Edir Macedo

Edir Macedo Bezerra (born February 18, 1945) is a Brazilian religious leader. Macedo was raised Catholic, but by 1970 was a Pentecostal. He founded the "Neo-Pentecostal" Universal Church of the Kingdom of God in Rio de Janeiro state, Brazil in 1977.

His rapidly growing religious movement has been a source of controversy, as it is considered prosperity theology. His views about other faiths, particularly Catholicism, are also controversial. In 1992, he spent eleven days in jail on accusations of charlatanism. There were several protests, with his religious followers camping in front of the prison .

Criticism

Macedo has earned criticism, especially after the 'kicking of the saint' incident (in which Macedo's ex-bishop Sérgio Von Helder kicked a Catholic icon in a TV program) and his teachings about tithing and donations, which many say exploit the poor.

In August 1989, Rede Manchete's Documento Especial presented evidence against Macedo's church, UCKG. In 1995, Rede Globo's Jornal Nacional also presented a piece about how Macedo teaches the church leaders to convince people to give donations and exploit churchgoers' poverty and gullibility. The techniques of Edir Macedo, beside other scenes with his bishops, do not coincide with what is preached to the believers during Church sermons.

Edir Macedo was indicted by the Federal Justice for fraudulent import of equipment and use of false public documents and legal proceedings. He was later declared...
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