A now former pastor of Lagoinha Baptist Church is being investigated on suspicion of crimes against the sexual dignity of two teenage faithful, now aged 16 and 17. Decision of the 1st Court Specialized in Crimes against Children and Adolescents of Belo Horizonte imposed urgent protective measures against the religious, based on the Henry Borel Law.
Lucas Tiago de Carvalho Silva, 37, who worked as a leader of teenagers in the unit in the São Geraldo neighborhood, in the eastern region of the capital of Minas Gerais, is being investigated for alleged grooming and the practice of libidinous acts. According to the court document, he used his “pastoral eloquence” and religious position to manipulate young people and their families, disguising sexual intentions under the pretext of friendship and spiritual advice.
In a note sent to the newspaper, Lagoinha stated that it acted “immediately and responsibly” upon becoming aware of the allegations at the end of January. Silva, who denied the accusations, was removed from office at the time. According to the institution, the families were interviewed less than 24 hours after the report and advised to contact the authorities.
Silva’s defense could not be reached to comment on the accusations. The reporter sent WhatsApp messages to the former pastor and tried to call him twice.
The complaints detail different methods of approaching each victim. In the case of one of the teenagers, the interaction would have started after the creation of a Christian book study group. The conversations, as narrated by the mother of one of the young people, evolved into sending photos and videos of sexual content, including media of the pastor being naked and masturbating.
The suspect used single-view messages and claimed to be in a “marriage crisis” and not having sexual relations with his wife to gain the minor’s trust.
In the case of the second victim, according to his mother’s report, the attacks allegedly took place in the unit’s kitchen and on tatami mats used for prayer. The person being investigated would have practiced abusive touching, kissing the neck and oral sex.
In a statement to the Civil Police, the young man’s mother said that Silva “used his words” to convince her to send her son to church.
The teenagers were also interviewed at the police station. One of them said that, if at the beginning the relationship happened “in a normal way, with hugs and affection”, in the end “it went in a direction that I considered abuse and pedophilia”. He said he was suddenly hugged in the church kitchen and pressed against the wall to prevent him from escaping. He said that, at those times, he was unresponsive.
The other young man stated that he was never approached when they met in person, but was exposed more than once by the pastor to “inappropriate content on his cell phone” in a car.
The court document states that Silva went to the house of one of the victims and forced the gate of the residence after being denied entry by his parents.
The judge ordered Silva to maintain a minimum distance of 500 meters from the victims. He is prohibited from contacting them by any physical or digital means. He was also banned from visiting the surroundings of Lagoinha São Geraldo. Failure to comply with orders may result in immediate preventive detention.
THE Sheet will not identify any of the young people or their parents by name, to protect the identity of the minor victims.
In the report, the mother of one of the young people described a scenario of isolation and pressure after the facts were revealed. According to her, the initial guidance from Lagoinha’s regional leadership was for families to stay away from services so as “not to hinder the investigations” and avoid encounters with the accused.
The feeling she had was that “it was to not publicize the matter too much” and that there was a central concern in disassociating Silva from Lagoinha.
The mother also reports having suffered reprisals from the community. Members of the congregation reportedly sent messages to the victims’ brothers questioning “what the family had done” to harm the pastor, “as if we were the ones in the wrong.” According to her, the legal support promised by the denomination was vague and ineffective.
The Lagoinha Baptist Church says that the person under investigation denied the accusations at first, but was immediately removed from all duties and banned from attending the unit.
“The complaint was received on Tuesday, January 27th, at around 8 pm. On the morning of Wednesday, January 28th, at 7 am, the leadership personally heard from the families and victims, directing the immediate search for the competent authorities and providing pastoral, psychological support and legal guidance.”
The case is currently in the police investigation phase, conducted by the Minas Gerais authorities. “The church remains available to collaborate.”
Lagoinha also said that it “absolutely repudiates any practice against the dignity and integrity of children and adolescents”, and that, “as the church of Christ”, it does not tolerate or relativize these conducts. “We pray that the truth will come to light and we trust in the accountability of those involved, reaffirming our commitment to protect and care for the entire community.”
