Attacks on Our Lady of Aparecida, relations between religious leaders and the financial market, restrictions on access to Brazilian beaches, and the legal action of Flávio Bolsonaro (PL) in defense of a police officer accused of killing a child. These are some of the topics investigated in the journalistic series "Revealing," which has been presenting complaints and questions about the political trajectory of the presidential candidate and his family since September.
In the most recent episode, released on October 12, the production denounces manifestations of religious intolerance against the patron saint of Brazil and exposes political connections involving Bishop JB Carvalho, who has referred to the saint as the "right arm of Satan." It was in the church led by the religious figure that Flávio Bolsonaro chose to be baptized, according to the report.
Presented by singer Juliette Freire,the documentary "The War on Saint"questions the use of faith to fuel conflicts and power struggles. By revisiting attacks on Catholic imagery, the episode also explores the popular origin of devotion to Aparecida, a black figure associated with the history and religiosity of historically marginalized segments of the Brazilian population.Watch the episode here.
The report is part of a series of five episodes that address topics such as religious intolerance, financial interests linked to religious institutions, police violence, beach privatization, and women's reproductive control. According to organizers, "Revealing" is a special reporting project on "urgent and decisive topics to understand Brazil," produced by the team behind the podcast Calma Urgente, with distribution support from the Instituto Conhecimento Liberta (ICL), Mídia Ninja, 342 Artes, and Intercept Brasil.
According to data released by production, the series has already surpassed 25 million views on digital platforms, with more than 18 million on YouTube.
Religion, money, and political influence
Before delving into the attacks on Our Lady of Aparecida, the series investigated the relationships between the Lagoinha Baptist Church, the family of banker Daniel Vorcaro, and Banco Master. Launched on September 21, thesecond episode, “Great Churches, Master Businesses”is presented by comedian Fábio Porchat.
The report reconstructs the relationships between the Vorcaro family and the church over nearly three decades, as well as examining the actions of pastor Fabiano Zettel, the banker's brother-in-law, who was pointed out by the Federal Police as a financial operator of a group under investigation.
The documentary addresses financial operations, unsecured credit portfolios, and investments that promised high returns. It also mentions donations of R$ 5 million to Jair Bolsonaro and Tarcísio de Freitas and audio recordings in which Flávio Bolsonaro allegedly requested US$ 24 million from Vorcaro to finance a film about his father.Watch the episode here.
The episode seeks to explain how Banco Master grew rapidly before collapsing and investigates the connections between business, family relations, religious structures, and political articulations. The approach, as proposed by the production, does not question the faith of the attendees, but the use of religious institutions to establish economic relations and expand political influence.
Beach PEC and risk of coastal restriction
In the fourth episode, released on October 9, actress Luana Piovani presents an investigation into the so-called Beach PEC, a proposal defended by Flávio Bolsonaro in the Senate. The report warns of the risks of changes in marine land rules and the possibility of expanding private control over coastal areas.
The documentary points out that hotels, resorts, and luxury condominiums can, in practice, restrict the population's access to parts of the coastline. To illustrate the risks, Piovani compares the Brazilian scenario to tourist destinations like Cancún, Mexico, and Jamaica, where, according to the actress, tourism-oriented ventures can reinforce inequalities between visitors and local residents.
"This model already exists in Cancún and Jamaica: there, those who wear bikinis are foreigners, while locals are in uniforms working. And that's what could happen if Flávio Bolsonaro becomes President of Brazil," Piovani states in the video.
The report examines the political and economic interests behind the proposal and discusses the potential impacts of changes in the destination of marine lands on the public character of Brazilian beaches.Watch the episode here.i.
Five years without trial for the death of a child
The series also revisits the case of Ana Clara Gomes Machado, a five-year-old girl killed by rifle shots on February 2, 2021, while playing outside her home in Rio de Janeiro. The third episode, released on September 30, is hosted by actress Camila Pitanga.
According to the report, the girl was hit by four shots fired by a military police officer. The documentary details the investigations, presents allegations of tampering with the crime scene, and questions the legal outcomes of the case.
The production highlights that Flávio Bolsonaro, then a senator, acted as a defense attorney for Cabo Bruno Delaroli, identified by the investigation as the shooter. Even after five years, the case remained without trial, according to the episode.
"What was the intention of a senator in defending the man caught in the act of murdering a child?" questions Camila Pitanga during the video.Watch the episode here.
The report also follows the pain of the girl's mother, Cristiane Gomes da Silva, and the family's wait for justice. By revisiting the case, the documentary raises discussions on the accountability of security agents and the obstacles faced by families of violence victims.
Eugenics and control over women's reproduction
The first episode, released on September 14, explores the historical roots of eugenics in Brazil and its connection to contemporary discourses on controlling female reproduction. Presented by actress Samara Felippo, the documentary questions ideas that seek to determine who should or should not have children.
The report delves into Brazil's slave past, investigates initiatives of mass sterilization of women that received international investments, and relates these practices to recent political proposals and discourses.Watch the episode here.
According to the production, ideas associated with the Bolsonaro family reinforce the discussion on reproductive control, especially when targeting poor and Black women. The episode aims to demonstrate how concepts of social selection and population control can persist in new forms, with consequences for reproductive rights and the fight against inequalities.