wins the election when he makes 50% or more, but apparently absolute majority escaped Rousseff, and she will have to work harder in the run-off.
Major newspapers in Brazil have attributed this result to abortion. Folha de S. Paulo reported that “Dilma lost votes among evangelicals”, while O Estado de S. Paulo said that “something new began to happen”, and then it details that Rousseff, who wanted liberalization of the abortion laws in 2007, “had to say openly that now she is against abortion and that she would take no measure to legalize it”.
O Estado de S. Paulo suggested that “the controversy on the legalization of abortion may have had a greater influence on the ebbing of those that intended to vote for Dilma”.
In other article, entitled “Internet e religião podem explicar queda da petista” (Internet and religion may explain drop of Workers’ Party member [Dilma Rousseff]), the same Brazilian paper says that her drop was caused, among other reasons, “because of the controversy on internet over her view on abortion”.
Many Brazilian websites, including Notícias Pró-Família (the Portuguese version of LifeSiteNews) and my blog, have been working to make Brazilians aware of the life issues. The Brazilian election on October 3 revealed the results of this hard work.
Overall, Brazilian voters are disillusioned with politics. Excepting for the abortion issue, Brazilians do not take elections seriously anymore and any candidate can be elected. In fact, a clown received massive voting in São Paulo and, even though he is illiterate, he will be a representative in the Brazilian Congress!
Rousseff, a self-proclaimed Catholic and the political heiress of Lula, won 46%. Her main opponent, Catholic social-democrat Jose Serra, got 32%, and evangelical Marina Silva got 19%. Silva, who for many years was a member of the Workers’ Party and now is in the Green Party, has connections to Al Gore and is famous for her focus on environment issues.
Lula has noted that, for the first time in the Brazilian history, all the presidential candidates are socialists. Nevertheless, he prefers Rousseff, who was a member of a communist guerilla group in the 1960s and probably will be politically more aggressive in the promotion of her party’s agenda.
Even though none of them is a legitimate pro-family candidate, pro-family advocates in Brazil have chosen the “lesser evil” path. Probably it has worked. For two months, a YouTube video from Brazilian Baptist minister Paschoal Piragine has garnered almost 3 million hits. His message exposes the pro-abortion and pro-homosexuality policies of the Workers’ Party and encourages evangelicals not to vote in it.
For many months, Lula’s high popularity and several polls signalized a certain and easy victory for Dilma Rousseff. Yet, the run-off provoked by the abortion issue may make her victory elusive.
Other articles by Julio Severo: Last Days Watchman

Brazilian Presidential Frontrunner Loses First Round Vote — Abortion a Key Issue

Brazilian Presidential Frontrunner Loses First Round Vote — Abortion a Key Issue

By Julio Severo and Matthew Cullinan Hoffman
BRASÍLIA, Brazil, October 5, 2010 (LifeSiteNews.com) — The abortion issue may be the principle reason that Brazilian frontrunner Dilma Rousseff failed to win a majority in Sunday's presidential elections, according to the Brazilian press.
Polls in the weeks leading up to the election had consistently given Rousseff, who represents the ruling Labor Party, a victory of 59-51%.  However, Rousseff managed to win only 47% of the vote after her lead dropped among Evangelical voters, following the distribution of several YouTube videos linking Rousseff and the Brazilian Labor Party with the legalization of abortion.
The Estadão newspaper reports that "members of the campaign of [Labor Party candidate] Dilma Rousseff recognize that they have not been able to give an efficient response to religious issues, like the legalization of abortion. For them, that was the principle reason that made Dilma's votes, especially among the lowest classes, migrate to the candidacy of [opponent] Marina Silva."
"During the final phase of the campaign, Dilma began to lose votes against Evangelical and Catholic voters because she would be favorable to the proposed legalization of abortion in the country," the newspaper adds.
The Folha de Sao Paulo newspaper has likewise noticed the drop, stating that "Dilma Rousseff lost votes particularly among Evangelical voters during the month of September and, in the same period, her rejection in that part of the electorate rose to more than 50%."
The surprise first-round upset of Rousseff follows a massive campaign led by Evangelical ministers, Catholic bishops, and pro-life bloggers who have worked diligently to inform like-minded voters of Rousseff's pro-abortion record.
As LifeSiteNews reported previously, one Evangelical minister was threatened with legal action by Labor Party representatives last month following his sermon encouraging his flock not to vote for Labor Party candidates because of the party's pro-abortion, homosexualist political agenda.  His sermon was converted to a YouTube video and received millions of views.
Following her precipitous drop in the polls, Rousseff gave a press conference in late September claiming that she was "personally against abortion," which she called "violence" against women. However, her explanation seemed to have little effect on the outcome of Sunday's vote.
Dilma Rousseff, a former Marxist guerrilla who spent three years in prison for her activities and was once implicated in the murder of an American military attaché stationed in Brazil, was handpicked by Luis Lula da Silva, Brazil's ultra-popular president, to succeed him.  In the runoff election she will face off against José Serra of the Social Democratic party, who gained 32% of votes in the first round.  However, the Brazilian Labor Party has already won a majority of seats in the national Congress in the first round of voting, ensuring that the hegemony of the party will continue, at least in the legislative branch of government.
See previous LifeSiteNews.com coverage:
Brazilian Presidential Front Runner Declares Herself 'Personally Against' Abortion
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2010/sep/10093001.html
Brazilian Pastor Threatened by Government for Opposing Pro-Abortion Policies
http://www.lifesite.net/ldn/viewonsite.html?articleid=10091713
Source: http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2010/oct/10100501.html