Dom Odilo Scherer, Archbishop of São Paulo had initially defended that churches should not be closed, arguing that there should be more daily services to diffuse large gatherings. Later, he determined the suspension of celebrations with the people.[141][142][143] Bishop Edir Macedo, founder of the Universal Church of the Kingdom of God has also defended that services should not be suspended, as well as Silas Malafaia, leader of Assembleia de Deus Vitória em Cristo.[141] Malafaia said he would only close his churches if mandated by a court order. Macedo has caused greater controversy after he dismissed coronavirus as a creation of the media.[144]