“Father Robson, wronged as he was, now absolved, will finally be able to continue his life of evangelization, serving the Church,” said the priest’s lawyer.
Newsroom (21/04/2022 11:00 AM, Gaudium Press) Last Monday, April 18, the Brazilian Superior Court of Justice (STJ) definitively closed the case against Father Robson de Oliveira, former rector of the sanctuary of the Divine Eternal Father of Trindade (GO), Brazil. The Redemptorist priest was accused of embezzlement of money while president of the Association of Children of the Eternal Father (Afipe).
According to Pedro Paulo de Medeiros, Father Robson’s lawyer, the process has become res judicata, meaning there is no more appeal in higher courts. The Brazilian STJ confirms the decision of the Court of Justice of Goiás, which, in October 2020, understood that the priest had not committed a crime. “Father Robson, wronged as he was, now absolved, will finally be able to continue his life of evangelization, serving the Church,” celebrated the lawyer.
Operation Merchants
In August 2020, the Public Ministry of Goiás initiated ‘Operation Merchants,’ an allusion to the money changers expelled from the Temple by Jesus. Father Robson was investigated for managing 2 billion reais (nearly USD 500M) in ten years. Following the opening of the investigation, the priest was removed from his functions in Afipe. He is still temporarily away from the use of orders by decree of the then Archbishop of Goiânia (GO), Most Rev Washington Cruz.
To preserve the good reputation of the Church and avoid scandal, the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer (Redemptorists) temporarily prohibited Father Robson from celebrating the sacraments and participating in radio, TV or internet programs.
Archbishop João Justino of Goiânia, informed that the case is also being investigated in a separate canonical process in a joint effort with the Order of Redemptorists. (EPC)
Compiled by Gustavo Kralj
