Brazilian politician's move to investigate a priest sparks outpouring of support for the clergyman

A right-wing Brazilian politician’s push to have the city of Sao Paulo investigate a city priest has prompted a strong defense from Roman Catholic leaders and government officials

RIO DE JANEIRO -- A right-wing Brazilian politician’s push to have the Sao Paulo government investigate a city priest has prompted a strong defense from Roman Catholic leaders and government leaders who praised the clergyman's work with the homeless.

The Rev. Júlio Lancellotti, 75, ministers to the homeless in one of the roughest neighborhoods of Brazil's largest city, a crime and drug-ridden area of Sao Paulo commonly known as Crackland.

But Sao Paulo council member Rubinho Nunes alleges the priest also illegally works on behalf of an unnamed non-profit organization to promote Brazil’s leftist President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva — an allegation Lancellotti denies.

Nunes needs the votes of a majority of the 55-member council in two votes to launch the probe and gathered the support of 24 of his colleagues as of this week, ahead of their next session in February.

But the effort has now drawn vocal pushback from the Roman Catholic archdiocese, Lula's administration and celebrities — and four of those council members had withdrawn their support by Thursday.