In a groundbreaking verdict, the São Paulo Court of Justice has issued a ban on Bible reading and the use of the phrase “sob a proteção de Deus” (under the protection of God) at the outset of sessions in the Araçatuba City Council. This ruling emerges as a response to a plea from the São Paulo Public Ministry, which voiced apprehensions over the constitutionality of religious proclamations made during the commencement of legislative sessions.
As per a previously enacted resolution by the Araçatuba City Council, the presiding officer was tasked with nominating a member to recite a Bible passage for a maximum of three minutes prior to the initiation of proceedings.
In a decisive move to uphold a society of equal rights, the Public Ministry contended that such religious observances within the legislative domain stand in direct contradiction to the secular tenets enshrined in the São Paulo Constitution and the secular character of the Brazilian State. They referred to Article 19 of the Federal Constitution, which prohibits endorsing religious practices or institutions and providing them financial backing from the state.
Rendered in May of this year, the São Paulo Court of Justice’s unanimous judgment upheld the City Council’s resolution as unconstitutional. The court underlined that secularism mandates a strict demarcation and autonomy between politics and religion, thus labeling the City Council’s affiliation with a specific faith through its practices as unconstitutional. Given the retroactive nature of the ruling, avenues for further appeal have been exhausted.
Several other municipal councils, including those of Piracicaba, Araras, Itapecerica da Serra, and Catanduva, have also encountered analogous verdicts from the São Paulo Court of Justice, underscoring the far-reaching significance of this legal determination.
The court’s pronouncement has ignited debates and controversies, particularly within religious circles and affiliations. Some contend that the ruling undermines the concept of “Laicidade Colaborativa,” which permits collaboration in pursuit of the collective welfare within a cooperative secular state. Others assert that the Constitution safeguards the liberty of religious expression, acknowledging the transcendental and spiritual dimensions inherent to individuals.
In light of the court’s verdict, the Araçatuba City Council has vowed to discontinue the usage of the phrase “sob proteção de Deus” and the recitation of Bible passages at the initiation of legislative sessions. This transformation in practice will take effect when legislative sessions reconvene on August 27th, following the present recess.
The legal and constitutional ramifications of this ruling continue to engender discussions and contemplations within legal and religious spheres, triggering broader dialogues about the equilibrium between secularism, religious expression, and the role of faith within public institutions.
Dr. Ana Lúcia, a prominent member of the House of Assembly asserts, ‘If Bible verses are read in the house of assembly, then it’s only fitting to recite verses from other religions like Ifa, Al Quran, and all other unmentioned religious texts. Ultimately, my God is Olodumare, and yours is Jehovah. Each of us serves our own faith,’ Dr. Ana Lúcia concludes.
