Centro Dom Bosco

Founded by a group of Catholic university students in 2016, Centro Dom Bosco quickly became an influential organization within Brazilian conservative circles. In the image, the shield of Centro Dom Bosco

Centro Dom Bosco (Portuguese: Don Bosco Centre) is a lay Catholic initiative established on September 17, 2016, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. It is known for its support for Catholic traditionalist initiatives, rejection of the Second Vatican Council, promotion of the Tridentine Mass, as well as the controversies which it has been involved. Despite identifying as Catholic, Centro Dom Bosco is not subject to the ecclesiastical hierarchy and has openly opposed it on many occasions, being a part of a phenomenon which some researchers label as "endogenous anticlericalism". According to researcher Victor Almeida Gama, the organization aims to revive Brazilian Catholic right-wing movements, such as TFP.

The group, which self-declaredly aims to "re-Christianize" Brazil, is said to focus on forming a Catholic intellectual elite, educating leaders who would contribute to the establishment in Brazil of the Social Kingship of Christ — that is, a state where laws and institutions adhere to Catholic principles. Centro Dom Bosco offers free courses on its YouTube platform, covering topics pertaining to the Catholic doctrine from a pre-Second Vatican Council perspective, and also operates its own platform, which is accessible through a monthly donation of any amount. Recently, the organization has expanded into film production and publishing through its own publishing house. Given its influence on virtual platforms and its broad reach among both clerical and lay circles, Centro Dom Bosco is recognized as one of the leading centers of Brazilian Catholic conservatism.

Activities

Established with the self-declared aim of "forming a new generation of Catholics capable of renewing the Church and the Land of the Holy Cross", under the motto "pray, study, and defend the faith," Centro Dom Bosco has become known for offering classes and courses on its digital platforms. These are available either for free on its YouTube channel or through a monthly donation of any amount on its own platform. The content of the classes invariably relates to pastoral and doctrinal practices predating the Second Vatican Council, including Latin, theology, and Gregorian chant. Because of that, the organization is often classified as part of the traditionalist movement.

Beyond its educational content, Centro Dom Bosco has also gained recognition for posting critic videos on its digital platforms, expressing their dissatisfaction with actions by clergy perceived as heretical, sacrilegious, or otherwise contrary to the Catholic faith. These videos have often reached a significant audience, in both support for the clergy targeted by the "accusations" and upholding Centro Dom Bosco's objections. Bishops and other priests targeted in these campaigns include Franciscan friar Lorrane Clementino, Dom Orlando Brandes, and the Episcopal Conference of Brazil (CNBB).

Similarly, Centro Dom Bosco has been actively involved in publishing since its early years. In 2018, they became known as the publishers of the controversial conservative newspaper O Universitário, widely distributed in front of colleges in Rio de Janeiro. On one occasion, a group of PUC-Rio students physically assaulted those delievering the newspaper, claiming its content was "transphobic" and "fascist". Footages of the altercation sparked widespread outcry on social media, leading the victims to pursue both civil and criminal legal actions against the students and professors involved. Centro Dom Bosco, whose editorial activity is self-described as its "primary counter-revolutionary front", has also become known for publishing classic Catholic titles translated directly from their original languages, as well as books about cultural warfare strategies by lesser-known authors, such as "Masonic Infiltrations in the Church," "How to Act in Counter-Revolutionary Warfare," and "Freemasonry: Enemy of the Church." By 2022, Centro Dom Bosco had published 40 titles.

Positions

Centro Dom Bosco affirms its adherence to the traditional Magisterium of the Catholic faith. Although they do not consider themselves to be sedevacantists, they often criticize the Second Vatican Council and the alleged infiltration of the ecclesial hierarchy by "revolutionary extreme left". Their media channels frequently express support for the Tridentine Mass, which they refer to as the "everlasting mass", in opposition to the ordinary form established by Pope Paul VI. The group also espouses a deeply anti-communist stance, opposing the progressive Marxist wing they believe has infiltrated the Church, represented by priests supportive of liberation theology.

Furthermore, the organization is diametrically opposed to any form of voluntary abortion, even in those cases allowed by Brazilian law, often exerting pressure on elected representatives to advocate for their interests on this issue. In accordance with Catholic doctrine, they oppose Freemasonry, having released a series of five critical videos to the organization on their YouTube channel. Other topics they oppose include secularism, Protestantism, leftism, Marxism, socialism, globalism, feminism, and so-called "gender theory".

Some researchers argue that Olavo de Carvalho's thought has deeply influenced Centro Dom Bosco's modus operandi, including Carlos Nougué, who was once involved with the organization in its early years. The group's connection to "olavism" could be seen not only in their adherence to the concept of cultural war but also through their network of relationships with figures close to Olavo, such as Bernardo Kuster and Ítalo Marsili. However, the group has never commented on whether or to what extent Olavo's philosophy serves as a theoretical basis for their actions.

Bibliography

• Bencke, R. M. (2021). "Sobre o que precisamos conversar pelo caminho? Campanha da Fraternidade Ecumênica em tempos de fundamentalismos: aprendizados e desafios para o movimento ecumênico". Caminhos de Diálogo (in Portuguese). 14 (9). Curitiba, Brazil: 47–57. doi:10.7213/cd.a9n14p47-57. ISSN 2595-8208.

• Carranza, B. (2023). "Ultraconservadorismo católico: Mimeses dos mecanismos da erosão democrática brasileira". Lua Nova (in Portuguese). 119. São Paulo, Brazil. doi:10.1590/0102-048075/119.
• Fernandes da Silva, Rogério (2021). "CFE-2021: Conflito de visões antagônica" [CFE-2021: Conflict of antagonistic views]. V CONACIR: Religião e Alteridade. Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciência da Religião da UFJF. (in Portuguese). Juiz de Fora, Brazil.
• Gama, V. A. (2021). "O Centro Dom Bosco e a atuação da nova direita católica" (PDF). ANPUH-BRASIL - 31º Simpósio Nacional de História (in Portuguese). Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

• Lima, P. H. B. (2021). A vocação anticristã do Centro Dom Bosco (1st ed.). Belo Horizonte: Edições Independentes. ISBN 978-65-00-24474-8.

• Nougué, C. (2020). Opúsculos Tomistas II (1st ed.). Edições Santo Tomás II. ISBN 9788568860038.

• Sbardelotto, M. A. (2023). "Facetas midiático-digitais do neorreacionarismo católico no Brasil". Reflexão: Revista de Pós-graduação em Ciências da Religião, Centro de Ciências Humanas e Sociais Aplicadas da PUC Campinas (in Portuguese). 48. Campinas, Brazil. doi:10.24220/2447-6803v48e2023a8864.

• Souza, N. (2022). "O avanço do fundamentalismo católico nas redes sociais no Brasil". Revista de Cultura Teológica (in Portuguese). 102 (XXX). São Paulo, Brazil. doi:10.24220/2447-6803v48e2023a8864. ISSN 2317-4307.