Antonio Moser OFM shot to death on 9 March 2016
On March 9th, 2016, Br. Antonio Moser, of the Immaculate Conception Province in Brazil, was brutally murdered in an attempted robbery. Br. Antonio was on his way to São Paulo to record a religious program for the Cançao Nova TV station, when motorcycle gunmen approached and fired at his car several times, fatally wounding him.
With a doctorate in Moral Theology from the Alfonsianum, Rome, Br. Antonio was deeply involved in many important roles. He was a pastor, President of Vozes Publishing, lecturer at the ITF (Franciscan Theological Institute), member of the Bioethics Committee of the CNBB (National Conference of Brazilian Bishops), coordinator of the Ethical Research Commission of UCP (Catholic University of Petropolis), and coordinator of Holy Land social projects in Petropolis. He had published at least 27 books including a number translated into various languages. He also did a large amount of work in a particularly poor and violent neighborhood near Rio de Janeiro (Baixada Fluminense). Such a great number of commitments were possible only because he was convinced of the value of always working as part of a group. He participated in the recent Synod on the Family, having been appointed by Pope Francis as a theological expert.
On December 15th last, Br. Antonio celebrated 50 years of priesthood.