A Brazilian Catholic priest who achieved recognition as the country’s first black belt holder in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu faces serious assault charges after allegedly attacking a 62-year-old woman during what he claimed was an exorcism ritual.
Father João José Bezerra stands accused of punching kicking and throwing the elderly parishioner against church pews during a mass at Nossa Senhora Consolata Parish in São Manuel São Paulo. The incident has sent waves through both religious and martial arts communities given Bezerra’s unique status as both a clergy member and accomplished athlete.
According to the police report filed by the woman she attended what she believed would be a regular mass service on the evening of August 7 2025. She stated that Bezerra announced at the beginning of the celebration that he was an exorcist. During the service when she knelt before the presentation of the Blessed Sacrament she reportedly began displaying what witnesses described as aggressive behavior before losing consciousness.
“He pulled her hair several times struck her face repeatedly kicked her and threw her against the church benches,”
the woman testified describing how the priest assaulted her under the guise of performing an exorcism ritual.
Medical documentation and photographs of extensive bruising support the woman’s claims police confirmed. After the alleged attack Bezerra left the church premises without providing any explanation to authorities or parishioners who witnessed the disturbing scene.
The priest’s background in martial arts adds a troubling dimension to the allegations. According to records from the Cerqueira César City Hall Bezerra achieved world vice-championship status in December 2023 in the master 3 brown belt category for competitors up to 88 kilograms. This achievement led to his promotion to black belt making him the first Catholic priest in Brazil to attain this level of mastery in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.
As recently as June 2025 the local City Council honored Bezerra with a motion of applause for his third-place finish at the South American Jiu-Jitsu Championship held at São Paulo’s Ibirapuera Gymnasium. During the ceremony Councilwoman Joice Guarino Lopes praised him as an example of “resilience and focus” stating he had “represented our city with honor.”
The Archdiocese of Botucatu has moved swiftly to distance itself from the incident. In an official statement signed by Metropolitan Archbishop Dom Maurício Grotto de Camargo the institution expressed “profound sorrow and dismay” over the events.
“Situations of violence of any nature are absolutely incompatible with the mission of the Church and with the Gospel of Our Lord Jesus Christ,”
the archdiocese declared in its public response. The religious authority announced Bezerra’s immediate removal from his position and pledged full cooperation with law enforcement investigations.
The archdiocese has also committed to covering all medical expenses related to the woman’s injuries acknowledging institutional responsibility for the incident that occurred within its jurisdiction.
Civil Police in São Manuel have registered the case as assault causing bodily harm with the investigation now transferred to the Botucatu Sectional Police Station. Authorities continue gathering evidence and witness testimonies to build their case against the suspended priest.
The incident raises serious questions about the intersection of physical training and religious authority particularly in a culture where martial arts are often associated with discipline and self-control. Legal experts suggest that Bezerra’s extensive competitive training could factor into potential criminal charges as his physical capabilities may be considered in determining the severity of the assault.
The case has drawn attention to the Catholic Church’s practices regarding exorcism and the training required for clergy who claim to perform such rituals. Church doctrine typically requires extensive theological training and episcopal approval before priests can conduct exorcisms raising questions about whether Bezerra had proper authorization for his claimed spiritual interventions.
The outcome of this case may have lasting implications for how religious institutions oversee clergy members with specialized training in martial arts and the protocols surrounding controversial spiritual practices like exorcism within the Catholic Church in Brazil.
