Against the secular State: the condemnation of religious freedom by the Dom Bosco Center through the course “Catechism of the Crisis in the Church”

Abstract

Abstract: The aim of this article is to investigate the basis of the discourse against the secularism of the State produced by the Dom Bosco Center, a lay association linked to Catholic traditionalism in Brazil, through the course “Catechism of the Crisis in the Church”. This research is conducted through bibliographic and documental analysis. The bibliographic analysis is focused on the themes of Catholic traditionalism and religious fundamentalism. The documental analysis involves the examination of written electronic documents, ecclesiastical documents and audiovisual materials, with an emphasis on the lesson “The Error of Religious Freedom”, a part of the course “Catechism of the Crisis in the Church”, produced by the Dom Bosco Center. The study indicates that the Dom Bosco Center opposes the secularism of the State by understanding religious freedom as an error and adhering to the doctrine that error has no rights. At the same time, it advocates for the establishment of a Catholic State, capable of prohibiting the public worship and promotion of other religions, and of guiding the population with the aim of saving of souls.