Janja calls Malafaia 'insignificant,' urges progressive pastors to engage

Brazil's First Lady Janja da Silva has sharply retorted to criticism from influential pastor Silas Malafaia, labeling him "insignificant" after he dismissed her meetings with progressive evangelical women as gatherings with "insignificant" people.

“

Insignificant is he because every woman is important to me.

Speaking at the 4th National Meeting of Evangelicals of the PT party, Janja asserted her commitment to engaging with all women, regardless of their perceived influence. "Insignificant is he because every woman is important to me," she stated, defending her initiative to connect with evangelical communities. She urged progressive pastors to increase their engagement within churches, particularly to combat domestic violence and feminicide, framing it as a crucial "dispute of narrative" that must occur in all public spaces.

“

we have decided to temporarily suspend vaccination.

Malafaia had previously criticized Janja's meetings, suggesting they involved individuals lacking any "expression in the evangelical world." His remarks followed a meeting Janja held with women from the Front of Evangelicals for the Rule of Law. Janja explained that her initial goal was to understand the obstacles faced by women within the progressive sphere, discovering common challenges across different political stances.

“

The dispute of narrative has to happen in all spaces.

Janja emphasized that this engagement is not merely political but a "dispute of principle, of ethics, of morals." She encouraged progressives to occupy spaces of faith and express their beliefs, warning against allowing opposing narratives to dominate unchallenged. The First Lady stressed the need to move beyond partisan divisions, comparing being stuck in ideological ruts to a "car stuck in mud."

“

We cannot fail to consider that if we don't use [the churches] this way, they use them.