Kiwis flock to ‘healer’ despite abuse charges
In a small village in Brazil, sick NZers desperate for a cure complain of predator cult leader, writes Harrison Christian.
Kiwi women are reported to be among hundreds of victims of a Brazilian spiritual healer, prompting a call for New Zealand police to assist the investigation.
Despite hundreds of women alleging ‘‘John of God’’ raped and sexually abused them, plans are under way to take another New Zealand delegation to visit the spiritualist’s remote compound.
The Wellington-based tour guide told the Sunday Star-Times that John of God, whose legal name is Joao Teixeira de Faria, should be ‘‘appreciated’’ for his work as a medium channelling the powers of spirit doctors.
Since 2002, Peter Waugh has been arranging three-yearly trips to the spiritual complex in the small town of Abadiania, in the central Brazilian state of Goias. Waugh confirmed the next tour is in March.
Several hundred New Zealanders have reportedly been visiting Teixeira de Faria’s Casa de Dom Inacio, mostly guided by Waugh, and Kiwis are said to be the biggest single group of foreign visitors per capita.
Teixeira de Faria, 76, who claims he received special healing powers at 16, handed himself in to police last month. This week, a judge ruled that he will stand trial on multiple counts of alleged rape and sexual abuse.
Waugh acknowledged the sex abuse accusations against Teixeira de Faria had ‘‘meant a great deal of pain for all involved’’.
But the arrest would not stop his followers from being ‘‘healed’’ in Brazil.
‘‘It is also a matter of appreciating that Medium Joao was a channel for the energies that worked through him and, more importantly, also directly with people at the Casa,’’ Waugh said.
‘‘The direct work has not stopped and, from reports that I have been receiving, has actually intensified. The Casa continues to operate as it has done in the past when Medium Joao has not been there.’’
Waugh runs the Wellington counterpart of Teixeira de Faria’s healing centre, called the Casa de Jose.
‘‘No group member has ever mentioned to me any allegations of incidents arising at the Casa de Dom Inacio in Brazil,’’ he said last night.
‘‘As these matters are being processed through the judicial
‘‘A lot of people are going to be upset and let down by this.’’ Viv Harris of Wellington, who visited ‘‘John of God’’ three times
system in Brazil I do not wish to comment further or be involved in a trial by media.’’
A Brazilian activist coordinating the victims’ complaints, Sabrina Bittencourt, said ‘‘several’’ of Teixeira de Faria’s victims were Kiwi women.
‘‘We have reports of some victims from New Zealand, and we ask that it be widely publicised so that they have the courage to report at the Brazilian Embassies and notify the Public Ministry of Sao Paulo as well,’’ she said.
Teixeira de Faria denies the charges. He has previously been jailed for practising medicine without a licence, but he claims to perform ‘‘psychic surgeries’’ while possessed by spirits. He became a celebrity after his spiritual healing methods were featured on Oprah in 2013.
Dutch choreographer Zahira Maus, who said Teixeira de Faria sexually assaulted her, was the first woman to accuse him, on a TV Globo programme in December.
According to Brazilian prosecutors, the victims are aged from 9 to 67 and include Americans, Europeans and Australians. A statute of limitations means only some cases will be taken to trial, but prosecutors have asked all victims to come forward regardless.
Wellington veterinarian Viv Harris signed up for Waugh’s tours and visited John of God three times in the early 2000s.
She was ‘‘shocked’’ by allegations.
‘‘It’s very odd. I can’t believe it. A lot of people are going to be upset and let down by this,’’ she said.
Harris was unaware of any women alleging that Teixeira de Faria sexually abused them during her visits. However, she did the acknowledge that a lot could have changed in the past 16 years.
A Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade spokesperson said the New Zealand Embassy in Brazil had not received complaints from any New Zealanders.
A New Zealand police spokesperson said police had not received any request for assistance from Brazilian authorities, nor were they aware of any complaints from New Zealand women in relation to the matter.