Religious marriages celebrated in Umbanda and Candomblé centers are now officially recognized in Rio de Janeiro. The measure is in Law 11.058/25, authored by state deputy Átila Nunes (PSD), approved by the Legislative Assembly of Rio (Alerj) and sanctioned by the state government.
The conversion of these unions into a marriage with civil validity now follows the rules of the Civil Code (Law 10,406/02) and the Public Records Law (Law 6,015/73).
For religious scientist and journalist Claudia Alexandre, the decision recognizes, even belatedly, the value of Afro-Brazilian traditions and helps to combat religious intolerance. Claudia is a priestess of Umbanda and Candomblé, and has been celebrating weddings and baptisms at her terreiro for 20 years, which is located in Paraty, on the south coast of Rio de Janeiro.
“This is an important step that will contribute to eliminating the stigma that has historically fallen on Afro-Brazilian religions. Baptism, wedding and funeral celebrations have always been held by terreiros and the Secular State needs to recognize religious authority, just as it recognizes celebrations in the Catholic Church”, says Claudia.
“In a country that naturalizes the increase in religious racism, the law is an achievement, even if, for now, it is only in Rio de Janeiro”, he adds.
For the religious celebration to produce civil effects, a declaration drawn up by a religious authority from Umbanda or Candomblé will be necessary. The document must contain the full name, CPF, identity document and address of the bride and groom; date, place and time of the ceremony; identification of the celebrating religious authority; identification of the temple, terreiro or religious house; in addition to the signatures of the celebrant and at least two witnesses from the community.
The marriage declaration may be forwarded to the competent Civil Registry Office of Natural Persons, accompanied by the documentation required by federal legislation.
According to Átila Nunes, the initiative ensures principles such as religious freedom, human dignity, equality, freedom of association and protection of cultural diversity. He says that Rio de Janeiro is the first state in the country to pass a law on the subject.
“It’s a process of equity. Catholic and evangelical churches have all the rights that African-based religions did not have. The great victory is that now marriages in these rites can have civil effects”, says the parliamentarian.
The law also defines who can be recognized as a qualified religious authority: priests and priestesses, babalorixás, ialorixás, fathers and mothers of saints, terreiro leaders and other spiritual leaders traditionally recognized in Umbanda and Candomblé. The objective is to respect the internal criteria of each tradition, and preserve the spiritual and organizational autonomy of the communities.
“The recognition has special relevance in the current context of combating religious intolerance and structural racism. Umbanda and Candomblé are spiritual traditions of African origin that have suffered historical marginalization, repression and criminalization, often made invisible even in public policies promoting equality and religious freedom”, said Átila Nunes.
During the sanction, Governor Cláudio Castro vetoed two provisions of the law. One of them provided for punishments for extrajudicial offices (notary offices) that refused, in a discriminatory manner, to receive or process documents related to religious celebrations. According to the governor, the section goes beyond state jurisdiction. He argues that legislation on public records is the exclusive responsibility of the Union.
“These are obstacles that announce that there will still be difficulties in the real recognition of the right to religious freedom. This game of power, this historical policy of limiting rights, is part of structural racism”, analyzes scientist Claudia Alexandre.
“An example, in this sense, was the veto of the clause that provided for punishment for schools that did not comply with law 10 639/2003 – on the mandatory teaching of Afro-Brazilian traditions. Today, more than 70% of public and private schools in Brazil have not implemented the law. Many still punish teachers and demonize thematic content”, he adds.
The article that authorized the Executive and Judiciary Powers to promote educational campaigns, training of public agents and notaries and actions to enhance the cultural and religious expressions of Umbanda and Candomblé was also vetoed. According to Castro, the device violated the principle of separation of Powers by imposing public policy guidelines on the Executive.
“Campaigns to promote Afro-Brazilian religions would help to combat stigma and distortions about black-African heritage and culture, which are the basis for the formation of our society”, criticizes Claudia Alexandre.
