Religion and the Consolidation of Democracy in Brazil: The Role of the Comunidades Eclesiais de Base (CEBs)

The role that the Brazilian Catholic Church has played in helping to effect Brazil's transition from military dictatorship to stable democratic polity has come under considerable scrutiny from a number of sources. Of particular interest to social scientists and religious leaders alike has been the impact of the Brazilian comunidades eclesiais de base or CEBs (usually translated as "basic Christian communities"), many of which are known to be active in the political sphere. This article evaluates the CEBs' current role in the democratization process in light of a number of recent interpretations of their essential nature and thrust. In many respects, the data, drawn from a four-year study of 22 CEBs located in Brazil's large and dynamic Archdiocese of Sao Paulo, show the CEBs to be maintaining an effective presence on the Brazilian political scene. Nevertheless, there is also evidence suggesting that the role of the groups is changing in such a way that the CEBs per se may fade as bona fide agents of social and political transformation. Such a change, it is held, is attributable to a multitude of factors, not the least of which are related to qualitative alterations in official Church support for CEB activation. In 1974, Brazil's military government initiated a process of political liberalization or abertura. By 1985-86, this initiative had resulted in the transfer of power to a civilian administration, the convocation of a constituent assembly to formulate a new constitution, and the restoration of basic political and human rights for the Brazilian population. Much remains to be done, however, as the civilian regime and Brazilians themselves work to ensure that newly restored democratic practices are safeguarded through institutionalization at the level of the state.1 The role that the Brazilian Catholic Church has played in helping to effect this ongoing transition from dictatorship to stable democracy has come under considerable scrutiny from a number of sources. Of particular interest to social scientists and religious leaders alike has been the impact of the Brazilian comunidades eclesiais de base or CEBs (usually translated as "basic Christian communities"), many of which are known to be active in the political sphere.