This article talks about the religion in Brazil now and from the beginning. In the beginning everyone in Brazil were obligated to pay taxes to the church and to believe in the Roman Catholic faith. the priests were paid by the government and had a huge influence on the Brazilian leaders. In 1824 when Brazil got its independence there was a freedom of religion. Roman Catholicism was still declared the official states religion.

http://www.celebratebrazil.com/brazilian-religion.html