Dubbed FaceGloria it is about as tasteless as you expect from people who wear their religion on their sleeves. Instead of "liking" things you say "amen" for example.

Facegloria looks a bit like Facebook and so far 100,000 users have signed up its first month.

Web designer Atilla Barros said that on Facebook you see a lot of violence and pornography although where – we guess it is how you define violence and pornography.

"We thought of creating a network where we could talk about God's love and to spread His word," he said.

Given that 42 million of Brazil's 202 million people are estimated to be Evangelicals – and the fervent puritan movement continues to make inroads into traditionally dominant Catholicism – they might have a market.

Swearing is banned – there is a list of about 600 forbidden words – as is any violent or erotic content, or photo or video depictions of homosexual activity.

"We want to be morally and technically better than Facebook. We want all Brazilian Evangelicals to shift to Facegloria," said Mr Barros.

More than 20 volunteers censor bad language and to decide whether or not to allow potentially risqué selfies and bikini shots.

Apparently pictures showing tobacco and alcohol get scrutinised for possible removal.

Fortunately it is not as tough as it sounds as most of the members don't think to publish that sort of smut in the first place.

"In two years we hope to get to 10 million users in Brazil. In a month we have had 100,000 and in two we are expecting a big increase thanks to a mobile phone app," he said.

Acir dos Santos, the mayor of Ferraz de Vasconcelos, says there's no limit.

"Our network is global. We have bought the Faceglory domaine in English and in all possible languages. We want to take on Facebook and Twitter here and everywhere," he said.