fayfreethinkers.com

SAO PAULO, Brazil -- A Roman Catholic priest who floated off under hundreds of helium party balloons was missing today off the southern coast of Brazil.

...Rev. Adelir Antonio de Carli lifted off from the port city of Paranagua on Sunday afternoon, wearing a helmet, thermal suit and a parachute.

...the priest wanted to break a 19-hour record for the most hours flying with balloons to raise money for a spiritual rest-stop for truckers in Paranagua, Brazil's second-largest port for agricultural products.

...the priest soared to an altitude of 20,000 feet (6,000 meters) then descended to about 8,200 feet (2,500 meters) for his planned flight to the city of Dourados, 465 miles (750 kilometers) northwest of his parish.

But winds pushed him in another direction, and Carli was some 30 miles (50 kilometers) off the coast when he last contacted Paranagua's port authority, Gallas said.

Carli had a GPS device, a satellite phone, a buoyant chair and is an experienced skydiver, Gallas said.

See the rest here

DAR
It's pretty damn cold 4 miles up.

Brazil air force halts search for priest

By STAN LEHMAN, Associated Press Writer

SAO PAULO, Brazil - Brazil's air force on Thursday suspended its search for a Roman Catholic priest who vanished after sailing into the air under a cluster of colorful balloons. The cleric's family chartered a private plane to continue the hunt.

The Rev. Adelir Antonio de Carli has been missing since Sunday, when he lifted off from the port city of Paranagua strapped to 1,000 balloons and wearing a helmet, an aluminum thermal flight suit, waterproof coveralls and a parachute.

A spokesman for the Defense Ministry, who declined to be named in line with departmental regulations, said the air force halted its search in the early morning.

"Over the past few days, air force planes flew over 5,000 square kilometers (1,900 square miles) of land and sea and found no trace of the priest," the spokesman said.

But the navy continued to search using a helicopter and two boats, he said.

Denise Gallas, the treasurer of de Carli's parish, said his family chartered a twin-engine plane after several parishioners said they had "premonitions" he had landed near a small town called Barra Velha on the coast of Santa Catarina state.

"We remain as confident as ever that he is still alive," she said. "Our faith is unshakable."

Jose Carlos Bom, a member of de Carli's technical support team, said if the 41-year-old priest descended on land and was not badly injured, "he has a better than average chance of being alive because he has taken jungle-survival courses and is in excellent physical condition.

"However, if he is still out in the ocean somewhere, I am afraid the chances that he is alive are almost zero."

According to Gallas, the priest hoped his flight would help raise money for a center where truck drivers could stop "to rest and receive the gospel."

LINK

No water, no food - and yes, pretty damn cold that high up - my bet is the fish are feasting. On the other hand, they probably will get their money - for the Adelir Antonio de Carli Memorial Truckers' Rest Stop.

DAR
Corrected title:

"Crowd Witnesses Priest Ass-end Into Heavens"

Barbara Fitzpatrick wrote:On the other hand, they probably will get their money - for the Adelir Antonio de Carli Memorial Truckers' Rest Stop.

DOUG
Yes, and the poor priest only wanted a place where he could meet truckers.

On the other hand, that sounds kind of creepy, doesn't it?