The Iglesia ni Cristo: 'Filipino church' in the headline is misleading

"We are neither Protestant nor Roman Catholic. We are the Church of Christ, and everyone will be made welcome." -Pepito Y Acuesta, INC Head Minister, Belfast [they call themselves 'Iglesia']

A letter Belfast Telegraph News from a member of the INC founded by Felix Manalo in the Philippines:

I want to thank you for the article about the Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) chapel purchase in Belfast (March 7). Coming from the USA, it's great to hear good news about brethren 'across the pond'.

However the term 'Filipino church' in the headline is misleading. By saying that, it would seem that the INC only caters to people of that nationality, which is far from the truth. All are welcome. Better wording might be 'Christian church'. -From Belfast Telegraph

There is nothing "misleading" in Belfast Telegraph's news dated March 08, 2013 with those headline titles 'Filipino church buys Belfast landmark building'  since the 'church's registration name is Iglesia ni Cristo - the Tagalog word for 'Church of Christ'.

The Iglesia ni Cristo (Church of Christ) was founded by Felix Manalo in Punta, Santa Ana, Manila, in the Philippines then registered it as "Iglesia ni Kristo" (INK) in 1914 - a corporation sole and later changed its name to 'Iglesia ni Cristo' (INC) maintaining its Tagalog form.  Manalo cannot register his church as 'Church of Christ' since there were numerous Protestant communities with the same registration name at the present.

The only way people would be assured that this 'Church of Christ' is not the same with the many 'churches of Christ' is the logo (see below) with its Tagalog registered name.

Therefore Manalo's Church is uniquely registered in Tagalog Iglesia ni Cristo with the translation in English usually put in a parentheses (see below) to indicate that this 'Church of Christ' was Manalo founded. from the Philippines for the 'Filipinos'.

In his life, Manalo was a poorly catechized Catholic and found no interest in studying Catholic Church' core teachings just like many of its present members who became fierce anti-Catholics. Often identify themselves as "Iglesia ako" (I'm Iglesia) which was never been used by early Christians. Therefor their identity is even cultic and UNBIBLICAL.

Its man-made doctrines reflect those deep ignorance and hatred attacking the Church with what the Catholic Church is NOT.

His little if not almost empty knowledge about the Catholic Church led him to trifle with various Protestant churches brought about by the Americans who came to the Philippines after three decades of subversive Spanish Catholic rule.

He renounced his Catholic faith easily for lack of depth and became a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.  Then he became a member of the Presbyterian Church in 1907; Disciples of Christ in 1908; of which he was accused of DOMESTIC VIOLENCE (see below).

Felix became a member of the Christian Mission in 1910; became a Seventh-day Adventist (Sabadista) in 1911 of which he was suspended for alleged ADULTERY (Ref. The Philippines: a global studies handbook By Damon L. Woods, p. 126)

For almost 10 years Felix Manalo was a member of six different churches founded by men and women whose common force is to tear down the Catholic Church which is the CHURCH OF CHRIST (PASUGO April 1966, p. 46: “Ang Iglesia Katolika na sa pasimula ay siyang Iglesia ni Cristo.")

• Methodist Episcopal Church by John Wesley in 1784
• Presbyterian Church by John Knox in 1560 (Calvinist)
• Disciples of Christ by Thomas Campbell in 1805
• Christian Mission
• Seventh-day Adventists by Helen G. White in1863
• Atheist/Agnostic
• Then founded his own church called the "Iglesia ni Kristo" in 1914

The Belfast Telegraph news maintains its dedication to journalistic professionalism with utmost facts on hand, therefore there is nothing misleading in its reporting.