A woman attacked a two-year-old girl and her parents with pepper spray during Mass in Brazil after allegedly being annoyed by the child’s behaviour. Source: Crux.
The incident happened in the church of Nossa Senhora do Desterro (Our Lady of Exile) in Jundiaí, a city in southeast Brazil, on June 22.
Witnesses said that all the pews were occupied, and a number of children were walking through the corridors, but there was no particular disturbance during the Mass.
“I saw that girl walking by the central corridor. She was not crying nor shouting, just walking. And her mother was coming behind her,” local Lina Ramazotti said.
According to Márcio Vieira de Sousa, who was seated at the back of the church, the incident occurred immediately after Communion.
“From the place where I was sitting, we couldn’t hear any kind of noise coming from the children. We were meditating after Eucharist, the atmosphere was one of silence,” he recalled.
Suddenly, people began to run towards the exit doors and the smell of the pepper gas rapidly spread all over the place, the witnesses described.
On the square in front of the church, a group of men surrounded the car of Livia Ponzoni de Abreu, a 41-year-old physician, the woman who allegedly used the spray against the child.
“She was trying to move, and people were hitting the car with objects and shouting at her. Apparently, pedestrians who had not been in the Mass were doing so, it was a kind of herd effect,” Mr de Sousa said.
Ms De Abreu was taken to a police station. She claimed that she used the spray to defend herself, but ended up being arrested. She was bailed and will face a police inquiry. She is forbidden to frequent churches in the region.
The toddler had burns on her lips and hands and had to be taken to a hospital. Her parents were also hit during the altercation with Ms de Abreu.
Bishop Arnaldo Carvalheiro Neto of Jundiaí gathered with the girl’s parents on June 24, prayed with them and reaffirmed the Church’s commitment to welcoming families.
“I hope that event will not drive away parents who bring their children to Mass,” Bishop Andrei said.
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Woman attacks toddler with pepper spray during Mass in Brazil (By Eduardo Campos Lima, Crux)
