Olympic Village Now Includes Brazilian-African Religions With Others

Crux reported yesterday that in Olympic Village in Rio de Janeiro, the interfaith center this year includes priests from the Brazilian-African Candomble and Umbanda faiths.  When the International Olympics Committee initially chose only five official religions-- Christianity, Islam, Judaism, Buddhism and Hinduism-- to be represented, Brazil's Federal Public Ministry (at the urging of activists) complained arguing that the religious diversity of the host country needed to be represented.  Brazilian law gives Africa-based religions proportional representation in official activities in the country.