Brazilian president ends controversy, appoints bishop to food council
SAO PAULO, Brazil (CNS) -- Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has appointed a bishop to the national food council, ending a period of tension between the new government and the church. Da Silva appointed Bishop Mauro Morelli of Duque de Caxias to the council after a government official told the bishop that an evangelical church member of the council had vetoed the bishop's inclusion. Bishop Morelli said he had always maintained a cordial relationship with the evangelical community and doubted that it had blackballed him. Da Silva, who last year asked the bishop to head the council, ended the controversy by appointing him a member. The bishop said some tension and conflict are natural at the beginning of every administration.