RIO DE JANEIRO, BRASIL -  Flavio Bolsonaro attacked the National Conference of Bishops of Brasil (CNBB) and accused them of spreading fake news in the lead-up to Brasil’s presidential election.

​Bolsonaro’s attack on the Catholic Church comes after news stories noted that, in the past, some of Flavio Bolsonaro’s allies wanted to end Brasil’s practice of celebrating the Saint Day of the patron saint of Brasil, Nossa Senhora Aparecida, a Black saint, as a national holiday in Brasil, a move designed to decrease the influence of the Lula-friendly Catholic Church.

​On Friday, X mysteriously blocked the National Conference of Bishops of Brasil (CNBB) account. Then, on Sunday, Flavio Bolsonaro attacked the CNBB, accusing it of working directly with Lula’s Workers’ Party (PT)

​"The biggest piece of fake news in this campaign was the one regarding Nossa Senhora Aparecida —something that never existed; there was no movement to strip her of her status as Brasil’s patron saint—never,” Bolsonaro said yesterday at a campaign event. “There is no bill, there is nothing. The PT had been trying to stir up this fake news for a few days and succeeded with the help of people within the CNBB; unfortunately, that is the reality."

​The CNBB rejected claims that it spread fake news and worked with the PT.

​"The CNBB did not produce, authorize, or participate in the creation or dissemination of false information regarding the current electoral process,” said the CNBB in a statement. “Lies are not combated with other lies.”

​Polling shows that news of Bolsonaro’s supporters backing the removal of the Black saint is hurting Bolsonaro ahead of this Sunday’s first round of voting. According to Instituto Democracia em Xeque, the discussion about removing the saint was the third most viral political discussion of the year online, with more than 1 million people posting about it in 24 hours over the weekend.

​According to research by the polling firm QAEST, Lula’s support among Catholics, who compose 57% of all voters, rose from 46% to 50% since the discussion over the saint intensified. Meanwhile, Bolsonaro’s support among evangelicals, who compose 27% of all voters, fell from 58% to 54% in the last few days as Bolsonaro, on the defensive, has defended the saint.

Around the country, evangelicals, who are opposed to saints, attacked Catholic churches. Some also criticized Flavio Bolsonaro for backing the saint.

Bolsonaro has desperately tried to suppress the news about the controversy surrounding the saint. Over the weekend, he got Brazilian Supreme Court Justice António Mendonça to remove more than 1,000 prominent social media posts about the controversy from the internet. Then another Supreme Court Justice, Flavio Dino, reversed the ruling.

On Monday, Lula took to TV Band to defend having Nossa Senhora Aparecida as the patron saint of Brasil.

“Messing with Nossa Senhora Aparecida is unacceptable,” said Lula on TV Band. “It is unacceptable; there have even been people from the Evangelical faith who once kicked a statue of Nossa Senhora Aparcedia.What I want to say is this: she will remain the Patroness of Brazil because the Brazilian people want it and have faith. And I simply want all religions to respect other religions. All of them!”

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