Brazil psychic João de Deus not to halt services after abuse claims
The allegations that psychic João de Deus sexually abused dozens of women seeking spiritual treatment in his Casa Dom Inácio de Loyola, in Abadiânia, Goiás, have “saddened” the medium—but not enough to cause him to interrupt his services to the thousands of visitors who come every week to the small town some 110 km from Brasília.
On Tuesday (Dec. 11)—five days after his alleged molestation victims spoke on Globo TV—the workers at the Casa make the final arrangements for the treatment sessions scheduled for Wednesday (12). João de Deus’s appointments are to remain unchanged for the next three days, his advisers reported.
“He’s sad, but he’s OK. He’ll talk about [the allegations] in due time,” said Edna Gomes, press adviser at the Casa. The medium, she said, was brought to tears after hearing how far accusations have gone, but she is convinced her leader will bring the facts to light.
Gomes argues the testimonies seem to have a number of “inconsistencies” that must be brought under scrutiny. While showing the premises to the journalists that came to town to learn more about the developments in the case, Gomes guaranteed that João de Deus does not see anyone individually, in separate rooms. “Seu João has always been a very respectful man. After you know him, you see the impossible things [in the testimonies]. He says he’s never been a saint himself, but there’s nothing in this connection that we can [blame him for],” Gomes said, noting the spiritual leader was found not guilty in previous cases.
“The last time I talked to him was yesterday. He’s upset, of course, but he’s OK. It’s a lot going on at the same time,” said secretary Francisco Lobo, who added he is still becoming acquainted with the facts, and described the allegations as “outrageous.” “We are going to have to wait until everything’s sieved through to see what’s left of [the allegations],” he went on to say. Lobo has served as vice-mayor in the town—home to 12 thousand people. Today, he works as a volunteer on the team assembled to assist the internationally famous guru.
The small town of Abadiânia
In addition to healings and spiritual advice, Lobo says the Casa Dom Inácio de Loyola is also dedicated to social work. He talked about the Casa da Sopa (the “soup house”), where meals, dental assistance, school supplies, and a number of services are offered to the poor. The Casa also serves to boost the local economy through hotels, bars, restaurants, and inns who welcome customers who come from all over the country to visit the center.
“While the city is home to more than 12 thousand inhabitants, the town’s floating population exceeds 20 thousand. Consultations add up to 3 to 5 thousand a week,” Lobo said, explaining part of the reason why locals are so “passionate” about João de Deus.
International presence downtown is massive. This morning, the breakfast hall at the hotel nearest to Casa was packed with French people. On the streets, one can hear passers-by chatting in English, German, and Spanish. Lobo pointed out that one of every four visitors come from overseas—an average of 5 thousand foreigners, who tend to spend more time in town and most actively stimulate the economy in Abadiânia.
In the view of Gomes and Lobo, the task force members appointed by Goiás state prosecutors may have been hasty in saying that a mere sexual abuse allegation could be enough to shut down the Casa, but a request to have it close its doors may not be long in coming.
