'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.

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
European court accused of overreach after ruling against Poland in disability abortion case
European court accused of overreach after ruling against Poland in disability abortion case

The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) has come under criticism after ruling against Poland in a case concerning abortion on the grounds of disability. 

Christians invited to start 2026 in prayer for the nation
Christians invited to start 2026 in prayer for the nation

A nationwide prayer initiative involving thousands of churches and Christians is set to take place at the start of the New Year.

Terrorist attack on church-run clinic in eastern DRC leaves dozens dead
Terrorist attack on church-run clinic in eastern DRC leaves dozens dead

A late-night assault on a Catholic health facility in northeastern Democratic Republic of Congo has left around 20 civilians dead.

Calls for prayer as court hears sacked chaplain's appeal
Calls for prayer as court hears sacked chaplain's appeal

Christians are being asked to pray as the Employment Appeal Tribunal hears the case of sacked chaplain Rev Dr Bernard Randall.