A fake bishop recently performed a baptism at the Nossa Senhora dos Aflitos chapel located in the Graças neighborhood of North Recife, raising significant concern from the local Archdiocese. According to a statement issued by the Archdiocese of Olinda and Recife, this event constitutes a 'seriously illegal act' as it breaches sacramental discipline and ecclesiastical order. The Archdiocese made it known that the individual performing the ceremony does not have any canonical affiliation with the Roman Catholic Apostolic Church, emphasizing the gravity of the situation.

The Archdiocese's declaration highlighted that the responsible priest for the chapel was unaware of the unauthorized celebrant's affiliations, which include support for sedevacantism—a belief that the papacy is vacant and that current popes are not legitimate. This lack of awareness raises questions about the oversight and protocols within the chapel regarding who is permitted to perform sacraments. The details surrounding the date of the baptism and the identity of the fake bishop were not disclosed in the Archdiocesan statement, leaving the community seeking more information.

The implications of this incident are profound for the local Catholic community, as the legitimacy of sacraments is integral to their faith practices. By declaring this act illegitimate, the Archdiocese aims to reassure parishioners of the sanctity of church practices and to prevent similar occurrences in the future. This situation serves as a reminder of the importance of vigilance in church governance and the potential dangers of unauthorized religious leaders operating within the community.