Brazilian samba school changes Carnival float at request of church

Published: 2006-02-27

RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil -- One of Rio de Janeiro's most famous and oldest samba schools agreed to change the images of Our Lady of Guadalupe and Mary atop one of the school's Carnival floats at the request of the Rio de Janeiro Archdiocese. Archdiocesan lawyers said the images could be offensive to some Catholics, who see the annual Carnival parade as part of a profane festival. "The church is not against Carnival, but we should preserve our values," said Claudine Dutra, archdiocesan lawyer. Paulo Vianna, president of Mocidade Independente de Padre Miguel dance school, said: "We had no intention to offend. The float was meant to show that it is through prayers that we find peace." Vianna said school officials would fragment the face of one image and put a veil on the other to change the Marian images.

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