For the Love of God? Evangelical Drug Traffickers Are Terrorizing Practitioners of Afro-Brazilian Religions
Candomblé priestess Carmen Flores was leaving her house three months ago when seven armed men confronted her.
OUTLET:
The Root
DATE:
December 17, 2017
PROJECT:
https://www.theroot.com/for-the-love-of-god-evangelical-drug-traffickers-are-t-1821321682
Excerpt
Candomblé priestess Carmen Flores was leaving her house three months ago when seven armed men confronted her.
They demanded that she destroy the sacred contents of her house, a spiritual home for more than 125 followers of the Candomblé Afro-Brazilian religion.
“Since my orisha is Oxum, our house was all about love,” said Flores, 66, who is better known as Mãe de Santo Carmen de Oxum. Oxum is the orisha of love, commonly represented as a woman dressed in yellow and holding a mirror.
Fearing for her life, Flores followed their directions while they yelled expletives at her.
“Burn everything! Break everything! The blood of Jesus has power!” they yelled.