Lula wants to get closer to all religions, says Rui Costa

After a ministerial meeting with President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT) this Monday (18), the Minister of the Civil House, Rui Costa, stated in a press conference that Lula wants to get closer to all religions, but said that ” people’s belief” cannot be used in party political disputes.

“The president wants to get closer to the Brazilian people, families, and all religions. What the president, as we all agree, is that people’s faith, people’s beliefs, cannot be used in party political disputes”, stated Rui Costa.

Rui Costa’s statement reinforces what President Lula said earlier that religion cannot be “instrumentalized” by political parties or government members.

“People want a country in which religion is not a political instrument of a party or government. May faith be exercised in the fullest freedom of people who want to exercise it. We cannot understand religion being manipulated in the vile and low way it is in this country”, said the PT member at the ministerial meeting.

Despite criticism, Lula has tried to reach out to all religions as a way to recover his falling popularity after a year and three months in government. The last three surveys by Quaest, AtlasIntel and Ipec indicate an increase in disapproval of Lula even in the midst of public and private investments, announcements of official programs and good economic figures, with a drop in unemployment, an increase in GDP, among others.