Vote Of Faith: Politics And The Rise of Priest-Politicians In Brazil
(REVIEW) Padre Jorge, a Catholic priest, was overwhelmed with anxiety as he faced a significant dilemma: Whether to run for the position of mayor of his town in northeast Brazil.
This opportunity could allow him to improve the lives of impoverished residents, but it also posed a risk to his priesthood and future political career. Despite the pressure he felt, Father Jorge ultimately decided to run for mayor, and he won.
Paulinho, an enthusiastic campaign volunteer for Father Jorge, commented: “He’ll take care of us. I have faith in him!”
This is the story social anthropologist Maya Mayblin tells in the introduction of her book “Vote of Faith: Democracy, Desire, and the Turbulent Lives of Priest Politicians.”
In the canon of the Catholic Church, it is technically forbidden for a priest to serve as a politician, reflecting the church-state separation. However, the reality can be quite different. In Brazil, for example, a few priests change their cassocks into the mayor’s suits and successfully persuade numerous citizens to vote for them. Why do people, like Paulinho, in a republic choose to vote for priests despite the church’s rule?
In “Vote of Faith,” Maya Mayblin delves into the grey area between religious life and the secular realm to investigate the complex origin of the sacred secular power of priest-politicians, like Father Jorge. Mayblin examines how the clerical-political relationship in northeast Brazil influences the electoral choices of a community and how the decision reshapes our understanding of Catholicism.
In the first chapter of the book, Mayblin shares stories about how local residents in Northeast Brazil perceive their municipal politics. They described politicagem — a term used to refer to political activities in the area — as nothing more than a waste of time and energy.
Electoral politics in Brazilian municipalities have depended on patronage. Wealthy elites provide significant resources to candidates, while poorer voters can only offer their time and labor. Consequently, the rich are more likely to benefit, leaving the poor feeling that their investments in candidates yield little return. As one woman told Mayblin: “The rich get richer, and the poor, like me, get nowhere.”
The exploitative nature of municipal politics led to the rise of mayor-priests, who switched their religious careers to reform local government, such as the case of Father Jorge.
Interestingly, Mayblin points out two key characteristics of the priesthood, placing parish priests in a position to meet the expectations of seemingly hopeless voters.
In contrast to secular party politics, which is full of corruption and hostility, Catholic priests promise to commit lifetime celibacy, a virtue that represents the character of “another Christ” and a religious vision, in which people are free from exploitation and division to live fraternally.
Celibacy is not the only factor that attracts local residents; Gender also plays a significant role. Some might assume that Catholic priests appeal to voters because they are trained in a predominantly male environment, which aligns with the machismo culture present in many societies.
However, Mayblin argues otherwise. In northeast Brazil, Catholic priests actively practice listening to the faithful, particularly women, during pastoral activities. This act of listening counters male dominance and presents the possibility of a world where men treat women with greater respect. This gender dynamic attracts women voters — not in a sexual sense but in their desire for a more equitable and unoppressive society.
The decision-making of voters here is not driven by the functions of priesthood but by what priests represent. This means that residents do not vote simply because someone is a priest; they vote for a much more meaningful reason: faith.
Faith is a mysterious source of political power. Mayblin explains the term “faith” (fé in Portuguese) can be understood in its original meaning “able to be, have power.” Faith is transcendent; it does not exist solely in a religious context but exists in many aspects of life.
Faith serves as a foundational influence that Catholic priests, who are running for mayor, tap into and benefit from. As Mayblin notes, the power of the church comes from its position to “channel a faith that is already present in the world.”
Although the church asserts that it exists outside the realm of politics, the example of Brazilian priest-politicians demonstrates how religion — as a political agent — and politics are intertwined and influence each other.
“Vote of Faith” combines ethnographic storytelling with academic analysis. Readers might find the engaging stories and conversations captivating, like a great novel. However, some sections filled with jargon and less common vocabulary may slow down the reading pace. Overall, the book is well-researched and intriguing, providing valuable insights into the relationship between religion and secular politics, while unpacking the complexities of that interaction.
Do you remember the promising priest-politician Father Jorge, whom I mentioned in the introduction? If you are resilient till the last pages, the revealing of his fate may be quite shocking!
Thien Bui is a Vietnamese writer who specializes in the history and religions of Southeast Asia.