More than 200 women have come forward to accuse in Brazil an internationally celebrated most famous medium and spiritual healer of sexually abusing them, according to Brazilian media reports and police complaints received Tuesday.
João Teixeira de Faria, 76, better known as João de Deus, or John of God, has attended Brazilian presidents Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, Dilma Rousseff and Michel Temer, pop stars and celebrities. But in television interviews broadcast on Friday, four women alleged sexual abuse – and later prosecutors had received more than 200 complaints. But the spiritual healer claimed he was using his supernatural powers to cure them.
Women claimed they were taken into a private room then abused them, according to the report of Brazilian media.
He has been performing healing ceremonies and “spiritual surgeries” since 1976 at the Dom Inácio de Loyola house in Abidiânia. At least 15,000 people live in this town which is 100km from the capital, Brasília.
Thousands of visitors including famous actors come each year here. Brazil is a country teems with religions.
Mário Rosa, a spokesman for De Faria, stated he denied the allegations and before accusations were broadcast the investigation team should investigate.
“We declare his innocence. We respect the right of the women to make these testimonies, but we do not recognise these testimonies as true,” he said.
> Shiuly Rina
