Woman says she received slaps and hair tugs during an alleged exorcism session of the priest; Civil Police investigates the case
Father João José Bezerra, who is also a jiu-jitsu fighter, was reported to the police for assaulting a 62-year-old elderly during a mass he celebrated in São Manuel, inside. The woman reported having received slaps and hair tugs during an alleged exorcism session of the priest. It opened investigation by lightweight bodily injuries. The Archdiocese of Botucatu said it has removed the priest from clerical functions and opened an internal procedure to determine the facts. He also says that he provides solidarity and support to the victim and his family.
According to the police record, the elderly woman attended a Mass of the Novena of St. Michael Arcanjo, in which Father Bezerra presented himself as a concelebrant in the condition of “exorcist”. During the celebration, the devout would have entered into a state of unconsciousness, which led the exorcist Father to assault her with slaps on her face and hair pulling, pushing her against the bench. The religious was contained by other faithful and continued the mass. The woman was taken to Santa Casa and underwent care. The exam pointed to bruises on the face, head and shoulder. She and her sister were heard by police and confirmed the aggressions.
The São Paulo Secretariat of Public Security (SSP-SP) says that the investigation has already been completed by the Botucatu Sectional Police Station, which reaped the suspect’s testimony, witnesses and analyzed images. The occurrence was sent to the Special Criminal Court. The judiciary has not yet commented.
The archdiocese says that it has no priest designated as an exorcist and that, by the norm of the Church, the exercise of this craft only happens when expressly authorized by the bishop. In an official statement, the Archdiocese of Botucatu regretted the fact involving Father João José Bezerra, expressed solidarity and apologized to the faithful involved and his family. “Situations of violence of any kind are absolutely incompatible with the mission of the Church and the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ,” he says. It also informs that it collaborates with the police and judicial authorities to “the effective determination of real truth”.
Who is the reported priest?
Father Bezerra was ordained 17 years ago and, until away, was a parish vicar of the Santa Terezinha Sanctuary in Cerqueira César, a city that is part of the Archdiocese of Botucatu.
In 2023, the priest was runner-up at the Jiu-Jitsu World Cup in the Master 4 (up to 88 kg) Brown Strip from the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Sports Confederation played at the Ibirapuera Gymnasium in Sao Paulo. Due to the runner-up, he was graduated as a black belt in the sport.
*With information from Estadão Content
Posted by Nicolas Robert
