Brother Antonio Moser, of the Province of the Immaculate Conception, was shot dead this Wednesday morning after being attacked by assailants on a roadway in Rio.
The crime occurred around 4 am on the road to Rio de Janeiro. Although wounded, the 75-year-old religious was still able to drive his car to the side of the road. The bandits, who were on a motorcycle, were able to flee. An ambulance was called, but Brother Moser was declared dead.
Agents of the Federal Highway Police isolated the locality to carry out their investigation. The Office of Homicides of Baixada Fluminense will investigate the case.
According to the site of the Franciscans in Brazil, the Provincial Minister, Brother Fidencio Vanboemmel, asked for prayers and lamented the tragic death of Brother Moser.
“The harsh reality that frequently pervades our news programs knocks at our door. We received the news with fright and sadness of the sudden departure of a Brother, a victim of violence that unfortunately is becoming ever more common. (…) Today, unhappily, we give back to God the life of this Brother, victim of murder in the same Baixada that he so loved.”
Brother Moser, who had a doctorate in Theology, with a specialization in Morality from the Alfonsianum Academy of Rome, in addition to being Director of Vozes, was Professor of Moral Theology and Bioethics at the Franciscan Theological Institute in Petropolis (RJ); parish priest of the church of Santa Clara of Petropolis; Director of the Holy Land Educational Center, in addition to being a lecturer in Brazil and abroad. He is the author of several books, many of which have been translated into other languages.
In October of last year, he was the only Brazilian theologian appointed for the Synod on the Family. In addition, on the 12th and 13th of December, Brother Moser celebrated in Gaspar, the city of his birth, his jubilee of 50 years of priestly life. Officially, Brother Moser completed 50 years of priestly life on December 15.
