A missionary priest working for a Cafod partner agency is receiving round-the-clock protection from armed police officers because authorities have confirmed reports that a gunman had been offered 50,000 Brazilian reals (about £13,700) to kill him, writes Abigail Frymann.

Fr Henri des Roziers, 74, works for the Pastoral Land Commission of the Catholic Church (CPT) fighting for land rights for poor farmers in the northern state of Pará. US-born Sr Dorothy Stang was murdered in Anapu, a city in Pará, in 2005 by suspected contract killers hired by ranchers whose land clearance ambitions she opposed.

The French-born Dominican priest expressed frustration that he could not travel and carry out pastoral visits as freely as he wanted to, and said that he found it difficult to be accompanied 24 hours a day. Fr Henri said he did not know who was behind the death threat, but he expressed little confidence in the police. "Those threatening me are rich, powerful and able to influence the police," he said.

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