'Spotlight' priest hangs himself in jail after fresh paedophilia allegations

A priest convicted of sex abuse has hanged himself in jail following further allegations of paedophilia.

Father Bonifacio Buzzi, 57, was found dead in his prison cell in Minas Gerais, in the north of Brazil, the state government said in a statement.

According to reports, he had hanged himself with a sheet.

Buzzi was facing allegations that he had molested two boys aged nine and 13, and was arrested on Friday after criminal complaints were made.

He had previously been convicted of the abuse of a 10-year-old boy and was jailed from 2007 to 2015.

Buzzi was cited among the paedophilia cases listed at the end of Spotlight, the Oscar-winning 2015 film based on the Boston Globe newspaper's investigation of sexual abuses by Catholic priests and efforts by the Boston Archdiocese to cover them up.

Allegations against Buzzi first emerged in the 1990s in his home state of Santa Catarina. In 1995 he was convicted of molesting two boys in his parish near Mariana after their parents accused him of performing oral sex on their children.

Buzzi got a reduced sentence and the Catholic Church obtained a court order allowing him to serve it out at the home of the local archbishop.

Additional reporting by Reuters.

Newsletter Stay up to date with Christian Today
related articles
Spotlight star Michael Keaton defends the Catholic faith

Spotlight star Michael Keaton defends the Catholic faith

Spotlight: a film that the whole church cannot – and must not – ignore
Spotlight: a film that the whole church cannot – and must not – ignore

Spotlight: a film that the whole church cannot – and must not – ignore

Pope\'s commission on sex abuse sits down to watch Spotlight
Pope's commission on sex abuse sits down to watch Spotlight

Pope's commission on sex abuse sits down to watch Spotlight

Every Catholic bishop should watch \'Spotlight\', says former Vatican sex abuse prosecutor
Every Catholic bishop should watch 'Spotlight', says former Vatican sex abuse prosecutor

Every Catholic bishop should watch 'Spotlight', says former Vatican sex abuse prosecutor

News
EU Catholic bishops issue call for peace at Nicosia meeting
EU Catholic bishops issue call for peace at Nicosia meeting

This year Cyprus holds the presidency of the EU Council.

Government has 'terrible lack of realism' regarding Islamist violence in Nigeria
Government has 'terrible lack of realism' regarding Islamist violence in Nigeria

Militant attacks in Nigeria happen on a near constant basis.

Lib Dems admit unlawful discrimination against Christian parliamentary candidate
Lib Dems admit unlawful discrimination against Christian parliamentary candidate

Just days before local elections, the Liberal Democrats have admitted to unlawful religious discrimination against a parliamentary candidate over his Christian views.

London bishop 'deeply saddened' by attack on Jews in Golders Green
London bishop 'deeply saddened' by attack on Jews in Golders Green

Bishop Anderson Jeremiah said he was "appalled by this ongoing cycle of violence fuelled by antisemitism".