Famous Brazilian spiritual healer accused of sexual abuse

Brasilia, Dec 13: More than 200 women have accused Brazil's most famous medium and spiritual healer of sexual abuse. Joao Teixeira de Faria, 76, has attended Brazilian Presidents Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, Dilma Rousseff and Michel Temer, pop stars and celebrities, the Guardian reported on Thursday. But in television interviews broadcast last week, four women alleged sexual abuse. Prosecutors have now received more than 200 complaints. Patrícia Otoni, one of five prosecutors on a taskforce established on Monday in the state of Goias, where the alleged abuses took place, said some of the allegations "are over 10 years old" but that others were "more current". Another prosecutor, Luciano Miranda, told Brazilian TV that potential crimes included rape and sexual abuse. In allegations so far reported, the women claimed De Faria took them into a private room and then abused them. De Faria has denied the charges. Since 1976, De Faria has performed healing ceremonies and "spiritual surgeries" at the Dom Inacio de Loyola house in Abidiania, a town of 15,000 people 100 km from the capital, Brasília. In 2012, De Faria was interviewed by Oprah Winfrey. While the attendance is free, he often prescribes "medicines" sold in the same centre, which accepts donations.
--IANS