‘John of God’ now faces 370 years in jail: How this ‘religion healer’ exploited and raped a whole lot of believers

On a fateful day, July 10, 2023, the courtroom was stuffed with a mixture of anticipation and despair because the infamous Brazilian religion healer, João Teixeira de Faria, generally referred to as ‘John of God,’ obtained a further sentence of 99 years for his heinous sexual crimes. The air was heavy with the burden of justice because the choose declared him responsible of the ‘rape of vulnerable persons’ and ‘sexual violation through fraud’ towards eight victims who sought his non secular assist between 2010 and 2018.

The sentence introduced his whole jail time to an unprecedented 370 years, 9 months, and 15 days. Additionally, he has been ordered to pay R$ 100 thousand in compensation for ethical damages to the victims. As the gavel struck, the room was stuffed with a mixture of reduction and disbelief, figuring out that this self-proclaimed healer’s reign of terror was lastly coming to an finish.

Faria adopted the identify of John of God, or João de Deus, after a Sixteenth-century catholic saint from Portugal.

Dark Tale of John of God dates again to the Nineteen Seventies

To perceive the magnitude of crimes dedicated by ‘John of God’, we should delve into the darkish historical past that led to this stunning verdict. His rise to fame started within the late Nineteen Seventies when he opened Casa de Dom Inácio de Loyola, a ‘clinic’ within the small city of Abadiânia, Brazil. Here, he claimed to own supernatural powers and supplied a spread of companies, from non secular therapeutic to what seemed to be surgical procedures with out anesthesia.

Despite missing any medical {qualifications}, folks flocked to him, drawn by the promise of miraculous cures and reduction from their illnesses.

John of God carried out doubtful procedures with out anaesthesia

Despite missing a medical license and any related coaching, he carried out procedures akin to nasal probing, physique incisions, and eye scrapings with out anesthesia. His clinic, Casa de Dom Inácio de Loyola, grew to become a vacationer attraction, producing vital earnings by means of further companies like crystal mattress periods, blessed water, and natural drugs. These drugs later revealed to be passionflower herbs, alone contributed to an estimated annual earnings of $40 million. However, behind the façade of therapeutic and spirituality, a sinister fact was brewing.

Sexual crimes and youngster trafficking by John of God have been uncovered in 2018

In 2018, the Christian world was rocked by an explosive scandal that uncovered ‘John of God’s’ true nature. Over 300 ladies, together with his personal daughter, bravely got here ahead to share their harrowing experiences of sexual abuse by the hands of the person they’d trusted to heal their ache.

The accounts have been gut-wrenching and painted a chilling image of manipulation, betrayal, and unspeakable acts. The victims described how they’d been lured into non-public periods with Faria, searching for solace and reduction from their bodily and emotional struggles. Instead, they grew to become victims of his perverse needs.

John of God, picture through ABC

Faria’s personal daughter additionally recounted her traumatic experiences of rape and violence by the hands of her father. Many claimed that he promised to heal them however exploited their vulnerability, subjecting them to unimaginable acts of sexual assault and violation. The tales have been haunting, revealing a sample of systematic abuse that spanned many years.

John of God performing a process on a affected person’s eye, picture through SFGate

It is vital to notice that these sexual assault costs are usually not the one appalling allegations towards this so-called religion healer. Uncovered amidst the torrent of accusations is the declare that ‘John of God’ allegedly operated a child trafficking ring, promoting kids to childless {couples}. While these accusations have been overshadowed in latest protection, it’s essential to acknowledge the extent of the crimes dedicated by this particular person.

‘Sex slaves kept to produce babies for 10 years’

John was arrested by Brazillian authorities after over 600 allegations of rape and sexual exploitation have been made towards him. He was additionally accused of protecting teenage women as intercourse slaves, making them bear being pregnant and childbirth, after which promoting the infants to the ‘highest bidder’.

Sabrina Bittencourt, a Brazillian activist whose investigation led to John’s arrest, had said that her group has spoken to {couples} on 3 completely different continents who’ve claimed that they purchased infants from John for as a lot as $50,000. Sabrina Bittencourt additionally said that in John’s ‘baby farm’ teenage intercourse slaves have been made to provide kids for 10 years, earlier than being killed.

John of God was promoted by celebrities like Oprah Winfrey

The revelations despatched shockwaves by means of the worldwide neighborhood, leaving many in disbelief that such evil might have gone unchecked for therefore lengthy. But maybe much more stunning have been the connections that ‘John of God’ had established with outstanding figures, each in Brazil and overseas. Politicians, fashions, and worldwide celebrities like Oprah Winfrey had all crossed paths with the person who can be unmasked as a predator. João Teixeira de Faria gained worldwide recognition as a medium and religion healer, attracting such celebrities.

His web site claimed that he has handled Former US President Bill Clinton, Brazilian politician Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.

John with Oprah

Oprah Winfrey, identified for her influential platform, as soon as devoted an episode of her present to ‘John of God’ in 2010, amplifying his attain and giving him a seal of legitimacy within the eyes of her thousands and thousands of viewers. Winfrey’s go to to Brazil in 2012 to movie an episode of ‘Oprah’s Next Chapter’ additional cemented his standing as a revered non secular determine. However, within the wake of the scandal, Winfrey expressed empathy for the survivors and voiced her hope that justice would prevail.

John of God won’t ever come out of jail

John of God’s status amongst trustworthy believers and practising Christians took a extreme blow in 2018 when a large scandal erupted, exposing his widespread sexual abuse of a whole lot of ladies and women who sought his non secular steerage. The latest convictions, which necessitate serving the sentence in a closed regime, come at a time when João de Deus is below home arrest as a result of a second-instance determination.

Since his arrest in late 2018, he has oscillated between a closed regime and home arrest, claiming numerous diseases to acquire leniency. Since his arrest in 2018, he has been serving a number of sentences totaling 270 years and 4 months. Nevertheless, with the brand new convictions, he faces an unprecedented jail time period that might probably final for the rest of his life.

Netflix made a docuseries on this John of God

The revelations about ‘John of God’ weren’t confined to the courtroom or media reviews. Netflix, the favored streaming platform, launched a docuseries titled “John of God: The Crimes of a Spiritual Healer.” The sequence delved into Faria’s rise to prominence and his subsequent fall from grace, spanning 4 many years of manipulation, exploitation, and the courageous survivors who had the braveness to reveal his crimes.

The documentary make clear the immense struggling endured by the victims and the long-lasting affect of his actions. The documentary chronicles the stunning accounts of over 300 ladies who accused Faria of promising therapeutic however as an alternative subjecting them to sexual assault throughout non-public periods.

Justice prevails

With Faria now behind bars, serving a number of sentences, justice is step by step being served for the survivors of his abuse. The authorized proceedings have taken place behind closed doorways to guard the privateness of the victims, and additional costs should be pending. Reflecting on the disturbing legacy of ‘John of God,’ one should acknowledge the energy and resilience of the survivors who got here ahead, refusing to be silenced by concern or disgrace. Their bravery in exposing this deceitful healer has not solely introduced justice to their very own lives however has additionally paved the way in which for others to seek out the braveness to talk out towards comparable abuses of energy.

John of God, Christianity, and India

In addition to the harrowing accounts of abuse and exploitation, the case of ‘John of God’ holds explicit significance in India, because it brings to the forefront a darkish face of ‘faith healing’ that’s massively abused by Christian preachers in India for mass conversions. The publicity of his crimes is of nice significance in a rustic the place the unfold of Christianity was traditionally intertwined with the expeditions of European colonizers. During colonial instances, the conversion of indigenous populations to Christianity was usually a key goal for European powers.

While it’s essential to acknowledge that the actions of ‘John of God’ don’t symbolize the whole thing of the Christian religion or its followers, his heinous crimes dedicated below the guise of spiritual spirituality spotlight the urgency of vigilance and accountability.

Conclusion

The case of João Teixeira de Faria, ‘John of God,’ serves as a cautionary story and highlights the necessity for stringent measures to forestall such abuses of spiritual energy. As the survivors proceed their journey in direction of therapeutic and reclaiming their lives, folks should stay vigilant, guaranteeing that nobody else falls sufferer to the darkish attract of false prophets and their depraved intentions.