Brazilian Priest Caught in Scandal with Parishioner’s Fiancée

A Brazilian priest was involved in a scandal after being discovered with a parishioner’s fiancée hidden under a bathroom sink. The incident occurred on October 13, 2023, at the Our Lady of Aparecida Parish in Nova Maringá, a town with a population of approximately 5,000 located about 300 miles east of the Bolivian border. The priest, identified as Father Luciano Braga Simplicio, claimed the woman was merely taking a shower.

A group of men confronted Simplicio inside the parish house, including the angry fiancé who expressed his outrage. The situation escalated when the priest, dressed only in gym shorts, attempted to leave, but was blocked by the group. They demanded he open a door where they believed the woman was hiding, leading to a tense standoff.

According to reports from community blog Pelo Bem de São José, Simplicio allegedly brought the 21-year-old woman to his residence early in the morning while her fiancé was out of town. The confrontation was captured on video, which quickly went viral, spreading shock and dismay throughout the local community.

During the altercation, the priest repeatedly knocked on a door in an attempt to maintain control of the situation. However, the fiancé took matters into his own hands, grabbing a stool and breaking down the locked door. Upon entering the bathroom, he discovered the woman hiding under the sink. She was found wearing only a tank top and shorts, visibly upset and crying.

Both Simplicio and the woman denied any sexual relations. The priest asserted that she was in his bathroom because she needed to shower after a long day of work at the church, as reported by Brazilian outlet Termômetro da Polícia.

The scandal has prompted the Diocese of Diamantino, which oversees Simplicio and the parish, to initiate an internal investigation into the priest’s actions. The diocese stated, “We communicate that, with the good of the Church and the people of God in mind, all the necessary canonical measures are already being duly taken. We ask for everyone’s understanding and prayers.”

The investigation will assess whether Simplicio violated the 1983 Code of Canon Law, which prohibits priests of the Latin church from engaging in affective or sexual relationships. The woman involved has also filed a police report, alleging that the viral video of the incident was disseminated without her consent.

This incident highlights the tensions within the small community of Nova Maringá and raises significant questions about the conduct of religious figures in positions of authority.