On Friday, the OPG seized seven temples of the UCKG in Luanda for the alleged crimes of criminal association, tax fraud, illegal export of capital and other offences of a similar nature.
In a communiqué sent to Lusa, the UCKG confirms the seizure of the temples of Alvalade, Maculusso, Patriota, Morro Bento, Benfica, Cazenga and Viana, four of which were in the possession of a group of dissidents, meanwhile constituted as the Reform Commission, and "three in the possession of the legitimate representatives of the Church".
In the communiqué signed by the vice-president, Bishop António Miguel Ferraz, the UCKG Angola vehemently repudiates "the public imputations" of the PGR, "deeply regretting that its image, of its members, workers, pastors and bishops are being tarnished, with no possibility of contradiction and defence".
The UCKG also affirms that "it cannot resign itself to this action", considering that the apprehension affronts the rights of religious freedom and "believes that the judicial mechanisms used in the course of the action in question suffer from illegalities, which will be duly accused in the headquarters and proper place".
On the other hand, he stresses that even before the magistrates of the OPG arrived at the temples, several media outlets "which have had access to alleged evidence in the case" were in place, stressing that the violation of the secrecy of justice "undermines the rule of law".
For the UCKG, its purpose is obvious: "to conduct the trial in the 'court of the streets' and the 'social networks', creating in public opinion the idea that the UCKG and its representatives are a group of criminals acting on Angolan territory".
The UCKG states, however, that "notwithstanding the disagreements regarding the action of justice in this specific case, it will always accept its sovereign decisions, trusting that the truth will prevail within the framework of a fair and equitable process".
The tensions of the UCKG in Angola have dragged on since November, when a group of dissidents withdrew from the Brazilian leadership and culminated in the taking of temples in June by the reformist wing, which had meanwhile been constituted in a Reform Commission in Angola, with an exchange of mutual accusations regarding the practice of illicit acts.
The conflict led to the opening of criminal proceedings in the OPG and rose to the diplomatic sphere, with Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro asking his counterpart João Lourenço for guarantees of protection of Brazilian pastors and the Church's heritage, with the Angolan head of state promising an "appropriate treatment" of the matter in the courts.
At the end of July, the Reform Commission dismissed the board and elected new members, also putting an end to the services of the Brazilian missionaries, decisions published in minutes that the UCKG Angola claims to be illicit.
In a communiqué sent at the time to Lusa and signed by Bishop António Ferraz, the UCUR Angola promised to adopt all measures to react to the illegal publication of the minutes, which was published in the Diário da República on 24 July, and to "put an end to the illegal action of those who now call themselves the 'Commission for Reform of the UCUR'".
According to the 24th of July Diário da República, at the extraordinary meeting the Commission for Reform of the UCKG Angola decided to remove the management body of the UCKG Angola led by Bishop Honorilton Gonçalves "for systematic violation of the statutes and rights of the members of the UCKG in Angola".
"Rational discrimination and violation of statutory norms, imposition and coercion of castration or vasectomy of pastors and abuse of trust in the management of financial resources and property" of the IURD Angola are some of the reasons for the dismissal.
At the Extraordinary Assembly, the Commission for the Reform of the UNURD Angola elected Bishop Valente Bizerra Luís as its coordinator and also decided, "unanimously, to end the ecclesiastical service by the UNURD Angola of Brazilian missionaries throughout the Angolan territory".
The minutes published in the Diário da República state that the members have empowered the Reform Commission of the UCKG Angola to manage all the ecclesiastical television, radio, press and digital platforms of the UCKG Angola.
In response, Bishop António Ferraz stated that the group of dissidents, promoters of the Reform Commission of the UCUR Angola, "do not constitute the legitimate representatives", mentioning that some were expelled due to "illicit acts and violation of the code of conduct of the church".
