Abstract:
The investigation aims to examine discourses reproduced by the Catholic episcopate in opposition to the launching of the Brazilian 3rd National Human Rights Program (PNDH-3). In analyzing the reactions of the highest echelon of the Church, the idea is to probe the repertoire that guides the Catholic institution in its contemporary political interventions, which, most of the time, concern the field of morality, with special predilection for sexual morality. Opposed to the PNDH-3, bishops backed up their positions with the use of lay justifications. Episcopal initiatives were supported by a grammar based on jusnaturalism and on the Constitution. In sum, the repertoire of rights was adopted with the purpose of restricting rights.
Keywords:
Human Rights; Catholic Church; jusnaturalism; Constitution; conservatism