“Os três paus santos: a enxada, o machado e a foice” fé, organização política e leitura do mundo na Diocese de Crateús

Abstract

The thesis The Three Holy Sticks: The Hoe, the Axe, and the Sickle: Faith, Political Organization, and Worldview in the Diocese of Crateús (1964-1988) examines the intersection of religion, labor, and politics in the Diocese of Crateús, highlighting liberation theology as a formative force in the region. It presents Crateús as a center for the expression of liberation theology in Latin America, emphasizing the reciprocal influence between Christianity and Marxism, and the resistance of religious communities during the military regime. The thesis focuses on the Diocese of Crateús and the practice of the "option for the poor", exploring the role of Bishop Dom Fragoso, who rejected luxury and lived simply in the hinterland, identifying with the local poverty. The analysis reveals how drought, the lack of public policies, and the exploitation of peasants shaped the political and religious organization of the region, highlighting the role of the Base Ecclesial Communities (CEBs, in Portuguese) in political education and resistance. The repression during the military dictatorship, with persecution, torture, and censorship, is also addressed, showing how resistance actions were not confined to urban centers. Social memory is explored through sources and testimonies that reveal the narratives of peasants and religious figures, including the impact of censorship and the role of the local Church in forming critical and political consciousness. The drought is also discussed, with an emphasis on popular organization and the struggle for agrarian reform, a common cause in several progressive dioceses in Brazil. The thesis also examines the production of historical sources by the diocese itself, including letters, pamphlets, and documents, and highlights the participation of women in the social and political organization of the region.