Psychic João de Deus: “I’m in the hands of the authorities”

Goiás-born medium João Teixeira de Feria, known as João de Deus, said today (Dec. 12) he is at the service of the authorities. He went to his Casa Dom Inácio de Loyola, in the town of Abadiânia, Goiás, where he has held consultations and given spiritual advice—in addition to his famous spiritual surgeries—for over 42 years.

“Brothers and my dear sisters, I thank God for being here. I want to obey the Brazilian law. I’m in the hands of the authorities. João de Deus is still alive,” he declared.

This was João de Deus’s first public appearance after the allegations he sexually abused women in his spiritual center came to the fore. According to state prosecutors, 206 women had filed reports with the authorities as victims.

His Wednesday (12) appearance at the Casa was marked by commotion as journalists attempted to come near him while followers and employees sought to keep them away. João de Deus’s advisers said he felt bad after the agitation and in no condition to see the hundreds of people who were waiting for him, so he left a few minutes afterwards. Before the allegations, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday were regular working days in his routine as a spiritual guru.

Edna Gomes, press adviser with the Casa Dom Inácio, said João de Deus has talked little and reiterated his innocence. “The allegations are really appalling and must be investigated. Seu João is at the service of the authorities so that the truth may come to light,” she said, not getting into details about the nature of the accusations and the strategy to be adopted by the psychic’s counsel.

The medium is expected to return to the Casa tomorrow if he is in condition to do so. “Seu João will continue his work as long as he can. And if the authorities order him to stop, he’s willing to help so that things can be brought under scrutiny.”