Two-Faced: John of God

Episode 3: The Treatment
Host: Martina Castro
Date: February 11, 2026

Episode Overview

This episode delves into the harrowing personal testimony of Ana Paula, a survivor of sexual abuse by Joã̃o Teixeira de Faria, widely revered as "John of God," a famed Brazilian spiritual healer. Through Ana Paula’s story and the recollections of others within the faith healing community, the podcast exposes the inner mechanisms that enabled years of abuse, the psychological and cultural dynamics that kept survivors silent, the complicity (and blindness) of followers, and the first cracks that led to global exposure.

The central theme: Explores how deep faith, group dynamics, abuse of power, and a culture of silence enabled John of God’s crimes to continue for decades, even as some tried to warn others and seek justice.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Ana Paula’s Experience as a Survivor

• Background of Faith & Rituals (01:05–03:33):

  • Ana Paula was deeply invested in the spiritual healing practiced at the Casa, following rules such as wearing white, avoiding underwear for "better energy flow," and meditating barefoot.
  • The community normalized these customs, creating trust and discouraging skepticism.
    • “So if everyone around you is going along, why wouldn’t you?” (Host, 02:56)

• First Encounter with John of God (03:33–09:42):

  • Ana Paula recounts how João lured her into his office, locked the door, and assaulted her while claiming to channel healing energy for her sick father.
    • "I say that I was a victim of John of God. I’m not anymore. That’s true." (Ana Paula, 05:18)
    • "He not only closed it, but he locked it with the key… At that moment, I felt bad and he said he was going to do healing work for my father." (Ana Paula, 03:58)

• Immediate Aftermath and Community Complicity (09:42–11:28):

  • Ana Paula tried to confide in trusted women at the Casa. She was told to keep quiet, hit, and even told by a senior community member that what had happened was part of “spiritual work.”
    • "She slapped me and told me to shut up." (Ana Paula, 09:54)
    • "The nurse told me to be quiet because the gringa had said something similar a month before and disappeared. Don’t you want your father to be well? Be quiet, Paulinha." (Ana Paula, 10:23)

• Psychological Manipulation (12:02–14:13):

  • John of God manipulated Ana Paula further, blaming her for her father’s illness, asserting her energy caused his suffering and was needed for his “cure.”
    • "He said I was the reason for that cancer, the reason my father was there dying." (Ana Paula, 13:30)

• Sustained Abuse and Loss of Faith (14:13–18:32):

  • Over months, Ana Paula was repeatedly abused under the guise of “energy treatments.” Despite her doubts, she clung to the hope João could cure her father.
    • "Until the last second, I believed it." (Ana Paula, 17:41)
  • When her father died, Ana Paula’s belief was shattered, and she began to recognize the abuse for what it was.
    • "That’s when I began to become aware that those spiritual treatments were actually abuse." (Ana Paula, 18:32)

2. Struggle for Justice

• Ana Paula attempted to report João numerous times, facing rejection from police, lawyers, and authorities unwilling to pursue the case due to his influence.

  • "Nobody wanted to take my case forward. No one supported me. No one." (Ana Paula, 20:49)

• She documented her experience with her gynecologist for evidence, showing perseverance rather than defeat.

• She drew strength from her father’s legacy of public service and from her own refusal to let his death and her suffering go in vain.

  • "My strength only increased. That force was there inside me." (Ana Paula, 21:47)

3. Culture of Silence and Complicity

• Patterns of abuse at the Casa were widely rumored, often discussed by staff and volunteers, but rationalized as “healing” by many loyalists.

  • "If something like that did happen, that was the cure for the person ... The person needed that to happen, to get cured." (Michael Baylot relaying what others said, 27:40)

• Former employees and collaborators describe environments where rumors, suspicion, and partial knowledge were common—but confronted by collective denial or justifications.

• Marcelo Stoduto (former medium at the Casa):

  • Confirms that “a lot of people knew” but chose to frame it as gossip or a distortion, and people in authority silenced complaints.
  • "...people helped reinforce the blindness." (Marcelo, 28:22)
  • External authorities and powerful figures helped suppress complaints and investigations, wielding legal and social influence to archive or erase evidence.
  • "You have people with a high degree of influence in society ... and corrupt or corruptible enough to help support this process." (Marcelo, 29:13)

4. Blinded Belief & Cognitive Dissonance

• Marcelo discusses the rationalization process—how followers managed to hold both the sacred and the profane, excusing abuse as an unfortunate side-effect of a holy mission.
  • "For a myriad of reasons... harassment is not the entire work of the Casa ... it didn’t hinder all the work that we did there..." (Marcelo, 31:17)
  • "Maybe it’s exactly because there was something bigger that part could remain hidden for so long." (Marcelo, 32:03)

5. Early Warning Signs and International Expansion

• By 2001, outsiders like Michael Baylot noticed João’s predatory behavior, particularly targeting vulnerable young women under the cover of “private teachings.” (24:30–27:09)
• Despite early deaths attributed to following João’s unscientific medical advice and allegations of assault, his popularity grew, spurred on by celebrity endorsements and global reach.

6. Cracks in the Wall: MeToo and Going Viral

• In 2018, a European woman publishes her account of rape by John of God in a Facebook post. The non-Brazilian origin and graphic detail help it gain traction—prompting journalists to investigate seriously for the first time.
  • "In like 48 hours of doing that, she had six women." (Journalist, 36:30)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Ana Paula’s resilience:

  • "I’m not in pain anymore. It doesn’t hurt anymore. I am much more than the harm he did to me." (Ana Paula, 06:07)
  • "One thing I do know: John of God is not of God. He’s not of God. God wasn’t there anymore." (Ana Paula, 19:25)

• On the power of belief:

  • "I believed it. I wanted to believe it because I didn’t want to lose my father. So I believed it." (Ana Paula, 14:13)

• On community complicity and power:

  • "You have people with a high degree of influence in society ... and corrupt or corruptible enough to help support this process." (Marcelo, 29:13)

• On sacred/profane duality:

  • "It becomes a mixture between the sacred and the profane. And you no longer know when the sacred is prevailing or when the profane is behind the scenes being enabled by the sacred." (Marcelo, 32:03)

• On wanting justice for more than herself:

  • "Because denouncing Joao wasn’t just about letting the world know what he had done to her. She knew there were others." (Host, 22:32)

Important Segment Timestamps

• [01:05] – [03:33]: Description of spiritual customs and Ana Paula’s faith background.
• [03:33] – [09:42]: First encounter and assault by John of God.
• [09:42] – [11:28]: Attempts to get help, community responses.
• [12:02] – [14:13]: Psychological manipulation blaming Ana Paula for her father’s illness.
• [14:13] – [18:32]: Period of continued abuse and ultimate loss of faith after her father’s death.
• [19:01] – [22:32]: Struggles with justice, healing, and seeking accountability.
• [24:30] – [29:13]: Outsiders and insiders recount growing suspicions and systemic cover-ups.
• [32:25] – [36:30]: 2012–2018: Early public scandals, João’s international reach, and the triggering of formal investigations after the viral account.

Tone and Style

The host, guests, and survivors speak with both emotional frankness and analytical clarity. The language alternates between deeply personal reflection (Ana Paula’s narrative) and probing investigation (host and journalists), creating an empathetic and riveting account that foregrounds the victims’ voices without sensationalism.

Conclusion

This episode provides a raw, detailed look at the methods by which John of God manipulated not just individuals but an entire support network and belief system. By moving between personal testimony, insider accounts, and external skepticism, it underscores how faith and communal trust can be weaponized—while also highlighting the power of survivors who, step by step, challenged the silence surrounding his crimes.

For further support: If you or someone you know is affected by the content discussed, free and confidential help is available at rainn.org.