One might imagine that a nation’s presidential election would revolve around matters of economic policy, infrastructure, or perhaps even the mundane intricacies of social programs. But no, dear reader, in the vibrant republic of Brazil, the electoral discourse has apparently descended into a divine squabble over the official status of "Our Lady of Aparecida." It appears the candidates, locked in a neck-and-neck race, have decided that the true path to power lies not through appealing to the individual citizen’s self-interest, but through the dubious art of religious endorsement – or, heaven forbid, *disendorsement* – by the state.
The wire reports an astonishing development: speculation that one candidate, Flávio Bolsonaro, might dare to "strip Our Lady of Aparecida of position" as Brazil’s patron saint. The very notion is a testament to the boundless arrogance of the modern state. Here we have politicians, mere mortals elected (or attempting to be elected) to manage the earthly affairs of public roads and sanitation, somehow believing they possess the authority to confer or revoke spiritual patronage. It begs the question, if they can bestow or rescind sainthood by fiat, what other aspects of our lives do they believe fall under their purview? Our thoughts? Our beliefs? Our very souls?
This grotesque spectacle serves as a perfect illustration of the perils Friedrich Hayek warned us about when the state extends its reach beyond its proper, limited sphere. When government presumes to arbitrate matters of faith, it not only oversteps its legitimate boundaries but also inevitably politicizes the sacred. What was once a matter of individual conscience and communal devotion becomes a political football, tossed about by demagogues seeking to leverage piety for power. "The curious task of economics," Hayek famously observed, "is to demonstrate to men how little they really know about what they imagine they can design." One could easily adapt that to governance: the curious task of limited government is to demonstrate to politicians how little they really know about what they imagine they can design – especially when it comes to the divine.
The idea that a political leader, no matter their ideological stripes, could "demote" a religious figure is not just ludicrous; it's profoundly unsettling. It implies that the state is the ultimate arbiter of spiritual truth, a claim that any truly free society should immediately reject. The patron saint of Brazil, a revered symbol for millions, derives her status from the faith of the people, not from an executive order or legislative decree. For a politician to even hint at altering this status is to suggest that their power transcends even the spiritual beliefs of the citizenry.
This isn't merely about Brazil; it's a symptom of a larger, global malaise where the state continually seeks to expand its footprint, encroaching on territories once considered inviolable. From regulating the minutiae of our diets to dictating the content of our speech, and now, apparently, to appointing or un-appointing patron saints, the ambition of the Leviathan knows no bounds. It’s an embarrassing display of overreach, akin to an eccentric, overbearing relative who insists on micromanaging every aspect of your life, including your prayer habits.
The true tragedy here is not merely the absurd discussion itself, but the fact that it has become a "deciding factor" in an election. This signifies a public discourse so distorted by the omnipresence of government that even matters of personal faith are viewed through a political lens. Instead of focusing on genuine issues of liberty, prosperity, and the shrinking burden of the state, citizens are now being asked to vote based on how a candidate intends to manage the spiritual realm.
One can only hope that the Brazilian people, having endured such governmental meddling, will recognize this for what it is: a desperate and cynical attempt to manipulate sentiment. The state has no business in our churches, synagogues, mosques, or temples, let alone in the celestial hierarchy. Let the politicians focus on pavement and proper property rights, and leave the hagiography to the faithful. The less our public servants concern themselves with the spiritual, the better for both our souls and our freedom.