A very well respected Filipino Apologetic came accross my blog and sent me a very encouraging message.
Dear Blogger,
O, this is my first time to visit and check your Blog. Its wonderful and great. I enjoyed reading. CONGRATULATIONS FOR THE JOB WELL DONE.
I am Rev. Fr. Abe Arganiosa, CRS the blogger of THE SPLENDOR OF THE CHURCH BLOSPOT. Thank you for including it in your Blog List. I will reciprocate it by adding yours in my Blogroll also.
I am a member of the Defensores Fidei Foundation and Bro. Cenon Bibe is a good friend. You can e-mail me at
Visit Father Abe at Splendor of the Chruch. From there, Father Abe and I frequently exchange ideas and messages.
Thanks Father for your priestly blessings for myself and my family. You are my inspiration, Mama Mary my silent prayer partner, Joshua (the name I've given to my guardian angel) as my defender and Christ my guide and my light.
Our Vietnamese brethren need our prayers. Please offer your sacrifices today for them and offer your Mass intentions for the rest of the persecuted Christians around the world. Say your Rosary prayers for the peace in the world.
(Article Source: AsiaNews)Hanoi - A Catholic from Dong Hoi was arrested yesterday by police and groups of thugs – in the service of law enforcement - shouted death threats against the faithful. The city of Dong Hoi is located about 500 km south of Hanoi and the Local Government (found in Quang Binh) has declared there are "no Catholics" in the area, even if there are at least three thousand faithful.
Fr. Vo Thanh Tam, secretary of the College of Priests of Vinh Diocese (which belongs to Dong Hoi) confirmed that several Catholics were arrested a few days ago and that yesterday “Mr. Nguyen Cong Ly was arrested. His house is frequently used by the faithful for liturgical services”. In fact there are no churches in the area, the only one being Tam Toa, which is in ruins and which the government wants to use as a "memorial" to the war against the United States. Other sources say that the area is being used to build a tourist village (see AsiaNews 21/07/09 - Beatings and arrests of priests and faithful in the historic church of Tam Toa).
According to witnesses, the police and groups of thugs are roaming the streets and attacking those who visibly wear Catholic religious symbols.
In recent weeks a group of faithful tried to repair the ruins of Tam Toa, but were stopped by police, brutally beaten and arrested. To demand their release impressive demonstrations were held by Catholics in the diocese of Vinh, in Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City), in Hanoi and other cities.
Immediately after the episode in Tam Toa, hundreds of Catholic families fled Dong Hoi to find refuge in Ha Tinh and Nghe An (also in the diocese of Vinh).
Meanwhile more than 600 state media began a campaign of disinformation against the Catholics of Tam Toa, demanding they be charged and inciting hatred toward Catholics.
Another sad story of religious intollerance and persecution by Muslims in the Middle East while Muslims in Christian dominated countries enjoyed the hospitality and tolerance given them by other faiths. They even used democracy to air their religious rights which is not respected under the Sharia Law.
[Source: WorldNetDaily]JERUSALEM – Hundreds of Muslims over the weekend tried to set a local Egyptian Christian's home on fire after he announced he would turn the structure into a church, an Egyptian security source and local Christians told WND.
At least four Christian Copts and two Muslim policemen were wounded in the clashes that ensued this past Friday after about 500 local Muslims descended upon the small Christian village of Al-Hawasiliya, vowing to burn down the house.
Local Christians told WND the Muslim mob was provoked at local mosque services.
"The imams deliberately worked up the congregants against us," a local Christian told WND yesterday.
The Muslims accused the Christian home owner of attempting to build a church without the proper local permits. Islamic Shariah law, not explicitly accepted by the Egyptian government, forbids the construction of any new churches in a Muslim state. Existing churches are allowed to remain but cannot be expanded and cannot conduct public ceremonies or ring church bells.
Egyptian police eventually stepped in to stop the Muslim crowd, but not before they first set several nearby Christian farms on fire, a security source in Egypt told WND.
This was not the first time Egyptian Christians were targeted on suspicion they might build a church. In 2007, WND reported Muslims in Egypt attacked local Christians and set fire to their shops and homes after the Christian community was accused of attempting to build a church. The Egyptian government heavily restricts the construction or enlargement of churches, requiring permits for any Christian building.
Coptic Christians constitute between 8 and 15 percent of Egypt's population. They are regularly targeted by the country's Muslim majority.
In April, WND quoted local Christian leaders charging an Egypt government policy to slaughter the country's pigs as a stated precaution against swine flu was also aimed at targeting and weakening Egypt's long-persecuted Christian community. Almost the entire pig farming community in Egypt is run by Coptic Christians.
Egypt that month started seizing and slaughtering herds of pigs in a bid to rid the country of its swine, explaining it was a safety precaution against swine flu. The move was heavily criticized by the United Nations, which put out a statement that the mass cull of up to 400,000 pigs was "a real mistake" since the new flu strain has not been found in pigs.
Christians are effectively restricted from senior Egyptian government, military or educational positions, and any worship services require the permission of the government.
The Coptic Church, a major Christian community in Egypt, reportedly dates back to the origins of Christianity. Christians were the majority in Egypt until several centuries after the Arab conquest of the 7th century.
Let's all pray for our Coptic brethren. May God keep their faith strong.
We have to continue pray for all persecuted Christians around the world particularly to our missionaries who are the usual targets of this intollerance. We have to hold on to Christ's promise that he will not leave us orphans. Let's strengthen our brethren in the Lord whle they face earthly tribulation at the hands of those who hate Christ and his Church.
Hanoi (Asia News)-Two priests are in serious condition after they were savagely beaten by Vietnamese olice and thugs, who tried in vain to stop the demonstrations held last July 26 in Vinh (300 km south of Hanoi) to demand justice for the violence used against the Christian community of the parish of Tam Toa (see AsiaNews 21/07/09 - Beatings and arrests of priests and faithful in the historic church of Tam Toa). As news of the priests conditions spread, a series of new demonstrations have been launched in several cities of Vietnam.
The diocesan office in Vinh issued a statement last night in condemning the attacks by police and gangs of thugs acting on police orders, on the two priests, Fr Paul Nguyen Dinh Phu and Fr. Peter Nguyen The Binh, whose conditions are very critical. Both have been admitted to hospital in Dong Hoi, the first with broken ribs and head injuries, the second was beaten into a coma and then hurled from the 2nd floor of the building.
The diocesan statement also denounces that police and gangs of thugs have been attacking anyone who dares to wear a Catholic religious symbol. In a particular episode, the thugs savagely beat a woman, Nguyen Thi Yen and her child of 9 years.
On 26 July morning, Fr. Paul Dinh Phu Nguyen, pastor of Du Loc, was attacked by a group of plainclothes policemen as he was travelling to the parish of Tam Toa, for the celebration of mass together with five other priests of the deanery of Trooc. The mass was to have started a peaceful demonstration to protest against the beating suffered by many faithful of the parish of Tam Toa, who were repairing the ruined church. Seven faithful were arrested.
The event was attended by 170 priests, 420 religious and about 500 thousand Catholics from the diocese of Vinh and other neighbouring dioceses, distributed across 19 deaneries. While making their way to Tam Toa, three women of the village of Dong Yen were beaten by a group of men. Fr. Paul Nguyen tried to intervene to save the women, but "before I could say a word - he said - they have left the women aside and they turned on me, beating me with brutality, having recognized me as a priest. There were at least 30 uniformed policemen nearby and who simply looked on with indifference while I was subjected to the attack. "
The beating left him with some broken ribs and injuries to the face and head. He was saved by a group of believers who freed him and took him to hospital. Afterwards, the gang which had beat him, surrounded the hospital building armed with clubs and other instruments of violence.
The diocesan Office of Vinh immediately issued a public complaint to the People's Committee of Quang Binh and asked a Fr. Peter Nguyen The Binh, pastor of nearby Ha Loi parish, to visit Fr Paul Nguyen, accompanied by Vice Governor Tran Cong Thuat. On arriving at the hospital, Thuat fled. An armed gang surrounded the priest left on his own, savagely beating him into a coma and throwing him from the second floor of the hospital building.
The news of the attacks to the two priests and other faithful of Dong Hoi has sparked a fresh protest. In Ho Chi Minh City, yesterday evening, more than 2 thousand Catholics attended a prayer vigil at the Redemptorist monastery, asking the Vietnamese government to immediately stop the persecution of the Church.
Almost simultaneously with the vigil in Ho Chi Minh City, other gatherings were organized by the Thai Ha Redemptorists (Hanoi), gathering thousands of faithful. In the evening, in Nghe An, Ha Tinh and Quang Binh thousands more Catholics came together marching through the streets, praying the rosary and asking for the release of the seven faithful arrested in Tam Toa a week before.
Fr Vo Thanh Tam, secretary of the college for priests of the diocese of Vinh, condemned police brutality in the province of Quang Binh, but praised the police in Vinh for allowing the peaceful march of the faithful last night.
It is not only their official magazine PASUGO that proves Iglesia ni Cristo's real founder but it's one of its own members believed too that it was Felix Manalo himself who founded this business establishment called Iglesia ni Cristo. ( Click newphilrevolution.blogspot.com for the article).
More than 10 million Iglesia Ni Cristo (INC) members celebrated the 95th year of God's work throughout the world yesterday. After going to Commonwealth to hear what Mrs. Arroyo has to say, my family and I went to Araneta Center.
The scenes are surreal. If you watch this video, people look like ants. This is one of the most phenomenal crowd scenes I've seen in years. The entire Araneta center was filled with people.
The INC is the only Philippine-based religious group with thousands of chapters throughout the world. It started at my birthplace, Punta Santa Ana Manila on July 27, 1914, the day when Austro-Hungarian forces invaded Serbia. INC Founder Felix Ysagun Manalo, a young preacher then, with his wife, Honorata, preached to workers of the AG&P (where my mother used to work also in the 1970's before she transferred to Malayan Insurance). A series of bible studies led to the baptism of the first INC members--fourteen workers of the AG&P.
He said it well and accurately for no one can alter historical facts.
To Jesus be the glory for fulfilling his promise keeping and protecting his Church against the powers of false prophets who would come after him. Indeed the gates of hell will not prevail. He is keeping his promise to be with his Church until the ends of times celebrating its 2,009th (our calendar shows that counting. Even the INC members use that counting anyway).
(Source: The Splendor of the Church): Today almost all newspapers and our city streets are infested by paid messages or banners congratulating the Iglesia ni Manalo for the 95th anniversary of this cult. It is understandable for our politicians because they need the votes of the INC members who are famous for their block voting. Just like any cult this organization or rather this corporation is growing thanks to determined efforts of its ministers to lure Catholics into their fold and the lack of efforts on the part of the Catholic hierarchy to stop the tide of conversions to this sect.
Well, never mind. Let's just do our part.
It is very interesting that the INC considers July 27 as their most special day while they abhor the December 25 of Christmas. They are arguing that it is not written in the Bible that Jesus was born on December 25. Very interesting indeed... Why? Did they find in the Bible the verse stating that July 27 must be celebrated as the founder of the Iglesia ni Cristo? Ha, ha, ha... Of course not. Yet they rather not talk about it because it will destroy their corporation.
It is also interesting to observe the Succession of Authority in the Biblical Church founded by Jesus and that of the Iglesia founded by Felix Y. Manalo. First, the one founded by Jesus was established on Peter the Rock [Mt 16;18-19] while the Iglesia ni Cristo is founded by Felix Manalo et al by asking for the authority of the government. Ha, ha, ha... Second, the Lord Jesus didn't beget any child to be his successor but Felix Manalo left his son Eraño Manalo as the Chief Executive Minister of his self-founded sect. Very clever, isn't he? And, now that Eraño is in his old age the Vice Chief Executive is his own son, Eduardo. Amazing business acumen, these people have. Very bright. He, he, he... Read more...
Today, the church of Felix Manalo is celebrating it's 95th Anniversary from its humble beginning in Sitio Punta, Sta. Ana in Manila. He registered his church in July 27, 1914 as Corporation sole.
Here's what their official magazine Pasugo is saying about their church called Iglesia ni Cristo (formerly known as Iglesia ni Kristo):
PASUGO Setyembre 1940, p. 1: Dapat malaman ng lahat, ayon sa Bagong Tipan, ang tunay na INK ay si Cristo ang nagtatag nito."
PASUGO Nobyembre 1940, p. 23: Iisa lamang ang tanging makapagtatayo ng Iglesiang magiging dapat sa Dios. Kung sino-- ang ating Panginoong Jesu-Cristo lamang! Sino mang tao-- maging marunong o mangmang, maging dakila o hamak-- ay walang karapatang magtayo ng Iglesia"
PASUGO Mayo 1968, p. 7: Ang tunay na INK ay iisa lamang. Ito ang Iglesiyang itinayo ni Cristo. Kung mayroon mang nagsisibangon ngayong mga Iglesia at sasabihing sila man ay Iglesia ni Cristo rin, ang mga ito ay hindi tunay na Iglesia ni Cristo kundi huwad lamang."
PASUGO Mayo 1954, p. 9: Alin ang tunay na Iglesia? Ang Iglesiang itinayo ni Cristo sa Jerusalem."
PASUGO Agosto-Setyembre 1964, p. 2,5: Sino ang sinugo ng Dios upang maitatag ang Iglesia sa Pilipinas? Sa Isaias 46:11, ay ganito ang sabi: 'na tumatawag ng ibong mandaragit mula sa silanganan ang taong gumagawa ng aking payo mula sa malayong lupain" (Si Felix Manalo). Ayon sa kumakaaway sa INK sinasabi raw ng Rehistro na si Felix Manalo ang nagtatag ng INK."
PASUGO Mayo 1967, 9.14: Sa panahong ito ng mga wakas na Lupa na nagsimula sa unang Digmaang Pandaigdig ay tatawag ang Dios ng kanyang huling sugo upang itatag ang kanyang Organisasyon. Kung gayon ang INK na lumitaw sa Pilipinas noong 1914, ay siyang Organisasyong Pinangunahan o Pinamahalaan ni Felix Manalo."
PASUGO Hulyo 1955, nasa panakip: Iyon ang Iglesia ni Cristo na dapat pasukan ng lahat ng tao; at ang tanging sugo'y si kapatid na Felix Manalo."
PASUGO Hulyo 1952, p. 4: Kung ang babalingan ng pag-uusapan ay ang nagtatag, dapat na siya ang may-ari ng itinatag, at sa kanya rin manggagaling ang mga aral at turo na ipinatutupad."
PASUGO Agosto-Setyembre 1964, p. 5 Kailan napatala sa Pamahalaan o narehistro ang INK sa Pilipinas? Noong Hulyo 27, 1914. Tunay nga na sinasabi sa rehistro na si Kapatid na F. Manalo ang nagtatag ng INK."
PASUGO Mayo 1952, p. 4 Kung ang babalingan ng pag-uusapan ay ang nagtatag, dapat na siya ang may-ari ng itinatag, at sa kanya rin manggagaling ang mga aral at turo na ipinatutupad."
PASUGO Nobyembre 1940, p. 23: Iisa lamang ang tanging makapagtatayo ng Iglesiang magiging dapat sa Dios. Kung sino? -- Ang ating Panginoong Jesu-Cristo lamang! Sinumang tao-- maging marunong o mangmang-- ay walang karapatang magtayo..."
PASUGO Mayo 1968, p. 7: Ang tunay na Iglesia ni Cristo ay iisa lamang, ito ang Iglesiang itinayo ni Cristo. Kung mayroon mang nagsisibangon ngayong mga Iglesia at sasabihing sila man ay INK rin ang mga ito ay hindi tunay kundi huwad lamang!"
PASUGO Nobyembre 1960, p. 26: Kaya't papaano makikilala ang sugo ng Dios at ang hindi sugo ng Dios: Sa aral makikilala ayon kay Jesus. Ang aral ng mga sugo ng Dios ay mula sa Dios, ang mg aral ng hindi sugo ng Dios, ay mula lamang sa kanyang sarili. (Juan 7: 16-18)
PASUGO Nobyembre 1959, p. 20: Kaninong aral ang itinuturo ng Iglesia ni Cristo? Aral ng Dios, ni Cristo at ng mga Apostol na nasusulat sa Banal na Kasulatan. Walang aral si Kapatid na Felix Manalo na kinatha mula sa kanyang sarili."
PASUGO Mayo 1961, p. 4, At sino nga ba ang gumagawa ng mga leksiong itinuturo ng mga ministro, maging sa mga pagsamba, mga doktrina o mga Propaganda? Ang Kapatid na Felix Manalo".
PASUGO Mayo 1963, p. 27: Kaya't sa katuparan ng hula, ang lahat ng mga itinuturo ng mga Ministro ng INK sa mga pagsamba, sa mga doktrina, sa mga pamamahayag sa gitna ng bayan, ay si Kapatid na Felix Manalo lamang ang bumabalangkas at at nagtuturo sa kanila."
PASUGO Abril 1966, p. 46: Ang Iglesia Katolika na sa pasimula ay siyang Iglesia ni Cristo."
Gracing the 95th Anniversary of the Iglesia ni Cristo (Manalo) celebration in Manila last July 27, 2009, were members of the "apostate Church" Mr. Ryan Cayabyab, Mr. Gerald Salonga and Ms. Lea Salonga had contributed their expertise in making the INC celebration really entertainining. (Their talent fee wasn't published).
According to Iglesia ni Cristo, the Catholic Church was the true Church of Christ built by Christ in Jerusalem. After the death of the last apostle, the original Church of Christ which was the Catholic Church turned its back to Christ's teachings when they taught about the Trinity. Mr. Ryan Cayabyab, Mr. Gerald Salonga and Ms. Lea Salonga are members of this apostate Church of Christ. In fact, the INC accuses the Catholic Church as the "Church of Satan", its priests as "demons" and Catholics as "sons (and daughters) of the Devil."
Pertaining to the apostate Lea Salonga, the EMCEE said "Even she's not a member of the Iglesia ni Cristo, she graciously accepted on invitation for her to sing for us now."
So a "daughter of Satan" was invited by the "true" Church of Christ to sing for them. What a nice celebration indeed.!
The President and the Government of Vietnam will visit the Vatican
Ho Chi Minh City (AsiaNews) - Diplomatic relations and, perhaps, an invitation to Benedict XVI to visit Vietnam next year, where even John Paul II failed to make it. These are the hopes of Vietnamese Catholics spurred on by the news, given by Cardinal JB. Pham Minh Man and confirmed by the authorities, that in November a government delegation will visit the Vatican and the following month the President will meet the Pope.
The visit of the Vietnamese delegation has an important precedent; on 25 January 2007 Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung (pictured) was received at the Vatican. At that time it seemed that many of the issues which divide the two parties could have been resolved and that and that there was the possibility of establishing normal diplomatic relations on the horizon. It was not to be and Vietnamese Catholics continue to experience difficult times.
Relations between Vietnam and the Vatican, were not interrupted however and regular visits to the nation by a Holy See delegation continued. Now the government says that "a delegation of the Government of Vietnam will visit the Vatican in November 2009to discuss some issues involving relations on both sides, and on December 2009 Vietnam’s President will meet and for an exchange of views with the Holy Father Benedict XVI for the relations in a near future. "
For Catholics in Vietnam, the bishops ad limina visit in June of this year was a particularly important event. On that occasion, the chairman of the Bishops Conference, Msgr. Pierre Nguyen Van Nhon, had expressed the hope that the pope might one day visit the country and recalled that the Church will celebrate a special Vietnamese jubilee year from 24 November 2009, the Solemnity of the martyrs of the country, to the Epiphany of 2011. Clearly the hope of Catholics is to see the Pope at that time, while the Vatican has said that next year, Benedict XVI will undertake a journey to Asia... Continue Reading
Traditional Anglican Communion Still Seeking Full Communion with Rome(Article Source: Catholic Online; Photo Source: Wikipedia)
The Most Reverend John Hepworth, Primate of the Traditional Anglican Communion and Ordinary to the Anglican Catholic Church in Australia, recently spoke to a gathering of the faithful at in the Queensland Synod (Australia).
We have followed the historic efforts of members of the Traditional Anglican Communion to seek full sacramental communion with the Roman Catholic Church. That is because we believe that to be Catholic is to be authentically ecumenical and to hunger for the full communion of the One Church of Jesus Christ, with legitimate diversity, in full communion with the Chair of Peter.
We present the following report from the Primate, Archbishop John Hepworth, which appeared on the website of the Traditional Anglican Communion. Clearly, the request continues and, given the horrid turn of events in the broader Anglican/Episcopal community, we invite prayers from all of our readers for a work of the Holy Spirit to open the proper doors:
“We [TAC] have grown too fast. What we have done was planned by God.”
Archbishop Hepworth said, “Our major problem has been that we have grown too fast. We have not had the infrastructure and the financial resources to cope and service the demands of new churches and missions worldwide. We are experiencing the growth of God amongst his faithful people in an Anglican Catholic way. Had we designed it, our endeavours would have been much easier to manage, but what we have done was planned by God.
“This is a time for deeper prayer. There are serious conversations. We do not seek unity with the Holy See because the local church is beautiful, not by our own experiences, but because it is right.
"We are a church which has sought unity of the wider church and in the process we have been transformed. This is a time for deeper prayer, discernment and transformation. Of learning what it is to be catholic...Read more!
"With the death of the Apostles… those who took over the reins of the Church began to espouse false doctrines (cf. Acts 20:29). Slowly but surely this organization continued to change and in 110 A.D., it adopted a new name – Catholic Church – rejecting the former name by which it was known at the time of the Apostles – Church of Christ. Hence, the members of this organization ceased to be God’s people. This is known in Church history as the apostasy of the Christian Church. (Source: Feljun B. Fuentes, “Why God Sends Messengers,” Pasugo 42 (May-June 1990)
"To re-establish the true Church of Christ, another messenger was sent from the Far East (Is. 43:5-6), to preach at the time of the “ends of the earth” (Is. 41: 9-10) which was heralded by “wars and rumors of wars” (Mt. 24:3, 33, 6-8) – World War I – that broke out on July 27, 1914, the exact date the Iglesia Ni Cristo was registered with the Philippine government. This messenger, Brother Felix Y. Manalo, sent not to found or establish a new Church but to effect the emergence of Christ’s “other sheep” (Jn. 10:16) – the Church of Christ in these last days.
"These texts illustrate the Iglesia’s method of interpretation known among students of Hermeneutics as prooftexting, or the act of stringing often unrelated Bible verses to prove a point — a tactic often used by all sectarian groups in their polemic engagements. I had used this tactic several times while preaching for another sect which also claims to be “the New Testament Church” restored in our time. Parenthetically, it is to their credit that some (Stone-Campbell) Church of Christ (CoC) preachers in the Philippines, although still insisting that the CoC is the true church, have seen the simplistic reasoning in the idea that the church died shortly after the first century and was revived in the 18th century by American preachers. Accordingly, they have modified their views on the matter. Readers who wish to pursue this may want to read an online article entitled, “Continuity or Restoration?” by Dr. Eusebio Tanicala, who I believe is the ablest apologist among all the local preachers of the CoC in the Philippines today..."
(Article and Photo Credit: CatholicTV Blog) During the week of July 21th-26th CatholicTV will air “Rosary Stars”. “Rosary Stars” is a production which features young adult celebrities praying and reflecting upon the Rosary.
“Rosary Stars: Praying the Gospel” features champion athletes, actors, film directors, TV hosts, recording stars, authors and lecturers who emphasize the power of daily prayer of the Rosary and encourage viewers to live the Mysteries of the Rosary daily. This uplifting series features such stars as 2006 World Series pitcher Jeff Suppan; five-time Major League All-Star Mike Sweeney; actor Matthew Marsden (Rambo and the upcoming Transformer sequel Revenge of the Fallen; actress Jessica Rey, TV host Matt Gallant (Animal Planet’s The Planet’s Funniest Animals); humanitarian, author and Rwandan genocide survivor Immaculée Ilibagiza; and Ali Landry, actress and former Miss America. Read more
Young Christian Arrested for Blasphemy in Pakistan Article & Photo Source: Catholic Online
FAISLABAD, Pakistan (ACN) - Bishops Joseph Coutts of Faislabad told Aid to the Church in Need (ACN), the charity for persecuted Christians, that a committee, made up of Christians and Muslims, was investigating a charge of burning pages from the Qur‘an against Imran Masih from ‘Hajwery, in the Punjab province.
The interfaith initiative follows an incident when a 1000-strong mob, burning tires and calling for Mr. Masih’s death, assembled outside Faisalabad district jail, where the 26-year-old Christian was being held.
On July 3rd, less than 48 hours after Mr. Masih was accused, the local Catholic Church arranged a meeting between Muslim scholars and Christians in Hajwery. Approximately 60 people from across the local community attended, including clerics, lawyers, lay people and relatives of the victim.
In a report to Bishop Coutts, local priest Fr. Yaqub Yousaf wrote: “In this meeting a committee was formed to study the case, prepare a genuine report, and inform the police and court.”
Bishop Coutts expressed his satisfaction that these channels are being used to resolve the tensions in Hajwery. He told ACN, “I am glad to know that Christian and Muslim leaders are tackling the problem together. This is the strategy I had worked out to deal with such emotionally-charged issues.”
Bishop Coutts, who has been in Germany on official business, has expressed a personal interest in the situation from the beginning, asking Fr Yousaf to keep him updated about developments and pledging to “pray that the problem will be settled.” Read More...
I don’t know Bro. Cenon Bibe Jr. until recently I met Bro. Ariel Vitor from Angono, Rizal who’s very active in defending the Church against the cult of Felix Manalo and the “Ang Dating Daan” by Eli Soriano. He joined the Pearl Village Choir the same day I joined. Since we lived together next door, we decided to have a “Christ-walk” after work and so we tackled religion and apologetics. He then introduced me to Bro. Cenon’s “Tumbok” tabloid’s articles.
I tried searching his name in Wikipedia but there’s no available article for this articulated Filipino apologist. Good thing is that I came across his blog at Tumbukin Natin. Here’s one of Bro. Ariel’s treasured articles of Bro. Cenon.
IGLESIA NATALIKOD? MAY BATAYAN BA? November 29, 2007
NITO pong mga nakaraang araw ay inilabas natin ang mga PATOTOO ng ilang miyembro ng grupong "Iglesia ni Cristo" o INC at ng OPISYAL nlang MAGAZINE na NAGPAPATUNAY na ang IGLESIA KATOLIKA ang TUNAY na IGLESIA.
Ayon po sa miyembro ng INC ang TUNAY na IGLESIA ni KRISTO ay yung ITINATAG ni Kristo noong UNANG SIGLO.
Sinasabi naman po sa April 1966 issue ng PASUGO, ang MAGAZIN ng INC, ang IGLESIA KATOLIKA ang "SIYANG IGLESIA NI KRISTO" mula noon pa sa PASIMULA.
So MALINAW po na TANGGAP ng miyembro ng INC at ng MAGAZINE nila na TUNAY ang IGLESIA KATOLIKA.
Pero ang sinasabi po nila ya "NATALIKOD" daw ang KATOLIKO kaya hindi na raw iyan ang "tunay."
Sa madaling salita po ay NANINIWALA sila na TUNAY ang KATOLIKO noong UNANG SIGLO pero "NATALIKOD" daw ito.
Ngayon, PAANO kung HINDI NATALIKOD ang IGLESIA KATOLIKA o ang UNANG IGLESIA? Ibig lang po sabihin niyan ay ang IGLESIA KATOLIKA nga ang TUNAY hanggang ngayon at ang IBA PANG "IGLESIA NI CRISTO" ay HINDI TOTOO.
ALAM po natin na IGLESIA KATOLIKA ang TUNAY na IGLESIA ni KRISTO pero "for the sake of argument" ay tatalakayin po natin iyan.
So, NATALIKOD po ba ang UNANG IGLESIA?
Ang simpleng sagot po ay HINDI. WALA pong BATAYAN sa BIBLIYA ang ARAL na NATALIKOD ang UNANG IGLESIA o ang IGLESIA KATOLIKA.
Mismo pong PASUGO ng INC ay NAGPATOTOO na HINDI MAITATALIKOD o HINDI MAAAGAW nino man ang TUPA ni KRISTO.
Sabi nga po sa MAY 1968 ISSUE ng PASUGO, "Isang dakilang kapalaran ang maging Tupa o Tauhan ni Cristo sapagkat sila'y binibigyan niya nang walang hanggang buhay at HINDI SILA MALILIPOL KAILANMAN."
PURIHIN ang DIYOS!
PASUGO na ang NAGPATOTOO na HINDI NA NATALIKOD ang UNANG IGLESIA dahil ayon mismo roon ay HINDI KAILANMAN MALILIPOL ang mga TUPA o MIYEMBO ng TUNAY na IGLESIA NI KRISTO.
TAMA po na HINDI MAITATALIKOD ang IGLESIA dahil iyan ang PANGAKO ni HESUS.
Sa John 10:28 ay sinasabi ni HESUS patungkol sa mga TUPA NIYA, "BIBIGYAN ko sila ng BUHAY na WALANG HANGGAN at HINDING-HINDI SILA MALILIPOL."
WALANG MAKAKAAGAW sa KANILA mula sa AKING KAMAY."
PURIHIN ang DIYOS!
Nagsalita si Hesus noon pang UNANG SIGLO at ang tinutukoy Niya riyan ay ang mga TUPA NIYA na NAROON NA sa UNANG SIGLO.
Ibig pong sabihin niyan ay MULA pa NOONG UNANG SIGLO ay HINDI NA MAAAGAW at HINDI MALILIPOL ang mga UNANG KRISTIYANO o ang mga MIYEMBRO ng UNANG IGLESIA.
TINIYAK po ni KRISTO na HINDI MAAAGAW o MALILIPOL ang mga TUPA NIYA.
Dahil diyan ang aral po na NALIPOL o NAITALKOD ang UNANG IGLESIA ay isang aral na KOTRA sa ARAL ni KRISTO o ARAL ANTIKRISTO.
GUSTO pong PALABASIN ng nagsasabi na NATALIKOD ang UNANG IGLESIA ay "NAGSINUNGALING" si KRISTO o naging PABAYA.
HINDI po ba PAMUMUSONG kay KRISTO ang sabihin na NAAGAW sa Kanyang kamay ang mga TUPA NIYA?
Ang NAGSASABI po na NATALIKOD ang UNANG IGLESIA ay INIINSULTO at BINABASTOS si KRISTO
Sa Matthew 28:20 po ay NANGAKO rin si HESUS ng ganito sa Kanyang mga ALAGAD, "AKO ay KASAMA NINYO hanggang sa KATAPUSAN ng SANLIBUTAN."
Kung paniniwalaan po natin ang mga nagsasabi na 'NATALIKOD" ang UNANG IGLESIA ay sasabihin natin na "SINUNGALING si HESUS."
Bakit sinungaling?
Sinabi po kasi Niya na "KASAMA" natin SIYA HANGGANG SA KATAPUSAN ng SANLIBUTAN tapos palalabasin natin na INIWAN NIYA ang IGLESIA kaya "NATALIKOD."
Ano ang TAWAG natin sa NANGAKO na KASAMA pero MANG-IIWAN din pala? Hindi po ba SINUNGALING?
So ang NAGSASABI na NATALIKOD ang IGLESIA noong UNANG SIGLO ay PINAGBIBINTANGAN si HESUS na MANG-IIWAN at SINUNGALING.
Ang matindi pa riyan ay pati ESPIRITU SANTO ay PINAGBIBINTANGAN nila ng KAPABAYAAN.
Ayon sa John 16:13, ang ESPIRITU SANTO ang GAGABAY sa IGLESIA o mga ALAGAD ni KRISTO.
Ang nagsasabi na NATALIKOD ang UNANG IGLESIA ay nagsasabi na PUMALPAK ang ESPIRITU SANTO. At iyan ay KASALANANG MALAKI sa ESPIRITU SANTO.
Sabi po ni HESUS sa Mt. 12:32, ang GUMAWA ng KASALANAN sa ESPIRITU SANTO ay HINDI MAPAPATAWAD.
Ibig sabihin, ang magsasabi na NATALIKOD ang UNANG IGLESIA ay HINDI NA MAPAPATAWAD.
Have you thought that one day, the smallest country in the world would be sending its own athlete delegates to the Olympics? If then, who would be these athletes? Priests? Nuns? Or the Pope being there to grace the Olympics?
I don't think that's possible in the near future. That's because the Vatican with it's small number of population which is composed mostly of religious people, are there particularly for running the affairs of the Universal Church, praying and helping Christians around the world and promote the Gospel values to nations and to bring hope. However those keen athletes can represent Christ in every sports they ar into. Consider the story about the Red Sox Mike Lowell who has been diagnosed with cancer and recently confesses that it was through his faith in the Lord as Catholic that saved him from this deadly desease.
For that same reason, our brother in the Lord Ray McKenna thought of spreading Christ even in sports which the late Servant of God Pope John Paul, The Great.
Here's what I've extracted from their site:
Catholic Athletes for Christ (CAC) serves Catholic athletes in the practice of their faith and shares the Gospel in and through sports. We work with athletes at all levels of sport in an effort to promote a Catholic sports culture. CAC was formed in response to Pope John Paul II's call to evangelize the world of sports and his establishment of the Vatican's Office of Sports.
As St. Paul's epistles teach us, Christ is God’s true athlete and we are made perfect when, and only when, we imitate Him. John Paul II advises us that, "Every Christian is called to become a strong athlete of Christ, that is a faithful and courageous witness to His Gospel." We invite you to join us as an "athlete for Christ."
Ray McKenna, Founder of Catholic Athletes for Christ
Our Mission The mission of Catholics Athletes for Christ (CAC) is to serve Catholic athletes and share the Gospel of Christ in and through athletics.
Our Goal The goal of Catholic Athletes for Christ (CAC) is to provide an integrated network of sports oriented clergy and lay people to serve Catholic athletes, coaches and staff in the practice of their faith and to utilize the unique platform given to them to reach the world for Jesus Christ and His Church.
Our Vision • To provide solid Catholic role models • To work with the Church leadership and Catholic organizations • To minister to Catholic athletes, coaches and staff • To reverse the moral crisis in sports today • To create a network of Catholic athletes, coaches and staff • To organize sports conferences, pilgrimages, retreats and days of reflection
ENCYCLICAL LETTER CARITAS IN VERITATE OF THE SUPREME PONTIFF BENEDICT XVI TO THE BISHOPS PRIESTS AND DEACONS MEN AND WOMEN RELIGIOUS THE LAY FAITHFUL AND ALL PEOPLE OF GOOD WILL ON INTEGRAL HUMAN DEVELOPMENT IN CHARITY AND TRUTH
INTRODUCTION
1. Charity in truth, to which Jesus Christ bore witness by his earthly life and especially by his death and resurrection, is the principal driving force behind the authentic development of every person and of all humanity. Love — caritas — is an extraordinary force which leads people to opt for courageous and generous engagement in the field of justice and peace. It is a force that has its origin in God, Eternal Love and Absolute Truth. Each person finds his good by adherence to God's plan for him, in order to realize it fully: in this plan, he finds his truth, and through adherence to this truth he becomes free (cf. Jn 8:22). To defend the truth, to articulate it with humility and conviction, and to bear witness to it in life are therefore exacting and indispensable forms of charity. Charity, in fact, “rejoices in the truth” (1 Cor 13:6). All people feel the interior impulse to love authentically: love and truth never abandon them completely, because these are the vocation planted by God in the heart and mind of every human person. The search for love and truth is purified and liberated by Jesus Christ from the impoverishment that our humanity brings to it, and he reveals to us in all its fullness the initiative of love and the plan for true life that God has prepared for us. In Christ, charity in truth becomes the Face of his Person, a vocation for us to love our brothers and sisters in the truth of his plan. Indeed, he himself is the Truth (cf. Jn 14:6). Read the whole Encyclical...
