Confraria de S. Diogo

At the beginning of the 17th century, António Homem, a Converso professor of canon law at the University of Coimbra, organized a congregation of Judaizers (Confraria de S. Diogo) which was highly successful, comprising 50 members. In 1619, Homem was arrested by the Inquisition based on an accusation made against him of pederasty. During the investigation, the Inquisition came across his Judaizing activities. He was convicted of heresy and apostasy, and executed in 1624. Other members of the congregation were killed, imprisoned, or suffered other punishments.