In it's shift from ritualistic Catholicism to shallow Pentecostalism, Brazil is jumping from the spiritual frying pan into the spiritual fire.

People from the favelas flock to the Universal Church of the Kingdom of God--but no transformation is taking place in the favelas. Indeed, the favelas are getting worse, which the Universal Church gets richer.

Excuse my ignorance, is a favela the equivalent to what I, as a resident of the USA, would consider a ghetto? Thanks.