Sawt Falasteen - Brazil's Lula woos Evangelicals with 'commitment letter'

During the meeting in Sao Paulo, Lula signed a "letter of commitment" addressed to Evangelicals, saying he opposes abortion and vowing to protect religious freedom.

The former president (2003-2010), who leads in opinion polls for Brazil's October 30 runoff, has faced a smear campaign from Bolsonaro backers accusing him of plotting to close churches if elected.

He has also come under attack from Bolsonaro's camp over abortion, after saying in April it should be a "right" -- then backtracking in the face of widespread backlash in the socially conservative country.

"Everyone knows there was never the slightest risk to churches when I was president. On the contrary," Lula said in the letter.

"My government will in no way act against religious freedom."

On the delicate subject of abortion -- opposed by more than 70 percent of Brazilians in most circumstances, according to polls -- the front-runner sought to assuage Evangelicals' fears.

"To me, life is sacred, the work of God the creator, and my commitment always has been and will be to protect it," he said.

"I am personally against abortion, and remind everyone that it is an issue to be decided by Congress, not the president."

Brazil currently bans abortion in all cases except rape, incest or risk to the mother's life.

Evangelicals are estimated to make up nearly one-third of Brazil's 214 million people.

Some 65 percent of them back Bolsonaro, compared to 31 percent for Lula, according to the latest poll from the Datafolha institute, released Friday.

The same poll found Lula leading the runoff race with 53 percent of valid votes to 47 percent for Bolsonaro.

Religion has become a political battlefield amid the polarizing campaign, with Bolsonaro regularly hitting the themes of God and Christianity and appearing alongside influential Evangelical pastors.

Lula called on religious leaders to keep churches out of the fray.

"If a pastor wants to talk politics, do it in the street, not in church," he said.

L.Hussein--SF-PST