João Teixeira de Faria

João Teixeira de Faria
Faria in 2006
Born (1942-06-24) 24 June 1942 (age 82)
Cachoeira de Goiás, Brazil
Other namesJoão de Deus (John of God)
Criminal statusUnder house arrest due to the COVID-19 pandemic
Conviction(s)Rape, sexual misconduct, illegal possession of firearms
Criminal penalty489 years and 4 months in prison

João Teixeira de Faria (born June 24, 1942), known also as João de Deus (John of God), is a Brazilian medium , "psychic surgeon" and convicted sex offender.[1][2] His business is set in Abadiânia, Brazil, where he runs the Casa de Dom Inácio de Loyola, a "spiritual healing center".

He has had media coverage on CNN, ABC News and The Oprah Winfrey Show. James Randi and Joe Nickell had criticized him for his healing procedures as "nothing more than carnival tricks"[3][4] and there is no evidence that the benefits of patients are placebo effects.[5]

In 2018, after over 600 people accused him of sexual abuse, he turned himself in to police. In December 2019 he was sentenced to 19 years and four months for the rapes of four different women. On January 20, 2020, Faria was sentenced to another 40 years in prison for rape against 5 women.[6] The sentences add up to 63 years and 4 months.[7]

In September 2023, Faria was sentenced to an additional 118 years, six months and 15 days in prison by the Goiás state criminal court as a result of 17 cases involving "rape, rape via fraud and rape of a vulnerable individual."[8]

In 2015, Faria was diagnosed with stomach cancer and began chemotherapy treatment.[9][10]

References

  1. ↑ "Controversial Brazilian spiritual healer 'John of God' set to visit Sydney next month". www.9news.com.au.
  2. ↑ Elliott, Tim (October 3, 2014). "John of God: Miracle worker or charlatan?". The Sydney Morning Herald.
  3. ↑ "From the Archives: Randi's inside scoop into ABC News' 'John of God' investigation (2005)". James Randi Educational Foundation. 6 October 2014. Retrieved 13 May 2015.
  4. ↑ Nickell, Joe (October 2007). "'John of God': Healings by Entities?". Committee for Skeptical Inquiry. Retrieved 13 May 2015.
  5. ↑ Nogueira, Felipe (2019). "The not so divine actions of medium "John of God"". Skeptical Inquirer. 43 (4): 11–13.
  6. ↑ "João de Deus é condenado a 40 anos de prisão em regime fechado". 20 January 2020.
  7. ↑ "Justiça condena João de Deus a mais 40 anos de prisão por crimes sexuais".
  8. ↑ "Brazil Faith Healer Sentenced To 118 Years For Rape". Barron's. Agence France Presse. 16 September 2023. Retrieved 29 April 2024.
  9. ↑ "medicina-salva-o-curandeiro-joao-de-um-cancer" [Medicine saves the healer João de Deus from cancer]. translate.google.com. 2 July 2016 – via Google Translate.
  10. ↑ Schwarcz, Joe (22 July 2016). "The Right Chemistry: Brazilian 'healer' John of God leads cancer patients by the nose". Montreal Gazette.