A surprising case has emerged from the interior of São Paulo, where a Catholic priest with an impressive martial arts background stands accused of physically assaulting a 62-year-old woman during what he claimed was an exorcism ritual.
Father João José Bezerra, who serves at Nossa Senhora Consolata Parish in São Manuel, has been removed from his duties following allegations that he punched, kicked, and threw a parishioner against church pews during a mass on August 7th.
What makes this case particularly striking is Bezerra’s distinguished athletic career. He was a world jiu-jitsu vice-champion and holds the distinction of being Brazil’s first priest to achieve black belt status in the martial art.
According to police reports, the incident occurred when the 62-year-old woman attended what she believed would be a regular church service. The priest identified himself as an exorcist at the beginning of the celebration. He allegedly began his assault after the woman knelt during the presentation of the Blessed Sacrament and reportedly lost consciousness.
The victim’s account was documented in the police report. According to her, the priest pulled her hair repeatedly, threw several punches at her face, kicked her and threw her against the church benches. She provided photographs of her injuries and medical documentation to support her claims.
Bezerra’s martial arts achievements had previously brought pride to his community. As recently as December 2023, the Cerqueira César City Hall celebrated his world runner-up finish in the master 3 brown belt category for competitors up to 88 kilograms. This accomplishment led to his promotion to black belt.
Just months before the alleged assault, in June 2025, the local city council had 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 that ceremony, Councilwoman Joice Guarino Lopes praised him, stating: “Father João [is an] example of resilience and focus. [He] represented our city with honor and inspire[s] us to believe in the power of effort and determination to achieve great things.”
The contrast between these accolades and the current accusations has surprised the community. The Archdiocese of Botucatu moved quickly to address the situation, expressing “profound sorrow and dismay” over the incident.
In their official statement, church leadership emphasized that “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 announced it would cover all medical expenses related to the incident and pledged full cooperation with law enforcement investigations.
The case is currently being investigated by the Botucatu Sectional Police Station as assault causing bodily harm. Bezerra reportedly left the church immediately after the incident without providing any explanation to witnesses or church officials. Additionally, the Archdiocese has opened its own internal investigation alongside the police inquiry.
