A priest was reported to the Rio de Janeiro Public Prosecutor’s Office (MPRJ) for making hate speech against the LGBTQIA+ community. The incident took place in April 2023, but the complaint was filed last week, after the conclusion of a police investigation.
The Criminal Investigation Prosecutor’s Office of Nova Friburgo reported to the Court the priest Antônio Carlos dos Santos, who during a mass made offensive remarks against the sexual orientation of same-sex couples.
During the religious ceremony, the priest made several homophobic statements, linking same-sex unions to the action of the devil and the destruction of families. The incident occurred on April 30, 2023, at the Chapel of the Nossa Senhora das Dores School, in Nova Friburgo.
According to the Rio de Janeiro Public Prosecutor’s Office, the priest’s words incited prejudice and discrimination against homosexuals, constituting a crime of homophobia. The complaint was forwarded to the 2nd Criminal Court of Nova Friburgo and the case is being investigated by the courts.
Remember the case
The priest was reported to the police for homophobia after a speech made during a 7th day mass. In a video posted on the internet, actor Bernardo Dugin explained that the homophobic speech took place during the homily, a moment in which the priest preaches on specific topics.
“During the homily, the priest said ‘that the devil is entering people’s homes in different ways to destroy families, in the representation of same-sex unions, man with man, woman with woman, etc.’”, reported Bernardo.
The Diocese of Nova Friburgo released a statement about the incident at the time. In the statement, the Diocese asked “We apologize to those who felt offended and we reaffirm what is recurrent in the Bishop’s guidelines for priests and lay people: mercy, respect, dialogue, tolerance and reconciliation”.
The position of Father Antônio Carlos dos Santos, who was involved in the episode, was also disclosed. In the text, the priest states that his words were not intended to offend any class or person and apologized for his remarks.
State recently recorded death due to homophobia
Otávio do Nascimento de Andrade, 21, died in May this year, after being found with signs of beating in São Conrado, in the South Zone of Rio.
Relatives and friends claim he was a victim of homophobia.
The State Department of Health reported that the Mobile Emergency Care Service (SAMU) attended to the young man and took him to the Miguel Couto Municipal Hospital, in Gávea, South Zone. He was taken to the unit with signs of beatings and did not survive.
This content was originally published in Ministério Público denuncia padre por homophobia no RJ on the CNN Brasil website.
Source: CNN Brasil
I’m James Harper, a highly experienced and accomplished news writer for World Stock Market. I have been writing in the Politics section of the website for over five years, providing readers with up-to-date and insightful information about current events in politics. My work is widely read and respected by many industry professionals as well as laymen.
