12/ 47Catholics
Flávio accused “people inside the CNBB”. Without evidence.
One week before the first round, Flávio Bolsonaro said the PT spread a false story “with help from people inside the CNBB”, without providing evidence[1]. The CNBB denied it and replied: “You cannot fight a lie with another lie”[2].
2001 · Bishop JB Carvalho, in the book “A Bomba”
God hates worship of the Queen of Heaven[3]
2001 · Bishop JB Carvalho, in the same book
I call on all Christian Brazilians […] to ensure that Aparecida is no longer Our Lady in our nation[3]
27 Sept. 2026 · Flávio, at a campaign event in Aracaju
The PT, I now know, had already been trying for a few days to spread this false story and succeeded with help from people inside the CNBB[1]
Sept. 2026 · CNBB, in a statement
You cannot fight a lie with another lie[2]
28 Sept. 2026 · Flávio, in São Paulo, with Tarcísio
To all Catholics, I thank you for your trust and say that this does not exist[4]
Flávio denies wanting to change the patron saint’s title[4], and the TSE, in a case he brought, upheld the removal of posts linking him to that false claim[5]. The statements from 2001 are the bishop’s, not Flávio’s.
- Millions of voters did not vote in the first round
- 33.4
- Millions of votes separated Flávio and Lula
- 2.2
- Of Brazilians aged 10 or over are Catholic
- 56.7%
The bishop
The church Flávio chose
The statements from 2001 are by JB Carvalho, founding bishop of Comunidade das Nações, an evangelical church in Brasília[9]. They are not Flávio’s. But that was the church where he and his wife, Fernanda, were baptized in January 2024[10].
In November 2025, Flávio visited his father, held in PF custody, bringing another book by the bishop, “Metanoia” (2018)[11]. On December 7, the prospective candidate’s first public event was a service there[12]. Contacted by Estado de Minas for a report on this connection, Flávio’s team did not respond[10].
The CNBB
An accusation without evidence
On 27 September, in Aracaju, Flávio said the PT spread a false story “with help from people inside the CNBB”, without providing evidence[1]. He was referring to the story that he wants to strip the patron saint of her title[2], which is indeed false[5].
The CNBB replied in a statement: “The CNBB did not produce, authorize or participate in preparing or spreading false information”. It added: “You cannot fight a lie with another lie”[2]. The CNBB does not endorse candidates or parties[13].
The decree
A decree and a question
In a campaign video, Flávio said one of his first acts as president would be to “decree that Brazil belongs to the Lord Jesus Christ”. His campaign explained that it would be a prayer before the reading of the inauguration document, symbolically entrusting Brazil to Jesus[14].
Dom Roberto Francisco Ferreira Paz, bishop of Campos (RJ) and a CNBB member, asked for an explanation: a state decision must consider citizens of different religions, and “freedom of religion and belief is a constitutional principle”[14].
Your vote
For those who did not vote
In the first round, 33.4 million voters did not vote[6]. Around 2.2 million votes separated Flávio and Lula[7]. Everyone had their reasons. The CNBB, which does not endorse candidates, reminds voters: “Abstention is not the best choice”[13].
The CNBB asks voters to look beyond promises at “the candidates’ life histories”, and warns against the “deliberate spread of lies”[13]. Part of that history is on this page. On October 25, the choice is yours.
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References14 sources
- 01SBT News · Flávio acusa ‘gente de dentro da CNBB’ de espalhar fake newsIn Aracaju, on 27 September, Flávio said the PT spread the false story “with help from people inside the CNBB”, without providing evidence.(opens in a new tab)
- 02Bahia Notícias · Flávio acusa PT e CNBB de disseminarem “fake news” sobre Nossa Senhora e entidade responde: “Mentira não se combate com outra mentira”The false story concerned the patron saint; the CNBB replied that it did not produce, authorize or participate in spreading false information and that “you cannot fight a lie with another lie”.(opens in a new tab)
- 03Revista Fórum · Pastor da Igreja de Flávio Bolsonaro escreveu contra Nossa Senhora Aparecida e chama lei da Santa de ilegalExcerpts from “A Bomba” (2001), by JB Carvalho: “God hates worship of the Queen of Heaven” and “that Aparecida is no longer Our Lady in our nation”.(opens in a new tab)
- 04Congresso em Foco · Flávio e Tarcísio erguem imagem de Nossa Senhora em SP após polêmicaFlávio denies wanting to change the patron saint’s title: “this does not exist”.(opens in a new tab)
- 05CNN Brasil · TSE proíbe posts que vinculam Flávio a fake news de Nossa SenhoraIn a case brought by Flávio, the TSE upheld the removal of posts linking him to the false claim that the patron saint would lose her title.(opens in a new tab)
- 06CartaCapital · Abstenção chega a 21,08% e tem segunda maior taxa em 1º turno desde 198933,469,244 voters did not vote in the first round of 2026, an abstention rate of 21.08%.(opens in a new tab)
- 07Agência Senado · Flávio Bolsonaro e Lula disputam o segundo turno das eleições para presidenteWith 99.97% of ballot boxes counted, Flávio had 56,098,457 votes (47.04%) and Lula, 53,846,396 (45.15%).(opens in a new tab)
- 08Congresso em Foco · Censo 2022: 1 em 4 brasileiros é evangélico; católicos caem para 56,7%IBGE 2022 Census: 56.7% of Brazilians aged 10 or over identify as Catholic.(opens in a new tab)
- 09Metrópoles · JB Carvalho defendeu em livro retirar NS Aparecida como padroeira do BrasilJB Carvalho is bishop and founder of Comunidade das Nações, in Brasília; attributing an intention to strip the title to Flávio is a false claim.(opens in a new tab)
- 10Estado de Minas · A ligação de Flávio Bolsonaro com o bispo que pediu o fim de N.S. Aparecida como padroeira do BrasilFlávio and Fernanda were baptized at Comunidade das Nações in January 2024; Flávio’s team did not respond to the report.(opens in a new tab)
- 11Metrópoles · Pastor de Flávio Bolsonaro diz: “Deus odeia o culto à Rainha dos Céus”On November 25, 2025, Flávio brought his father, held in PF custody, the book “Metanoia”, by JB Carvalho.(opens in a new tab)
- 12IstoÉ Dinheiro (Estadão Conteúdo) · Flávio Bolsonaro participa de culto neste domingo, 1º compromisso após anúncio de candidaturaService at Comunidade das Nações on December 7, 2025, Flávio’s first public engagement as a prospective candidate.(opens in a new tab)
- 13Canção Nova · Eleições 2026: CNBB divulga mensagem ao povo brasileiroThe CNBB does not endorse candidates; “abstention is not the best choice”; look at “the candidates’ life histories”; warning against lies.(opens in a new tab)
- 14TVT News · Bispo da CNBB cobra que Flávio Bolsonaro explique fala sobre Brasil ser de Jesus Cristo“Decree that Brazil belongs to the Lord Jesus Christ”; the campaign’s explanation; Dom Roberto Francisco Ferreira Paz asks for an explanation.(opens in a new tab)