My Favorite Murder with Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark

MFM Presents… Two-Faced: John of God

Feb 13, 2026
Ana Paula, a family member who sought John of God’s help for her father, shares a personal account of private, pressured visits at the Casa. She recounts the atmosphere, solo office treatments, and the unsettling rituals around so-called surgeries. The conversation explores why desperate people traveled there, the rise of Joao de Deus, and the disturbing footage that sparked scrutiny.
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ANECDOTE

Graphic Public Surgeries

  • A 2009 homemade video shows John of God inserting surgical scissors into a man's nose and twisting them during a public procedure.
  • The patient leaves bleeding but later smiles, illustrating how disturbing physical surgeries coexisted with apparent satisfaction.
INSIGHT

Global Reach Through Spiritist Claims

  • John of God presented himself as a medium who could channel spirits to heal illnesses, often claiming cures for cancer and paralysis.
  • Thousands, including celebrities and professionals, traveled internationally to Abadiânia, giving his movement global legitimacy.
ANECDOTE

Desperation Drives Travel To Abadiânia

  • Ana Paula sought John of God's help for her wheelchair-bound father after doctors said nothing more could be done.
  • Her father regained swallowing ability and took a few steps, prompting them to move to Abadiânia temporarily.
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