Evangelical churchgoers in Argentina voice disapproval following Milei's sermon

In a move that has sparked debate and controversy, Argentinian President Javier Milei delivered a speech at the International Christian Church's newly inaugurated temple, Portal del Cielo, in Chaco. The event, which marked the opening of the largest evangelical church in the country with a capacity of over 10,000 people, has been a topic of discussion due to Milei's vocal stance against the left in Argentine politics and his alignment with evangelical values.

## The Speech and Its Controversy

President Milei used the platform to advocate for a "culture war" aimed at promoting "the ideas of freedom" and countering socialism. He criticized the left for allegedly distorting Judeo-Christian values with an anti-capitalist agenda. The event has raised questions about the blurring of lines between religious and political spheres.

Walter Ghione, a politician and evangelical leader, warned that Milei made "serious mistakes" in his speech when he said that "the state itself represents evil." Jorge Fernández, an Argentinian evangelical pastor living in Spain, expressed discomfort with both Milei's speech and the invitation to take the pulpit.

## Evangelical Churches in Argentine Politics

Over the past decade, evangelical churches have significantly expanded their presence in Argentina. The church at the centre of the controversy, the International Christian Church, was founded in 1994 by Jorge and Alicia Ledesma. Its leader, Pastor Jorge Ledesma, is also the head of the Iglesia Cristiana Internacional, a supernatural Evangelism movement that has spread across multiple countries, claiming to perform miracles and healings.

The visit by President Milei reflects a strong political connection between the government and evangelical leaders, a relationship that has been controversial, as critics argue it could represent undue religious influence on political decisions.

## The Portal del Cielo and Its Influence

The Portal del Cielo took a decade to build and has over 25,000 weekly worshippers and claims to have 50,000 active members. The event was part of the two-day World Congress of Invasion of God's Love, a Christian leadership meeting. Tickets for the event ranged from $30,000 to $100,000 Argentine Pesos in VIP areas, with cheaper tickets selling out quickly.

In his speech, President Milei quoted Bible verses and criticized socialist ideas, including social justice, income redistribution, and the phrase attributed to Eva Perón. He described leftist ideology as a "virus in people's heads" that fills them with "hatred and resentment."

## Reactions and Comparisons

Not all reactions to the speech were negative. Evangelical pastor Norberto Saracco, the co-founder of the Council of Pastors of the City of Buenos Aires and a member of the board of directors of the Christian Alliance of Evangelical Churches of Argentina (Aciera), defended Milei's speech. However, Aciera's representative noted that no president has ever given a speech at a Jewish, Catholic, or Muslim religious event.

Fernández compared Milei to dictators Augusto Pinochet and Efraín Ríos Montt, who had previously given speeches in some evangelical churches. Saracco criticized Milei's speech as a partisan act filled with false arguments and malicious distortions.

In conclusion, the controversy surrounding President Milei's speech at the International Christian Church's new temple, Portal del Cielo, revolves around his vocal stance against the left in Argentine politics and his alignment with evangelical values. The event has highlighted the growing influence of evangelical churches in Argentina and raised questions about the intersection of religion and politics in the country.

The speech delivered by President Milei at Portal del Cielo, the newly inaugurated temple of the International Christian Church, has ignited a debate in general-news and politics, as Milei advocated for a "culture war" against socialism, criticizing the left for distorting Judeo-Christian values with an anti-capitalist agenda, and equating the state with evil.
The growing influence of evangelical churches in Argentine politics, as depicted by the event at Portal del Cielo, has raised concerns among some politicians and religious leaders, with the controversial opening of the largest evangelical church in Argentina serving as a point of contention in the ongoing discussion about the blurring of lines between religious and political spheres.