Universal Church of the Kingdom of God

==Controversies==
The UCKG has frequently been accused of illegal activities, including money laundering, [[charlatanism]],<ref name=charlatan/><ref name=Lima2008>{{cite journal |last1=Lima |first1=Diana Nogueira de Oliveira |title='Prosperidade' na década de 1990: etnografia do compromisso de trabalho entre Deus e o fiel da Igreja Universal do Reino de Deus |trans-title='Prosperity' in the 1990s: ethnography of the work commitment between worshippers and God in the Universal Church of the Kingdom of God |language=pt |journal=Dados |date=2008 |volume=51 |issue=1 |pages=7–35 |doi=10.1590/S0011-52582008000100001 |doi-access=free }}</ref> and [[witchcraft]].<ref name=charlatan/>
A book by ex-pastor Mario Justino reported a system of goals for the pastors, with those who collect more money receiving awards such as bigger houses, better cars, and holidays. Justino was ordered to pay restitution to the church for [[defamation]] and to issue a public apology for making a false report<ref name=bastidores>{{Cite book|title = Nos Bastidores do Reino|last =Justino |language=pt|first = Mario |publisher =Geração Editorial |year =1995 |isbn = 8586028061|location =  São Paulo, SP, Brasil| url=http://www.portalprudente.com.br/pps/mario_justino_nos_bastidores_do_reino.pdf}} {{in lang|pt}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last1=Leonard|first1=Jim |url=http://www.comingstobrazil.com/blog/UNIVERSAL%20CHURCH%20OF%20THE%20KINGDOM%20OF%20GOD.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304104041/http://www.comingstobrazil.com/blog/UNIVERSAL%20CHURCH%20OF%20THE%20KINGDOM%20OF%20GOD.pdf |archive-date=4 March 2016|title=Universal Church of the Kingdom of God|publisher=[[Faith Baptist Bible College and Theological Seminary|Faith Baptist Theological Seminary]]|location=[[Ankeny, Iowa]]|date=8 May 2009}} In English, with attachments in Portuguese.</ref> The UCKG has also been accused of extracting money from its often poor congregants and using said money to enrich church leaders rather than assisting the needy.<ref name=Lima2008/><ref name=lorenzo>[http://old.freedomofmind.com/Info/infoDet.php?id=475 "Ex-Member Bids Farewell To 60G – And Her Faith"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180821222606/http://old.freedomofmind.com/Info/infoDet.php?id=475 |date=2018-08-21 }}, ''New York Post,'' 23 July 2000, posted at Freedom of Mind</ref> Accusations of charlatanism are the most frequent. The church has been under formal investigation in Belgium.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dekamer.be/kvvcr/pdf_sections/publications/sectes/sectes.pdf|title=1997 report "Belgian Parliamentary Report on UCKG" (in Dutch and French), Apologetics Index|website=Dekamer.be|access-date=13 September 2018}}</ref> Newspapers in the United States, the United Kingdom, Brazil and Zambia have reported on charges of abuses by the church.<ref>[https://nypost.com/2000/07/23/one-hell-of-a-way-to-raise-money-holy-roller-church-cashes-in-on-faithful/ "ONE HELL OF A WAY TO RAISE MONEY - HOLY-ROLLER CHURCH CASHES IN ON FAITHFUL"], ''New York Post'', 23 July 2000</ref><ref>[https://www.theguardian.com/world/2001/jan/15/religion.uk "The exorcists"], ''The Guardian'', 15 January 2001</ref><ref>[http://www.brazzil.com/cvrnov95.htm brazzil.com: "Praise the Lord and pass the catch-up"], ''Brazzil'', 1995</ref><ref>[http://www.religionnewsblog.com/12950 "AFP: Satanism claims lead to riot"], ''Religion News'' blog, 27 November 2005</ref>

In August 2012, a man had an [[epileptic seizure]] during a UCKG service in São Paulo. When he went to the back of the temple to take his medicine, UCKG pastors allegedly attacked and punched him, saying he was "possessed by the spirits of darkness". The church was ordered to pay R$10,000 compensation; it appealed, but the ruling was confirmed by the São Paulo Court of Justice.<ref name=epil>{{cite news|url=http://www.bahianoticias.com.br/justica/pense-no-absurdo/147-igreja-universal-e-condenada-por-agredir-fiel-epiletico-confundido-com-possessao-demoniaca.html|title=Igreja Universal é condenada por agredir fiel epilético confundido com 'possessão demoníaca'|language=pt|trans-title=Universal Church is condemned for attacking a supporter who had an epileptic attack taken to be 'demonic possession'|newspaper=Bahia Notícias|date=20 August 2012}}</ref>

In December 2012, the UCKG was ordered by a court in [[Lajeado, Rio Grande do Sul|Lajeado]] to pay R$20,000, confirmed on appeal, in compensation for coercing a businesswoman and her partner to make donations they could not afford. The couple were in financial difficulties and had been led to believe that UCKG blessings would help them. The judge determined that the donations (car, jewellery, home appliances, a mobile phone and a printer) were induced to prove faith and subject to the threat of withholding the blessings needed. The inducement, to the couple and the rest of the congregation, was that the more money was donated, the more Jesus would give in return.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.bahianoticias.com.br/justica/pense-no-absurdo/159-igreja-universal-e-condenada-a-pagar-r-20-mil-de-indenizacao-por-coagir-casal-a-fazer-doacoes.html|title=Igreja Universal é condenada a pagar R$ 20 mil de indenização por coagir casal a fazer doações|language=pt|trans-title=Universal Church is sentenced to pay R$20,000 in compensation for coercing couple to make donations|
newspaper=Bahia Notícias|date=6 December 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news| title=IURD por coagir fiéis a fazer doação é condenada a pagar R$ 20 mil por TJ-RS | website=Inforgospel|trans-title=UCKG sentenced to pay R$ 20 thousand for coercing faithful to make donations| date=6 December 2012 | url=http://blogs.odiario.com/inforgospel/2012/12/06/iurd-por-coagir-fieis-a-fazer-doacao-e-condenada-a-pagar-r-20-mil-por-tj-rs/ | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180914022304/http://blogs.odiario.com/inforgospel/2012/12/06/iurd-por-coagir-fieis-a-fazer-doacao-e-condenada-a-pagar-r-20-mil-por-tj-rs/ | archive-date=14 September 2018 | url-status=dead | language=pt}}</ref>

===Charges of fraud and money laundering===
In August 2009, a judge accepted prosecution charges against Macedo and nine other UCKG leaders, who were charged with [[fraud]] against the church and its followers. According to ''[[The Guardian (UK)|The Guardian]]'', government prosecutors accused the men of laundering more than US$2&nbsp;billion in donations from 2001 to 2009, and using much of it to purchase property, jewelry and cars; the newspaper also reported, "A $45m (£27m) executive jet, reportedly owned by Bishop Macedo, has become the most visible symbol of the scandal. Macedo was cleared of all charges and was issued a public apology following the dismissal of the case."<ref name="fraud"/>

Following a ten-year investigation, the São Paulo prosecutor reported the operation works as follows: donations were gathered from followers, and placed in private banks in both New York City (via Invest Holding, a private [[lending bank]]) and London. The money is sent through Cable Invest, a private bank located in the [[Cayman Islands]]. Finally, it is sent to Brazil though domestic lending companies "Cremo" and "Unimetro", lender banks that divide the funds among Rede Record executives, who in turn supply more money to UCKG officials.<ref name="fraud">{{Citation | last = Phillips | first = Tom | title = Brazilian evangelical leader charged with fraud | newspaper = The Guardian | date = 2009-08-13 | url = https://www.theguardian.com/world/2009/aug/13/brazil-evangelical-leader-charged-fraud | access-date = 24 August 2009 | location=London}}
</ref>

On October 19, 2010, the São Paulo Justice Court (TJ-SP) annulled, by a majority vote, all charges made by the São Paulo Public Ministry against the UCKG and its principal representatives. The judges ruled that the São Paulo prosecutors did not have jurisdiction to investigate the case, as the accusations were of a type that fell into the federal jurisdiction.<ref> Agencia Estado, [https://g1.globo.com/brasil/noticia/2010/10/tj-sp-tranca-acao-contra-cupula-da-igreja-universal.html TJ-SP tranca ação contra cúpula da Igreja Universal], g1.globo.com, Brazil, October 20, 2010 </ref>

===Victoria Climbié's death (UK)===
{{Main|Murder of Victoria Climbié}}

Victoria Climbié was an eight-year-old child whose cruel<ref>From Victoria Climbié Inquiry Report, cited below: "who ended her days the victim of almost unimaginable cruelty"</ref> death in the UK led to major changes in child protection policies. She died from abuse and neglect while living with her great-aunt Marie-Therese Kouao and the aunt's boyfriend. Victoria was seen by dozens of [[social worker]]s, [[nurse]]s, doctors and police officers before she died, and by a pastor of the UCKG, but all failed to spot or stop the abuse. Kouao and her boyfriend were charged with child cruelty and [[murder]]. During police interviews, both claimed that Victoria was [[demonic possession|possessed by evil spirits]]. They were both convicted of murder and sentenced to [[life imprisonment]].<ref name=climbiereport/> Victoria's murder led to a [[public inquiry]] which investigated the role of social services, the [[National Health Service]], the Universal Church of the Kingdom of God, and the police in her death.<ref name=climbiereport>[https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200203/cmselect/cmhealth/570/570.pdf House of Commons Health Committee, ''The Victoria Climbié Inquiry Report,'' Sixth Report of Session 2002–03]</ref>

In February 2000 UCKG Pastor Álvaro Lima, later promoted to a UCKG bishop (and Led the UK headquarters from 2016 to 2021), saw the girl and expressed the view that she was possessed by an evil spirit,<ref name=climbiereport/> saying in a written statement to the inquiry that Victoria had told him "that Satan controlled her life, that Satan had told her to burn her body".<ref name=prayed/> He advised Kouao to bring Victoria back to the church a week later,<ref name=climbiereport/> saying later he suspected she was being abused, but he did not notify any officials. He prayed for her with an assistant.<ref name=prayed>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/1695601.stm "Pastor prayed for 'possessed' Victoria"], BBC, 6 December 2001, retrieved 23 April 2010</ref> He saw her again several days later with her great aunt (pretending to be Climbié's mother), and advised Kouao to take the girl to the hospital, where she died of her abuse.<ref name="Victoria's life of horror">[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/1102191.stm Victoria's life of horror]", BBC, 12 January 2001, retrieved 23 April 2010</ref> The UCKG had been planning to hold a service to "[[Exorcism|cast out the devil]]" from her on the day she died.<ref name="Victoria's life of horror"/>

Following Climbié's death, the UCKG stated that they had placed safeguarding measures in place to prevent the use of "strong prayers" on children. In 2023, the BBC reported that "strong prayers" had been used on a 16 year old boy in the UK, prompting questions as to the effectiveness of these measures.<ref name="bbc-dec2023"/>

===Belgian parliamentary inquiry===
In 1997 the [[Governmental lists of cults and sects#Parliamentary Inquiry Commission (1997)|Belgian Parliament Inquiry Committee on Cults]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dekamer.be/FLWB/pdf/49/0313/49K0313008.pdf|title=Chambre des Représentants de Belgique : SESSION ORDINAIRE 1996-1997|date=28 April 1997|website=Dekamer.be|access-date=13 September 2018}}</ref> described the UCKG as a dangerous [[cult]], and recommended its formal [[proscription]]. The report said that "[The church] claims that the Kingdom of God is down here [on Earth] and that it [the church] can offer a solution to every possible problem, depression, unemployment, family and financial problems. In fact, [the UCKG] is apparently a truly criminal association, whose only purpose is enrichment."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cesnur.org/testi/bryn/br_farias.htm|title=CESNUR - THE SIEGE OF OPORTO'S COLISEUM|website=Cesnur.org|access-date=13 September 2018}}</ref> The Belgian report generated controversy for varied reasons, and the Parliament ultimately rejected most of it.<ref>
[http://www.lachambre.be/FLWB/pdf/49/0313/49K0313009.pdf Vote of the Belgian Parliament on the report of the Enquête (Commission) on Cults] (pdf), Session of May 7, 1997</ref>

===Banned from African countries===
In 1998, UCKG was banned from [[Zambia]] under the accusation of "unchristian practices". The ban was lifted after the church appealed to the Supreme Court. In November 2005, it was again banned from Zambia under the accusation of promoting Satanic rituals,<ref>{{cite news| url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/4485222.stm | work=BBC News | title='Satanic' church banned in Zambia | date=30 November 2005}}</ref> and the work permits for its pastors were revoked.<ref name=afpdec05>{{cite web|url=http://www.namibian.com.na/indexx.php?archive_id=11882&page_type=archive_story_detail&page=6376|title=Zambia revokes work permits of Brazilian pastors 'linked to Satanism'|website=Namibian.com.na|access-date=13 September 2018}}</ref> The ban was again lifted after appeal to Justice.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/4567430.stm | work=BBC News | title=Zambia 'Satanic' church ban lifted | date=29 December 2005}}</ref> Zambia is officially a Christian country by its 1996 constitution.

Also in 2005, UCKG was banned from [[Madagascar]], after members were arrested for burning a Bible and other religious objects in public.<ref name=afpdec05/><ref>{{cite news|title=Madagascar bans Bible-burning sect|work = iafrica.com|date=February 3, 2005}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | title=Madagascar bans Bible-burning Brazilian sect|author=<!--not stated-->| newspaper=The Mail & Guardian | date=3 February 2005|agency=Sapa-AFP| url=https://mg.co.za/article/2005-02-03-madagascar-bans-bibleburning-brazilian-sect/}}</ref> The church was banned with the argument that it had been licensed in 1998 as a "foreign society" and not a "cult society". In later years the UCKG (in [[Malagasy language|Malagasy]], Fiangonan'ny Vondrona Kristian'ny Fanahy Masina (FVKFM)) encouraged blood donation by its members; in one campaign 300 donors were recruited, far more than before the involvement of UCKG.<ref name=bloodmadagascar>{{cite web|url=http://tvmada.com/lcvmada/sant-don-de-sang-de-la-communaut-fvkfm/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130320012600/http://tvmada.com/lcvmada/sant-don-de-sang-de-la-communaut-fvkfm/|archive-date=20 March 2013|website=La Coueur et la voix de Madagascar|title=Santé - Don de sang de la communauté FVKFMA|author=lcvmada|language=mg, fr|trans-title=Health: Blood donation by the FVKFMA community}}</ref>

===Problems in Angola===
UCKG was suspended for 60 days in [[Angola]] in February 2013 after an incident at the Citadela Desportiva in December 2012, which resulted in the death of several people.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://mg.co.za/article/2013-02-08-00-tragedy-puts-controversial-angolan-church-on-spot|title=Tragedy puts controversial Angolan church on spot|last=Redvers|first=Louise|website=The M&G Online|date=8 February 2013}}</ref> The Aid Organs of the Presidency of the Republic also recommended that similar churches which have not been recognised by the state be banned, including "Igrejas Mundial do Poder de Deus", "Mundial do Reino de Deus", "Mundial Internacional", "Mundial da Promessa de Deus", "Mundial Renovada" and "Igreja Evangélica Pentecostal Nova Jerusalém"<ref>{{cite web|title=Government suspends Universal Church |publisher=Agencia Angola Press |date=3 February 2013| url=http://www.portalangop.co.ao/angola/en_us/noticias/politica/2013/1/5/Government-suspends-Universal-Church,05a2018b-ebaf-4385-83ca-f2bb935a8759.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160413130954/http://www.portalangop.co.ao/angola/en_us/noticias/politica/2013/1/5/Government-suspends-Universal-Church,05a2018b-ebaf-4385-83ca-f2bb935a8759.html|archive-date=13 April 2016}}</ref> be suspended. In Brazil this news was published with a response from local religious leaders.<ref>[http://www1.folha.uol.com.br/mundo/2013/02/1225860-angola-suspende-atividades-da-universal-e-mais-seis-igrejas.shtml Folha (Brazil):Angola suspends activities of UCKG and six other churches, São Paulo, 5 February 2013] {{in lang|pt}}</ref>
After a "systematic violation of the rights of members", such as "racial discrimination and violation of statutory rules"; an "imposition and cooperation on castration or vasectomy for pastors", the Angolan government in June 2020 ordered the dissolution of its board of directors and the removal of Bishop Honorilton Gonçalves from his leadership. The act was interpreted by local religious as the official loss of control by Brazilian bishop [[Edir Macedo]] over Universal in the country.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.com/portuguese/geral-53618461 |title=Governo de Angola oficializa afastamento de brasileiros da Igreja Universal no país|language=pt|trans-title=Angolan government officializes removal of Brazilians from the Universal Church in the country|website=BBC News Brasil|date=31 July 2020  |author=Gilberto Nascimento}}</ref>

===UCKG and film promotion===
''[[The Ten Commandments: The Movie|The Ten Commandments]]'' is a film released in 2016 by UCKG-controlled Rede Record in association with Paris Filmes. It is an adaptation of the eponymous television series presented by Rede Record in 2015.<ref name="odia">{{cite web |url=http://odia.ig.com.br/diversao/televisao/2015-11-24/apos-sucesso-de-audiencia-dez-mandamentos-vai-virar-filme.html |title=Após sucesso de audiência, 'Os Dez Mandamentos' vai virar filme |language=pt|trans-title=After audience success, "The Ten Commandments" is to be filmes|website= Televisão - O Dia |date=24 November 2015  |access-date= 17 May 2016}}</ref> The adaptation was written by Vivian de Oliveira and directed by Alexandre Avancini, with the same cast as the soap opera.<ref name="tribuna">{{cite web |url=http://www.atribuna.com.br/noticias/noticias-detalhe/cinema/cinemark-abre-pre-venda-de-ingressos-para-os-dez-mandamentos/?cHash=e0e7e0e03564234ef2c775ee03688285 |title=Cinemark abre pré-venda de ingressos para "Os Dez Mandamentos"|language=pt|trans-title=Cinemark opens pre-sale of tickets for "The Ten Commandments"|website= A Tribuna |date= 1 January 2016 |access-date= 17 May 2016}}</ref>

During pre-order the film broke several records. In two weeks, more than 2 million tickets were sold, and it was also shown at more screens in Brazil, over 1,000, than any previous film.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://veja.abril.com.br/noticia/entretenimento/filme-os-dez-mandamentos-supera-2-milhoes-de-ingressos-na-pre-venda |title=Filme 'Os Dez Mandamentos' supera 2 milhões de ingressos na pré-venda|language=pt|trans-title=Film "The Ten Commandments" sells over 2 million tickets in pre-sales|newspaper=Veja.abril.com |date=20 January 2016  |access-date= 17 May 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://veja.abril.com.br/noticia/entretenimento/os-dez-mandamentos-vai-estrear-em-numero-recorde-de-salas |title='Os Dez Mandamentos' vai estrear em número recorde de salas |language=pt|trans-title="The Ten Commandments to have first showing in record number of cinemas|website=Veja.abril.com |date= 12 January 2016 |access-date= 17 May 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://brasil.elpais.com/brasil/2016/01/28/cultura/1453938129_062179.html |title='Os Dez Mandamentos - O Filme', o milagre da multiplicação dos ingressos |language=pt|trans-title="The Ten Commandments - the Film", the miracle of multiplying income|website=El Pais, Brazil |date= 29 January 2016 |access-date= 17 May 2016}}</ref> However, it was poorly received by critics.

The UCKG was criticised for heavily promoting the film at their services, and asking those attending for money to buy tickets for those who could not afford them; pastors at church services distributed envelopes with the Ten Commandments logo, and asked for them to be filled with money and returned to help the "cause", interspersed with stressing the importance of tithing 10% of salary, plus extra donations, every month.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://noticiasdatv.uol.com.br/noticia/televisao/universal-pede-dinheiro-a-fieis-para-lotar-cinemas-de-os-dez-mandamentos-10206 |title=Universal pede dinheiro a fiéis para lotar cinemas de Os Dez Mandamentos |language=pt|trans-title=Universal asks faithful for money to fill theaters showing The Ten Commandments|website=Notícias da TV |date=18 January 2016 |author=<!--editorial--> |access-date= 16 May 2016}}</ref>

The film was widely released, but a news report in [[São Paulo (city)|São Paulo]] showed empty screening rooms at the premiere of the film, despite the tickets sold at the box office.<ref name=":1">{{cite web |url=http://cinema.uol.com.br/noticias/redacao/2016/01/28/os-dez-mandamentos-estreia-com-lugares-vagos-em-sessoes-esgotadas.htm |title="Os Dez Mandamentos" estreia com lugares vagos em sessões esgotadas |language=pt|trans-title="The Ten Commandments" shows to vacant seats in sold-out sessions|website=Notícias - UOL Cinema |date=28 January 2016 |author=Felipe Branco Cruz and Renata Nogueira |access-date= 17 May 2016}}</ref> It was reported that in [[Recife]] a single  buyer associated with the UCKG bought all the tickets for all showings of the film in its first two weeks, more than 20,700 tickets.<ref name=":2">{{cite web |url=http://cinema.uol.com.br/noticias/redacao/2016/01/19/no-recife-unico-comprador-adquire-22-mil-ingressos-de-os-dez-mandamentos.htm |title=No Recife, único comprador adquire 22 mil ingressos de "Os Dez Mandamentos" |language=pt|trans-title=In Recife a single purchasrer buys 22,000 tickets for "The Ten Commandments"|website= Notícias - UOL Cinema|date=19 January 2016  |author=Felipe Branco Cruz |access-date= 17 May 2016}}</ref> The UCKG officially denied the negative reports about the film.<ref name=":3">{{cite web |url=http://www.universal.org/noticia/2016/01/26/os-dez-mandamentos---o-filme-universal-desmente-acusacoes-da-imprensa-35506.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180322211804/https://www.universal.org/noticias/os-dez-mandamentos---o-filme-universal-desmente-acusacoes-da-imprensa-35506|archive-date=22 March 2018 |title="Os Dez Mandamentos - O filme": Universal desmente acusações da Imprensa|language=pt|trans-title="The Ten Commandments - the Film": Universal [Church] denies Press accusations|website=Universal.org|date= 26 January 2016 |author=UCKG Social Communications Department |access-date= 17 May 2016}}</ref><ref name=":4">{{cite web |url=http://www.universal.org/noticia/2016/01/28/record-e-paris-filmes-divulgam-nota-sobre-a-lotauao-dos-cinemas-na-estreia-de-os-dez-mandamentos-o-filme-35527.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180323160148/https://www.universal.org/noticias/record-e-paris-filmes-divulgam-nota-sobre-a-lotauao-dos-cinemas-na-estreia-de-os-dez-mandamentos-o-filme-35527|archive-date=23 March 2018|title=Record e Paris Filmes divulgam nota sobre a lotação dos cinemas na estreia de "Os Dez Mandamentos – O filme"|language=pt|trans-title=Rede Record and Paris Filmes publish note on attendance at cinemas showing "The Ten Commandments - the Film"|website=Universal.org (UCKG) |date= 28 January 2016 |access-date= 17 May 2016}}</ref>

In 2018, the film ''Nada a Perder'' (''Nothing to Lose''), which depicts the story of Edir Macedo, part-funded and promoted by Macedo's ''Record'' channel, was similarly reported to be the biggest-selling Brazilian film, but to be playing to rows of empty seats night after night; in one case two sold-out performances played to a totally empty cinema, and to a woman and her two children. A UCKG spokesman said that it was a lie and fake news propagated by media with "a long history of attacks against Universal and the Christian faith" that the film was showing to empty cinemas. He said that the church had "never" bought tickets for the film, but there had been "an initiative so that the biggest number of people possible could see the film—taking needy populations and residents of poor neighbourhoods, the excluded and those who never had access to a cinema where they live".<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/may/15/nothing-to-lose-nada-a-perder-brazil-sold-out-empty-cinemas-universal-church |title='It is strange': Brazilian church blockbuster plays to empty cinemas |newspaper=The Guardian |date=17 May 2018  |author=Dom Phillips|access-date= 17 May 2018}}</ref>

===Illegal child adoption scheme in Portugal===
In December 2017, the Portuguese UCKG was accused of running an illegal child adoption network.  Children were allegedly taken from their biological mothers and illegally taken to  foreign countries for adoption.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.tvi24.iol.pt/sociedade/iurd/o-segredo-dos-deuses-tvi-revela-trafico-internacional-de-criancas-em-portugal |title="O Segredo dos Deuses": TVI revela rede de adoções ilegais de crianças da IURD em Portugal |language=pt |trans-title=The secrets of the gods: TVI reveals illegal child adoption network of Portuguese UCKG|website=Tvi24.iol.pt |date=11 December 2017 |access-date=11 December 2017}}</ref> The investigation continued {{As of|2018|4|lc=y}}; the Portuguese judicial authorities had by then ruled that children were not taken illegally from their parents, but that there were indications of crime in the subsequent process of adoption.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://observador.pt/2018/04/07/iurd-justica-nega-rede-de-adocao-ilegal-ou-irregularidades-na-retirada-das-criancas-aos-pais/|title=IURD. Justiça nega rede de adoção ilegal ou 'irregularidades na retirada das crianças aos pais'|trans-title=UCKG. Judicial authorities deny illegal adoption network or "irregularities in the withdrawal of children from parents"|last=Correia|first=Gonçalo|website=Observador|date=7 April 2018|language=pt-PT|access-date=2018-04-07}}</ref>

In May 2019, the [[Public Prosecution Service (Portugal)|Public Prosecutor's Office]] determined the termination of investigative procedures, deeming the absence of grounds for any prosecution.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.rtp.pt/noticias/pais/ministerio-publico-arquiva-inquerito-a-adocao-ilegal-de-criancas-pela-iurd_n1148351|title=Ministério Público arquiva inquérito à adoção ilegal de crianças pela IURD|publisher=Rádio e Televisão de Portugal|agency=Agência Lusa|language=pt|date=2019-05-18}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.publico.pt/2019/05/18/sociedade/noticia/ministerio-publico-arquiva-inquerito-adopcao-ilegal-criancas-iurd-1873180|title=Ministério Público arquiva inquérito à adopção ilegal de crianças pela IURD|website=PÚBLICO|language=pt|date=2019-05-18}}</ref> The Prosecutors' Office stated that the foster care homes belonging to the UCKG were legally constituted and operated, further confirming the legality of the institutionalization proceedings carried out before the national legal entities.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://sol.sapo.pt/artigo/658734/arquivado-inquerito-a-adocao-ilegal-de-criancas-pela-iurd|title=Arquivado inquérito à adoção ilegal de crianças pela IURD|website=Semanario SOL|date=18 May 2019 |language=pt|access-date=2020-01-22}}</ref> No criminal proceedings were carried out by the Prosecutors' Office regarding the adoption of institutionalized children.

Following the termination, the Public Prosecutor's Office has since carried out criminal proceedings for false testimony against two mothers of some of the adopted children. Both mothers issued statements in a public television report, as well as before a court, under oath. One claimed that she had not signed any court documents to authorize any adoption proceedings, while the other stated that she was never notified by the court, or by any other means, of her children's adoption, saying that she had never signed any notification of said adoptions - both claimed that their signatures had been forged and wrongfully submitted in court, in order for the adoptions to proceed. However, subsequent forensic inspections, carried out by the Prosecutors' Office, then indicated that the mothers had indeed signed the court documents regarding their children's adoptions,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sabado.pt/portugal/seguranca/detalhe/pj-contraria-versoes-de-maes-biologicas-da-iurd-sobre-assinaturas|title=PJ contraria versões de mães biológicas da IURD sobre assinaturas|website=www.sabado.pt|language=pt-pt|access-date=2020-01-22}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cmjornal.pt/sociedade/detalhe/assinaturas-das-maes-biologicas-em-causa-nas-adocoes-da-iurd|title=Assinaturas das mães biológicas em causa nas adoções da IURD|website=www.cmjornal.pt|language=pt-PT|access-date=2020-01-22}}</ref> deeming the respective procedures as lawful. Both women currently await trial for false testimony.

One mother has since confessed that she had indeed received and signed a court notification regarding her sons' adoption, claiming, before the court, that her false allegations of signature forgery were instigated by a journalist from Portuguese broadcast channel "[[Televisão Independente|TVI]]", whilst further stating the falsehood of her previous accusations to the UCKG.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://expresso.pt/sociedade/2019-11-07-Mae-que-acusou-IURD-de-lhe-roubar-dois-filhos-pede-desculpa-em-tribunal|title=Mãe que acusou IURD de lhe roubar dois filhos pede desculpa em tribunal|agency=Agência Lusa|website=Jornal Expresso|language=pt-PT|date=2019-11-07}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://observador.pt/2019/11/07/mae-que-acusou-iurd-de-lhe-roubar-dois-filhos-pede-desculpa-em-tribunal/|title=Mãe que acusou IURD de lhe roubar dois filhos pede desculpa em tribunal|agency=Agência Lusa|website=Observador|language=pt-PT|date=2019-11-07}}</ref>

According to the mother's allegations, journalist Alexandra Borges instigated her to state that she had not signed any adoption papers or notifications, in exchange for reuniting her with her estranged sons.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.dn.pt/pais/mae-que-acusou-iurd-de-lhe-roubar-dois-filhos-assume-que-inventou-historia-falsa-11487739.html|title=Mãe que acusou IURD de lhe roubar dois filhos assume que inventou história falsa|newspaper=Diario de Notícias|agency=Agência Lusa|language=pt|date=2019-11-07}}</ref>

===Opposing women's higher education ===
Bishop Macedo stated in a 2019 sermon that daughters should not be allowed to seek out [[higher education]], because if they do they will be "smarter than their husbands", and that he personally would not allow his daughters to go to college because he believes that an educated woman cannot have a happy marriage: "When they [my daughters] went out, I said they would just go to high school and they wouldn't go to college. My wife supported me, but the relatives found it absurd. Why don't you go to college? Because if you graduate from a particular profession, you will serve yourself, you will work for yourself. But I don't want that, you came to serve God. Because if (…) she was a doctor and had a high degree of knowledge and found a boy who had a low degree of knowledge, he would not be the head, she would be the head. And if it were the head, it would not serve God's will. I want my daughters to marry a male. A man who has to be head. They have to be head. Because if they are not head their marriage is doomed to failure."<ref>{{Cite news|first=Ingrid|last=Soares|title=Bispo Edir Macedo diz que mulher não pode ter mais estudo que o marido|language=pt-br|trans-title=Bishop Edir Macedo says that a woman must not have more education than her husband|newspaper=Correio Braziliense|date=24 September 2019|url=https://www.correiobraziliense.com.br/app/noticia/brasil/2019/09/24/interna-brasil,789307/bispo-edir-macedo-diz-que-mulher-nao-pode-ter-mais-estudo-que-o-marido.shtml}} [https://web.archive.org/web/20220427165325/https://www.patheos.com/blogs/progressivesecularhumanist/2019/10/bishop-daughters-should-be-uneducated-so-theyre-not-smarter-than-husbands/ English translation by Michael Stone from the Patheos website, 5 October 2019.]</ref>

===''Surviving Universal UK''===

In 2022 hundreds of former members in the United Kingdom via a movement called ''Surviving Universal UK'' spoke out publicly about the abuse they had endured within the church, including [[sexual abuse|sexual]], [[physical abuse|physical]], and [[financial abuse]] and [[coercion]]. Following this the general issue of faith abuse was widely discussed in the UK news media. Surviving Universal UK was widely viewed on TikTok, generating attention, and leading to an investigation by [[The Guardian]]<ref name=mcclenaghan>{{cite news| last=McClenaghan | first=Maeve | title='Exposed to horrendous things': young people in UK speak out against evangelical church |newspaper=The Guardian | date=29 November 2022 | url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/nov/29/young-uk-people-speak-out-against-evangelical-church-universal-kingdom-god}}</ref> and continuing reports.<ref>{{cite news| last=Ingram | first=Sarah | title='Threats, grooming, exploitation': How we escaped the evangelist church 'cult'| newspaper=Metro | date=17 May 2023 | url=https://metro.co.uk/2023/05/17/threats-grooming-exploitation-howe-we-escaped-a-church-cult-18070398/}}</ref>

After the allegations become public the UCKG replied to several newspapers that they did not agree with the allegations,<ref name="South London News 2022 b479">{{cite news| title='They made me perform exorcisms on others': Survivors of 'cult' church speak out over abuse|last=Twomey|first=James| website=South London News | date=21 October 2022 | url=https://londonnewsonline.co.uk/they-made-me-perform-exorcisms-on-others-survivors-of-cult-church-speak-out-over-abuse/}}</ref> and remained critical of the many survivors who told their stories, as displayed in The Guardian's [https://www.theguardian.com/world/audio/2022/dec/02/the-young-people-speaking-out-against-the-universal-church-of-the-kingdom-of-god podcast] that featured Surviving Universal UK.

As the UCKG is a registered charity in the UK, survivors  called on the [[Charity Commission]] to launch a statutory inquiry into the UCKG's conduct and finances with a view to stripping the church of its charity status. In the UK, the UCKG's income is on average £12 million a year, according to their annual report submitted to the Charity Commission.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/|title=The Universal Church of the Kingdom of God|website=The Charity Commission for England and Wales API|access-date=2023-07-24}}</ref> UCKG survivor say members fund all UCKG activities, including expensive uniforms that all volunteers must wear, food banks and outreach programs, and question where the millions actually go.

In response to the criticism the Charity Commission opened a regulatory compliance case into the UCKG over potential safeguarding concerns.<ref name=ccinvestigat>{{cite news| title=Regulator contacts Pentecostal church charity over safeguarding concerns | website=Civil Society | date=4 January 2023 | url=https://www.civilsociety.co.uk/news/regulator-contacts-pentecostal-church-charity-over-safeguarding-concerns.html}}</ref>

Members of Surviving Universal UK appeared in a BBC Panorama production exposing alleged [[conversion therapy]] and [[exorcism]].<ref name="bbc-dec2023"/><ref name="bbc-2023-documentary"/>