Catholic Sex Scandals Spread To Brazil

The global avalanche of Catholic sex and molestation scandals has reached below the equator and onto Brazilian national television.

Brazilian authorities are investigating three priests accused of sexually abusing altar boys after a video allegedly showing one case of abuse was broadcast on television, police and church officials said Tuesday. The case came to light after the SBT network aired a video purportedly showing an 82-year-old priest having sex with a 19-year-old altar boy who worked for him for four years. Other young men appeared on the report saying that they, too, had been abused by Monsignor Luiz Marques Barbosa. Also under investigation are Monsignor Raimundo Gomes, 52, and Father Edilson Duarte, 43, for allegedly having sexual relations with boys and young men. According to a statement from the church, the three priests are "supposedly involved in acts (yet to be proven) of sexual abuse." The statement did not say whether the men admit or deny guilt. None of the priests could be located to ask about the case, and the church would not provide contact details for them.

Monsignor Barbosa was reportedly filmed by a 21 year-old man who says Barbosa had been abusing him since the age of 12. Barbosa refused to confirm that he is in the video, saying that was a matter for confession.