Brazil's Salesian School São João Bosco Ordered to Make Religious Activities Optional

The Ceará State Public Ministry (MPCE) issued a public recommendation to the private Catholic Salesian School São João Bosco in Juazeiro do Norte, stating that student participation in religious celebrations should be optional. The ministry asked the school to provide alternative activities for students who choose not to attend, to orient teachers and administrators on the new policy, and to establish monitoring mechanisms. The school was given a 20‑day deadline to report the measures it will adopt, with a warning of possible legal responsibility. The Salesian order operates schools in 133 countries and educates more than 1.1 million young people worldwide.