NINE worshippers were killed and 100 injured when the roof of the Reborn in Christ evangelical church in San Paolo, Brazil – started by a pair of charlatans and crooks – collapsed on Sunday night.
Praise the Lord and pass the loot: Apostle Estevam and Bishop Sonia
Estevam Hernandes Filho and Sonia Haddad Moraes Hernandes (or Apostle Estevam and Bishop Sonia, as they like to be known) were not around when the roof caved in. They were arrested in Miami in 2007 for failing to declare £26,000 brought into the US. They hid cash in CD cases and books but were caught by the FBI. They were sentenced to five months in jail, fined £40,000 and remain under observation by US officials.
Now living in exile in the US – and in the lap of luxury – the couple drive top-of-the-range cars, and own 200 thoroughbred horses. But in Brazil they are still wanted for money laundering. Three months ago America’s Supreme Court suspended a request from the Brazilian government for the pair to be extradited. Officials also claim that Estevam, 54, and Sonia, 50, owe more than £3 million in unpaid bills and £2 million in income tax.
Football star Kaka making a very public declaration of his superstitious beliefs
Reborn in Christ claims two million members worldwide, with Brazilian football star Kaka its most prominent. Kaka — full name Ricardo Izecson dos Santos Leite – shortened after his younger brother Rodrigo pronounced Ricardo as Kaka — got married in the church in December 2005 to his childhood sweetheart Caroline Celico.
Kaka would have become the world’s best-paid footballer if he had joined Manchester City – on £415,000 a week. But, according to this report, the move now looks unlikely to happen after AC Milan’s owner Silvio Berlusconi insisted the Brazilian ace is staying put.
An aerial shot of the collapsed church roof
Had Kaka joined the Premier League, the deeply delusional footballer would have contributed more of his earnings to the church. He is already said to donate ten per cent of his £6million-a-year wages from Italy’s AC Milan to Reborn In Christ, thus underpinning the lavish lifestyles of its founders.
Following the roof collapse the star spent hours desperately phoning his homeland to find out if any family or friends were involved. He has since told pals he wants the slice of his salary to go towards reconstructing the shattered remains.
The charges against the church’s founders have not shaken Kaka’s faith in the movement, which has grown from 70 followers when it was formed in a pizza parlour in 1986 to two million today, with 1,500 churches around the world. Reborn In Christ church also owns a television network called Rede Gospel and several radio stations.
Kaka even attended a ceremony in June last year celebrating Sonia’s release from prison.
He made a very public show of support when he donated his 2007 FIFA World Player Of The Year trophy to the church in Sao Paulo. His decision to hand his award to the church sparked outrage in Brazil, but he said:
This is the conquest of an apostolic people and the trophy will remain here, in the house of the Lord.
Idiot!
Kaka’s support of the church continues to cast a cloud over him. Arthur Pinto de Lemos, a state prosecutor from Sao Paulo’s organised crime taskforce, believes the movement is only interested in money.
He said:
Their mentality was always that of business people. The doctrine of the church is businesslike and capitalist. This was always their spirit.
Kaka’s devotion to the Reborn In Christ church is down to his parents. He said:
The main moment I remember was my baptism at the Renascer church. I was 11 — at that moment I was liberated. I was born into a Christian family. My parents were already converted. They were from the Baptist church, now they are with the Renascer church.
The Freethinker was founded in 1881 by GW Foote, an outspoken critic of religion. After the publication of 
January 20th, 2009 at 12:29 pm
You’ve got it all wrong. Here’s the real story about the Reborn in Christ church:
See how wrong you can be?
January 20th, 2009 at 12:52 pm
As I said earlier, “No rich American ever goes to gaol”, it would also appear that rich Americans can’t be extradited either. Ho Hum.
Mikespear: Not fully understood. I DO hope you are being ironic.
January 20th, 2009 at 1:46 pm
Barry – You stressed the point about the church being started by charlatans and crooks. Where do bears defecate?
January 20th, 2009 at 2:23 pm
My goodness! So do I!
January 20th, 2009 at 3:19 pm
Faith can’t actually move mountains, but it does seem to totally destroy common sense. Any other kind of organisation that was run by blatant crooks would be in severe financial trouble.
Oh. Hang on a minute…
January 20th, 2009 at 3:26 pm
Mikespeir; Valdemar: HeHeHeHeHe!!!
January 20th, 2009 at 4:08 pm
It reminds me of Joseph Smith and the whole Mormon thing.
Im tempted to start my own religion but Im not sure Im crooked enough.
January 20th, 2009 at 5:16 pm
This report seems to have shut Bob up (BOB: that’s an acronym, by the way, for Bible or Bust). He’s probably still trying to source an appropriate biblical quote on which to base a comment.
January 20th, 2009 at 5:30 pm
Result! Nine nutters down and quite a few million to go.
January 20th, 2009 at 5:40 pm
There are hypocrites about, but of course that is nothing new – remember Judas. Not only did he betray Jesus but he used to nick the money from the treasury thus showing that he was not a true believer but a hypocrite who was in it for the money. However, God sees the heart and He knows His own. True believers are not in it for the money but because they truly love Jesus despite the persecution that comes as a result of being Christians.
January 20th, 2009 at 6:06 pm
Angela K: I must say it is quite sadistic of you to gloat over people’s deaths. You really must repent of that. I don’t gloat over the thought of people going to Hell, in fact I grieve over that and pray that they would yet repent while there is still time.
January 20th, 2009 at 6:18 pm
Christ on a bike, I seem to have woken Bob up! Sorry about that, folks.
Anyway, if you think you’re being persecuted Bob, thank your god for that, as he must be orchestrating said persecution, him being all-powerful and all-knowing and all that crap.
Maybe he plans on fast-tracking you to paradise, where you will surely be joining your Muslim martyr brothers. Who knows, the rug-butters may even allow you to cavort with some of the 72 virgins each will have received – but somehow, Bob, I don’t picture you as the cavorting type.
January 20th, 2009 at 6:24 pm
Interestingly enough. Muslims have no assurance of eternal life in Heaven(or paradise as they say); they hope that Allah will let them in but they cannot be certain – unless they die fighting the “infidels”! However, my assurance of Heaven is based on the promise of Jesus that His followers have a place prepared for them in Heaven.
January 20th, 2009 at 6:36 pm
Maybe he lied, Bob, just as he lied about being the Son of God in order to cover up the fact that his mum had been knocked up by the milkman, or the postie. Being an egotistical cove, he needed a cover story to disguise the fact that he was a common-or-garden bastard. Shame people like you have swallowed that tale, hook, line and sinker, over the centuries.
January 20th, 2009 at 7:02 pm
Quote Bob: “I must say it is quite sadistic of you to gloat over people’s deaths.”
If it had been decent people, yes, not very nice of me; but the World is better off with fewer hate filled loony bigots such as those. Under the circumstances my post was rather restrained.
Your imaginary friend works in mysterious ways!
Woke you up though!
January 20th, 2009 at 7:25 pm
Bob,
I assume, as usual, you will manage to avoid answering my next question.
I assume you love your God (nod dumbly)
and want to spend eternity with him (nod and froth dumbly)
so is there no chance you could hurry up the process?
Surely that would be good for you and certainly for the sane people on this site.
Now surprise us all and anwser that without going to your ‘bumper book of fairy tales’ for advice.
January 20th, 2009 at 8:09 pm
I do not wish to “hurry up the process” but to await God’s good time when He shall call me home. In the meantime He has work for me to do here viz. spread the Gospel so that others can be saved.
January 20th, 2009 at 8:17 pm
” Bob, your tea is ready”
Quick Bob I think it might be him!
Do us all a favour, walk into the light!
January 20th, 2009 at 8:21 pm
Wurble: when you use the word “him” about God kindly have the decency to use a capital H. Thank you.
January 20th, 2009 at 8:25 pm
I dont think so Bob,that would be a sign of respect where I dont consider it due. He’s your god , nothing to do with me.
January 20th, 2009 at 9:15 pm
I use English subtitles when watching films and I notice that when God is said people use capitals for Him, He etc even though the film may be secular, what do you think of that?
January 20th, 2009 at 9:35 pm
I think your clutching at straws.
January 20th, 2009 at 9:36 pm
As god doesn’t exist (except in the vacuous space between your ears, Bob), why do you refer to this mythical being as He and not She or It?
January 20th, 2009 at 10:07 pm
The point I’m making is that if even secular sub title producers use capitals surely that means that they are acknowledging there might be a deity?
January 20th, 2009 at 10:22 pm
Oh Bob, what a piss poor argument! It would appear that without scripture you have no ideas. As a great man once said ” If you have nothing but scripture in your head, you have nothing in your head “
January 21st, 2009 at 12:02 am
I think maybe we should start up our own church and ensure everyone gives 10% of their wages (or burn forever in hell etc etc etc) and then with that money we could spend it on ads on every bus, train, billboard etc etc.
Always amazes me that they believe so much in their bullshit yet fight to the last to stay on this mortal coil, maybe they know deep down it is a load of shite but that’s all they have. As for Bob I’m surprised he has so much time to spend on this site, surely there are other people to annoy and children to molest?
January 21st, 2009 at 8:57 am
The tea for bob, I trust was hemlock,nothing but the best for him
January 21st, 2009 at 9:28 am
This business of 10% of one’s wages is an OT Jewish law and it is not binding upon NT believers under grace.
January 28th, 2009 at 10:28 pm
Marcus,
“Maybe he lied, Bob, just as he lied about being the Son of God in order to cover up the fact that his mum had been knocked up by the milkman, or the postie.”
-It wasn’t me.