Ninho Cearense: a ação pastoral nas zonas de prostituição durante a Ditadura Civil-Militar (Fortaleza, 1960-1980)

Abstract

The civil-military dictatorship, marked by the defense of "morals and good behavior'', built a complex repressive apparatus aimed at regulating dissident bodies. Not only the leftist militants had their steps followed and repressed, but a whole sector of people who were on the margins of these ideals of the “traditional Brazilian family” preached by the military and the most conservative sector of the Catholic Church. The prostitute was one of those persecuted people, since she was proclaimed as degenerate, transgressive and subversive, being, therefore, repressed in several ways due to her sexuality deviating from the “demure and home” woman pattern. These women found prejudice and oppression in the regime. As well, they found shelter and defense, but also control and disciplining, within the progressive nucleus of the Church. Being one of those nuclei of the Christianity of Liberation, the pastoral “Ninho Cearense”, that carried out a work of formation and promotion of citizenship for prostitutes in Ceará. This research aims to understand the relationship between prostitutes and agents of the Ninho Cearense, the influence of the ideals of Liberation Theology and Feminist Theology in the actions of this Movement, and the conflicts of the Ninho Cearense and marginalized sectors with the agents of repression. Based on the analysis of registration forms, visit records, thematic interviews and Ninho Cearense publications, reports in periodicals, governmental and ecclesiastical documents, as well a bibliographic review of the existing literature.