The Truth About the Iglesia ni Cristo (Fourth Part)

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All exerpts posted were taken directly from the booklet Ang Katotohanan Tungkol sa Iglesia Ni Cristo, a thorough PASUGO compilation by Julian Pinzon published by Divine Word Publication, Oroqueta Street in Manila. Please buy your copies at Chrirst the King Mission Seminary, E. Rodriguez Sr. Avenue, Quezon City (near Quezon City Sports Club; in front of Maryhill School of Theology).

All entries were copied as they are. It was intentionally done for Filipino Catholics's proper information and in particular for Filipino members of the sect Iglesia ni Cristo's own discernment. I hope and pray that with this little effort of typing some from the booklet, our separated brethren may finally come home to the real Church Christ has built on the rock of St. Simon Peter:

ANG SALU-SALUNGATANG PAGSIPOT SA MUNDO NG IGLESIA KATOLIKA NA NASUSULAT SA MAGASING PASUGO

1. PASUGO Pebrero 1959, p. 1: (sinulat ni Ben Santiago)"Mahigit nang isang libo at limangdaang taon ang Iglesia Katolika sa mundo. Maglilimangdaang taon naman ang mga Protestante. Ang Iglesia ni Cristo ay mag-aapatnapu't limang taon lamang mula noong 1914." (Ika-limang siglo ng Iglesia Katolika)
2. PASUGO Mayo 1952, p. 5: (sinulat ni Ben Santiago)."Mula sa taong 527 hanggang 565 sa panahon ng Emperador Justinano naging ganap ang pagkatatag ng Iglesiang ito na sumipot sa Pulong ng Nicea." (Ika-anim na siglo)
3. PASUGO Agosto 1962, p. 3: (sinulat ni Ben Santiago)"Sino ang nagtayo ng Iglesia Katolika Apostolika Romana? Ang Konsilyo Batikano! Kailan? Noong 1870." (Ika-labingsiyam na siglo)
4. PASUGO Marso 1956, p. 25: (sinulat ni Teofilo Ramos) "Ang Iglesia Katolika'y pinabrika lamang ng mga Obispo noong 1870 sa Batikano."
5. PASUGO Pebrero 1952, p. 9: (sinulat ni Joaquin Balmores)"Hindi mapapasinungalingan ninuman na talagang ang Iglesia Katolika ang lumitaw sa loob ng Emperyo Romano noong ika-apat na siglo."

PANSININ: Ang mga ito ang Ministrong inaralan at inatasang magpahayag ng pagkatatag ng Iglesia Katolika Apostolika Romana:

• Si Emiliano Magtuto--PASUGO Nob. 1956, p. 18: -- 44 B.C.
• Si Benjamin Santiago -- PASUGO Peb. 1959, p. 1: -- 400 A.D.
• Si Benjamin Santiago -- PASUGO Ago. 1962, p. 3: -- 1870 A.D.
• Si Teofilo C. Ramos -- PASUGO Mar. 1956, p. 25: -- 1870 A.D.
• Si Joaquin Balmores -- PASUGO Peb. 1952, p. 9: -- 400 A.D.

Isa ang mga petsang salu-salungatan na napag-aralan ni G. Felix Manalo na pagkatatag ng Iglesia Katolika at inilathala naman ng mga nabanggit na Ministro niya.

Dahil dito lalong lumilitaw na hindi sa Dios at kay Cristo ang itinayong Iglesia ni Felix Manalo alinsunod pa rin sa nasusulat sa Magasing PASUGO Agosto 1951, p. 18 na ganito ang mababasa natin:

"Totoo rin na kung ang Iglesia ay iba-iba ang inaaral sa iba't ibang panahon ay tunay na Iglesia ni Cristo."

Tumpak at marahil sa mukha nila bumalandra ang sinasabi nilang ito:

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The Truth About the Iglesia ni Cristo (Third Part)

Read the Second Part

All exerpts posted were taken directly from the booklet Ang Katotohanan Tungkol sa Iglesia Ni Cristo, a thorough PASUGO compilation by Julian Pinzon published by Divine Word Publication, Oroqueta Street in Manila. Please buy your copies at Chrirst the King Mission Seminary, E. Rodriguez Sr. Avenue, Quezon City (near Quezon City Sports Club; in front of Maryhill School of Theology).

All entries were copied as they are. It was intentionally done for Filipino Catholics's proper information and in particular for Filipino members of the sect Iglesia ni Cristo's own discernment. I hope and pray that with this little effort of typing some from the booklet, our separated brethren may finally come home to the real Church Christ has built on the rock of St. Simon Peter:

ANG PALAGAY NG IGLESIA NI CRISTO SA PASKO

1. PASUGO Disyembre 1956, p. 34: (sinulat ni Benjamin T. Villalba)
   "It strikes people as odd that members of the Church of Christ (Iglesia ni Cristo) do not celebrate Christmas. (ang Iglesia ni Cristo ay tuwirang hindi nagdiriwang ng Pasko ng kapanganakan ni Cristo).
2. PASUGO Disyembre 1957, p. 28: (sinulat ni Emeliano I. Agustin)
   (Patula)
   "Ang diwa ng Pasko ay kapayapaan;
   Nang mundong naglunoy sa lusak ng Buhay;
   Mabuting balita sa kinalulugdan;
   Pagsilang ni Jesus sa abang sabsaban."

Napakagulong talaga ang mga Ministrong ito na inaralan ng Anghel Felix Manalo. Isang taon lamang ang pagitan, ay binago na naman ang kanyang paninindigan tungkol sa Pasko. Kahabag-habag ang anghel nilang ipinaglalaban ng pukpukan.

KABUUAN NG PAKSA:

• Ayon sa Magasing PASUGO, si Ginoong F. Manalo ay nangaral na hindi siya nagtatangi ng mga tao at hindi sinasarili ang kaligtasan. Ang kanyang turong aral na ito, ay siya rin ang nagpapawalang saysay, sapagkat pinatunayan din ng PASUGO na sinasarili niya ang kaligtasan.
• Ipinapangaral ni G. Felix Manalo na ipinagdiriwang ang Paskong kapanganakan ni Cristo, at ipinangaral din na hindi ipinagdiriwang, sapagkat aral daw ng mga Pagano ang pagdiriwang ng Pasko. (Sa gayon ay salu-salungatan ang aral na itinuro).
• Ipinangaral din na hindi masamang ipagdiwang ang kapanganakan ninumang tao huwag lamang iuukol sa pagsamba sa D ios. Ngunit ang kanyang kaarawan ay iniuukol sa pagsamba sa Dios at pati ang kaarawan ng kapanganakan ni Erdy Manalo.

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The Truth About the Iglesia ni Cristo (Second Part)

Read the First Part

All exerpts posted were taken directly from the booklet Ang Katotohanan Tungkol sa Iglesia Ni Cristo, a thorough PASUGO compilation by Julian Pinzon published by Divine Word Publication, Oroqueta Street in Manila. Please buy your copies at Chrirst the King Mission Seminary, E. Rodriguez Sr. Avenue, Quezon City (near Quezon City Sports Club; in front of Maryhill School of Theology).

All entries were copied as they are. It was intentionally done for Filipino Catholics's proper information and in particular for Filipino members of the sect Iglesia ni Cristo's own discernment. I hope and pray that with this little effort of typing some from the booklet, our separated brethren may finally come home to the real Church Christ has built on the rock of St. Simon Peter:


ANG MGA HIDWAANG ARAL NA ITINUTURO NG YUMAONG FELIX MANALO
(Ang mga Ministro Na Pinaglalaban-laban ng Kanilang Anghel Felix Manalo)

1. PASUGO Hulyo 1953, p. 15: (sinulat ni Joaquin Balmores)
   Kami raw na mga Iglesia ni Cristo ay nagtatangi ng mga tao. Sinasarili raw namin ang kaligtasan. Iyan ay hindi totoo, at kung may nasasabi niyan sa am in sa kasalukuyan, iyan ay bunga ng malaking kadiliman na naghahari sa kanyang buong pagkatao.
2. PASUGO Agosto 1966, p.13: (sinulat ni Tomas C. Catangay)
   Totoo na nailangan ng tao ang pananampalataya upang maligtas, ngunit kung siya'y hindi Iglesia ni Cristo, tiyak na hindi siya maliligtas."
3. PASUGO Hunyo 1967, p. 16: (sinulat din ni T.C. Catangay)
   Ang may karapatan na tumawag sa Dios, humingi at bigyan, tanging tayo lamang na mga Iglesia ni Cristo."
4. PASUGO Pebrero 1966, p. 18: (sinulat ni Benjamin Santiago)
   
   Sa panahong ito'y ang Iglesia ni Cristo lamang ang may karapatang gumamit ng pangalan ni Cristo. Maliban sa Iglesia ni Cristo na lumitaw sa Pilipinas noong 1914, ay walang may karapatang gumamit sa mahalagang pangalang ito."

Ang nakita natin dito ay dalawa laban sa isa, sa pagkat si G. Balmores ay naninindigan sa hindi pagsasarili ng kaligtasan at pagtatangi ng tao.

At itong dalawa naman, na sina B. Santiago at T.C. Catangay, ay naninindigan sa pagsasarili ng kaligtasan at pagtatangi ng tao. Dahil dito, ang tanong natin ay ganito:

Alin kaya ang sinasang-ayunan ng Banal na Kasulatan; itong nag-iisa kaya o itong dalawa? Sisipiin natin ang nasa Gawa 10:34-35 at ganito ang nasusulat:

At binuka ni Pedro ang kanyang bibig at sinabi: 'Tunay ngang natatalasko na hindi nagtatangi ang Dios ng mga tao; kundi sa bawat bansa siya na may takot sa kanya, at gumawa, ay kalugud-lugod sa kanya."

Kung gayon, mayroong apostol na kasama si G. Joaquin Balmores. Baka ito ang dahilan na itiniwalag ni G. Felix Manalo noong 1937, sapagkat kumakampi sa ara ng mga apostol. (Palibot liham na may lagda ni G. Felix Manalo, Junyo 3, 1937, na itiwalag sa Iglesia si Joaquin Balmores).

Read the Third Part

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The Truth About the Iglesia ni Cristo (First Part)

All exerpts posted were taken directly from the booklet Ang Katotohanan Tungkol sa Iglesia Ni Cristo, a thorough PASUGO compilation by Julian Pinzon published by Divine Word Publication, Oroqueta Street in Manila. Please buy your copies at Chrirst the King Mission Seminary, E. Rodriguez Sr. Avenue, Quezon City (near Quezon City Sports Club; in front of Maryhill School of Theology).

All entries were copied as they are. It was intentionally done for Filipino Catholics's proper information and in particular for Filipino members of the sect Iglesia ni Cristo's own discernment. I hope and pray that with this little effort of typing some from the booklet, our separated brethren may finally come home to the real Church Christ has built on the rock of St. Simon Peter:

A. "SI JESU-CRISTO'Y SINUGO NG DIOS UPANG MAGTATAG NG IGLESIA."

1. PASUGO Mayo 1963, p. 13:
   
   Noong tumalikod ang bayang Israel at sumamba sa diyus-diyosan ay nagsugo an gDios upang magtatag ng Iglesia"


2. PASUGO Setyembre 1940, p. 1:
3. 
   Dapat malaman ng lahat, ayon sa Bagong Tipan, ang tunay na INK ay si Cristo ang nagtatag nito."


4. 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"


5. 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."


6. PASUGO Mayo 1954, p. 9:
   
   Alin ang tunay na Iglesia? Ang Iglesiang itinayo ni Cristo sa Jerusalem."

Ang Kabuuan ng Nasa Itaas:

• Sinasariwa nila sa atin, ng mga tagapagtuaguyod ng INK na lumitaw sa Pilipinas n oon g 1914, na si Cristo lamang ang tanging makapagtatayo ng Iglesiang magiging dapat sa Dios, at walang sinumang taong makapagtatayo ng Iglesia maging marunong o mangmang.


• At ipinababatid pa rin nila na iisa lamang ang Iglesiang itinayo ni Cristo at sa Jerusalem niya itinayo noong unang siglo.

B. SI FELIX MANALO'Y SINUGO NG DIOS UPANG MAGTATAG NG IGLESIA."

1. 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."

1. 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."


2. 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."


3. 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."

Ang Kabuuan ng Nasa Itaas:

• Ipinaaalala nila sa atin na si Felix Manalo raw ang sinugo ng Dios na magtatag ng Iglesiang kanilang kinaaaniban, at si Kapatid nilang F. Manalo raw ang siyang tanging sugo sa Iglesia na lumitaw sa Pilipinas noong 1914.


• At tinatanggap nilang ito na sinasabi raw sa Rehistro na si Felix Manalo ang nagtatag.

Ang sinasabi nilang ito na ating hinango sa kanilang PASUGO ay tumpak at walang pagtatalo sapagkat iyan nga ang buong katotohanan, ngunit ang mga katotohanang ito ay sila-sila na rin ang nagpapaw3alang asysay gaya nitong nasusulat sa mga PASUGOng sumusunod:

1. PASUGO Enero 1964, p. 6:
   Sino ang tunay na nagtayo ng Iglesia ni Cristo na lumitaw sa Pilipinas noong 1914? Hindi ang kapatid na si Manalo kundi ang Dios at si Cristo."
2. PASUGO Mayo 1964, p. 15:
   Tinatanggap halos ng lahat na sa Dios at kay Cristo ang INK na itinayo ni Cristo sa Jerusalem noong unang siglo. Datapuwat ang INK sa huling araw na ito na lumitaw sa Pilipinas noong 1914 ay hindi nila kinikilalang sa Dios at kay Cristo. Ito ay nagpapanggap lamang na INK ngunit ang totoo raw ay Iglesia ni Manalo. Walang katotohanan ang kanilang palagay na ito sapagkat walang Iglesiang kanya si Kapatid na Manalo."

Ang sinasabi nilang ito ay pinagmumulan ng kaguluhan, sapagkat ipinaglalaban nila ng pukpukan sa larangan ng debate, maging sa palatuntunan ng radyo. Dahil dito, pinagsisikapan nating isulat sa munting babasahing ito ang mga patotoo na hindi ang Dios at kay Cristo ang Iglesiang iyan na itinatag lamang ni FELIX MANALO.

Ngayon ay liwanagin natin ito sa pamamagitan ng tanong at sagot upang maunawaan natin ang buong katotohanan at mga kamalian:

• Tanong: Totoo ba o hindi na si Felix Manalo ang siyang nagtatag ng INK -1914?
  Sagot: 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."
• Tanong: Sino ang may-ari ng Iglesiang itinatag ni Ginoong Felix Manalo?
  Sagot: 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."

Lalong lumilitaw na si Felix Manalo ang nagtatag at may-ari nitong tinagurian nilang INK na nairehistro sa Pilipinas noong Huly 27, 1914 at hindi sa Dios at kay Cristo kundi nagpapanggap lamang, baka sakali'y makalusot!

• Tanong: Mayroon bang karapatan na magtayo ng Iglesia ang isang tao, na katulad ni Felix Manalong tao?
  Sagot: 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..."
• Tanong: Ilan ba ang Iglesiang itinayo ni Cristo, at saang dako ng daigdig niya itinayo?
  Sagot: 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!"

Maliwanag sa sikat ng araw na walang pakialam ang Dios at si Cristo sa Iglesiang iyan na tinagurian nilang Iglesia ni Cristo at sumulpot noong 1914.

At isang bagay na kamangmangan na pinupuna sa atin, kung bakit daw na hindi natin tanggapin at kilalaning sa Dios at kay Cristo ang Iglesiang iyan samantalang tinatanggap daw na sa Dios at kay Cristo yaong Iglesiang itinayo noong unang siglo sa Jerusalem. Ang sinasabi nilang ito'y isang kamangmangan sapagkat batid naman nila na mayroon na tayong tinaggap na Iglesia at ibig yata nila na dalawa ang aaniban natin: isa ang tunay at isa ang huwad.

• Tanong: Anu-ano pa ang kanilang pinagbabatayan upang palitawing sa Dios at kay Cristo ang kinaroroonan nilang Iglesia?
  Sagot: May tatlong bagay pa gaya nitong sumusunod:
  (a) Si Felix Manalo raw ay sinugo ng Dios upang itatag ang Iglesia sa Pilipinas.
  (b) Ang mga lokales ng Iglesia lamang daw ang kanyang tinatag.
  (c) Ang INK raw noong unang siglo, natalikod; nalipol at inagaw ng mga bulaang propeta ang mga ddating alagad ni Cristo kaya walang natira sa tagasunod.

Ang tatlong puntong ito ay isa-isahin nating liwanagin sa pamamagitan ng mga tanong at sagot at ang mga tanong lamang ang manggagaling sa atin at ang mga sagot naman ay sa kanilang PASUGO manggagaling.

• Tanong: Ano ang patakaran nina Felix Manalo at panukat upang makilala ang tunay at hindi tunay na Sinugo ng Dios?
  Sagot: Ang sagot ng PASUGO ay narito:
  
  (a) 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)
  (b) 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."

Dito tayo ngayon sumakay sa sinasabi nilang patakaran o panukat sa tunay at hindi tunay na sinugo ng D ios, upang wala na silang maidadahilan at ano pa mang pagtatalo. At wala tayong ibang gagawin kundi sisipiin lamang natin ang kanilang mga aral na nasusulat sa PASUGO at pagkatapos ay pagtitimtimbangin natin sa pamamagitan ng Banal na Kasulatan, gaya nitong sumusunod:

1. PASUGO Mayo 1961, p. 4, ay gantio ang isang bahagi na nasusulat:
   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".
2. 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."

Dito pa lamang sa dalawang artikulong ito na ating hinango sa kanilang PASUGO ay mapapansin na natin, na hindi nagmula sa Dios ang kanilang mga aral na itinataguyod, kundi nagmula lamang kay G. Felix Manalo. Gayon pa man ay ipagpatuloy natin ang pagsipi sa mga dahon ng kanilang PASUGO, ng mga aral na hindi nagmula sa Dios kundi nagmula lamang sa sarili ng yumaong Felix Manalo. At itong PASUGO na napalathala noong taong Nobyembre 1954, p. 2, 1, ay ganito:

Hindi kailangang patunayan pa kung hindi tunay na Iglesia, kung ito'y kay Cristo o
hindi. Ang pag-uusig na nagaganap sa INK, na siyang katuparan ng pinagpauna ng
Panginoon ay siyang malinaw na katunayan na ang INK ay tunay na Iglesia at kay
Cristo. Anu-ano ang mga kinathang kasinungalingan na ipinaparatang kay Jesus na
nakasisirang puri! Hindi lamang nila sinasabing siya'y may demonyo, kundi
pinaparatangang siya'y nauulol (Juan 15:20). Kung siya'y inusig tao man ay
uusigin din. Ang pag-uusig sa Ulo at tagos hanggang sa katawan. Siya ang ulo,
tayo ang mga sangkap, na siyang Iglesia."

Totoo nga kaya na sila ay inuusig at pinaparatangang sa demonyo, na katulad sa naganap kay Cristo! Na siyang katuparan sa nasusulat sa Juan 15:20, at sa Juan 8:40?

Hindi iyon totoo, kundi sila pa nga ang nagpaparatang na ang lahat maliban sa kanila, ay pawang mga demonyo o sa kay Satanas! At bilang katunayan ay ating sisipiin ang mga nasusulat sa kanilang PASUGO na malalaswang salita:

1. PASUGO Disyembre 1965, p. 5:
   

   Kaninong Ministro kung ganyan ang mga Paring Katoliko? Mga Ministro ni
   Satanas na Diablo."

2. PASUGO Oktubre 1959, p. 5:
   

   Mga magdaraya at anti-Cristo, ang mga nagtuturong si Cristo ay Dios."

3. PASUGO Agosto 1962, p. 9:

Kaya ang tunay na anti-Cristo, ang mga Papa ng Iglesia Katolika Apostolika Romana. At ang tunay na ampon ng anti-Cristo ay ang mga Katoliko."

1. PASUGO Oktubre 1956, p. 1:
   

   Ang Iglesia ni Cristo ay nagdaos ng pamamahayag sa Lunsod ng Davao. Nagsalita roon si Kapatid na Felix Manalo at ang kasama niyang mga Ministro. Ipinahayag doon ng mga nagsalita na ang Iglesia Katolika Romana ay hindi itinatag ni Cristo kundi itinatag ng Diablo."

• Tanong: O sino ngayon ang lumilitaw na nang-uusig at nagpaparatang, kami ba o sina Felix Manalo at ang kanilang mga kaanib? Kung sino pa man ang nagpaparatang ay inaangkin na siyang pinararatangan. At kung ang panukat sa tunay na Iglesia ay sa inuusig at pinararatangang sa demonyo, ay lalong tumitingkad ang pagiging dalisay na Iglesiang sa Dios at kay Cristo ang Iglesia Katolika. May reklamo ba kayo?

At ang isa pa na kalunus-lunos na pagyurak i pagmamaliit sa ating Panginoong Jesu-Cristo ay itong sinabi nilang ang Iglesia Katolika raw ay hindi itinatag ni Cristo kundi ng Diablo. Bakit sinasabi nating pagmamaliit ito kay Cristo? Sapagkat batid nila na ang Iglesia Katolika ay Iglesia ni Cristo, ayon sa PASUGO Abril 1966, p. 46:

Ang Iglesia Katolika na sa pasimula ay siyang Iglesia ni
Cristo."

Tanggapin natin na nang pasimula lamang naging Iglesia ni Cristo! Ano ngayon ang kalagayan ni Cristo sa naturang Iglesiang iyan? Ang lagay ba'y noon ay naitatag na ni Diablo ang Iglesia Katolika; nakiusap ba si Cristo kay Diablo upang mapasakanya? O inagaw ni Cristo kay Diablo ang Iglesiang iyan!

O sino ngayon ang maniniwala na sinugo ng Dios si Kapatid na Felix Manalo upang itatag ang Iglesia sa Pilipinas?

Ngayon naman ay dumako tao sa ikalawa, ang nauukol sa lokales ng Iglesia ni Cristo.

• Tanong: Nasa Jerusalem ba ang central ng mga lokales na itinatag ni G. Felix Manalo?
  Sagot: Tanging PASUGO ang ating pasasagutin upang walang gaanong usapan.:
  
  
  (a). PASUGO Oktubre 1968, nasa huling panakip, at ganito ang mababasa natin: Dapat malaman ng lahat-- Dahil dito, ipinahahayag na mula ngayon ang mga nakalagda sa kasulatang ito bilang pasimulang kaanib sa lokal ng San Francisco, Estados Unidos ng Amerika, ay iniuugnay at ngayon ay nasasakop ng Pamahalaang Pangkalahatan ng Iglesia ni Cristo na may Tanggapang Pangkalatan sa 154, F. Manalo St., San Juan, Rizal, Republika ng Pilipinas."
  (b). PASUGO Hulyo 1971, p. 2:
  A permanent Central Office after 57 years establishment of the Church of Christ in the Philippines. This stands on a sprawling lot in Quezon City, at the corner of Central Avenue in Commonwealth Avenue."

Nota: Pansinin natin dito kung saan masusumpungan ang Central na nakakasakop sa isang Lokal ng INK na nasa Amerika (USA). Narito pala sa Pilipinas ang Central nila ano po! Matuwid bang tatawagin pa ring "Lokal" ang nakakasakop sa isang "Lokal"?

Kaunting pagbubulay-bulay o sentido comun, mga kababayan namin! Mabuti yata'y magpasuri kayo sa mga doktor na dalubhasa sa utak, habang may panahon pa. Ano po!

Ngayon naman ay dadako tao sa ikatlong punto: Ang nauukol sa pagkalipol ng INK, at ang kanila ring PASUGO ang ating gagamitin sa puntong ito.

1. PASUGO Mayo 1961, p. 21:
   Maliwanag sa pag-aaral nating ginagawa sa unahan nito na ang Iglesiang
   itinayo ni Cristo noong unang siglo ay natalikod o ganap na nawala sa ibabaw ng
   lupa. Inagaw nila sa pagsunod sa hulihan ni Cristo."
2. PASUGO Hulyo 1954, p.4:
   Ang mga alagad ni Jesus na dating sumusunod sa hulihan niya ay inihiwalay ninyo sa pagsunod sa Kanya, at pinasunod ninyo sa inyong hulihan. Kaya nawalan ng tao ang Iglesia. Ang natira sa Iglesia'y si Jesus at ang mga salita ng Dios."

3. PASUGO Enero 1964, p. 2:
   

   Sa isang paksang mababasa sa nakaraang labas nitong Pasugo (Disyembre) ay ipinaliwanag kung saan naroon ang Iglesiang itinayo ni Cristo noong unang siglo as Jerusalem. Ito ay natalikod. Nalipol na lahat."

Itong mga sinasabi nilang ito ay maraming nailigaw na landas ng Kabanalan. Dahil dito ay inilalahad ko ang mga katibayang magpapawalang saysaysa sinasabi nilang ito at nasusulat din sa kanilang Pasugo gaya nitong mga sumusunod:

(a). PASUGO Mayo 1968,m p. 5:
"Ano ang katangian ng maging Tupa ni Cristo? Sa Juan 10:28 ay ganito ang sabi: 'At sila'y binigyan ko ng walang hanggang buhay, at kailanma'y hindi sila malilipol,
at hindi aagawin ng sinuman sa aking kamay'. Isang dakilang kapalaran ang maging
Tupa o Tauhan ni Cristo sapagkat sila'y binibigyan niya ng walang hanggang buhay
at hindi sila malilipol kailan man."

Idaragdag natin dito ang talata 29, bilang susog sa talatang 28 na ginagamit nila, at ganito ang karugtong:

(29) Ang aking Ama (wika niJesus), na sa kanila ay nagbigay sa akin ay lalong dakila kaysa lahat; at hindi sila maaagaw ninuman sa kamay ng Ama." Ito bang nasusulat na ito sa kanilang PASUGO ay mabubura pa nila? Gayon din itong garantiyang sinasabi ni Jesus hinggil [sa] mga magiging tauhan niya? At higit pa bang paniniwalaan natin itong mga maling aral!

At bilang kalakip nito ay sisikapin pa natin ang isang banggit na nasusulat sa PASUGO Hunyo 1940, p. 27:

"Papaano ang pag-aalaga at pag-iingat sa pananampalataya? Wala tayong dapat gawin kundi manatili sa mga aral ng Dios na ating napag-aralan. Ito ang ginawa ng unang Iglesia. Sila'y nanatiling matibay sa aral ng mga Apostol. Ganito rin ang dapat nating gawin."

O ano pa ang ating puntong liliwanagin? Tinatanggap na nilang nananatiling matibay sa aral ng Dios ang mga Apostol ang unang Iglesia ni Cristo. At pagkatapos ay iyan daw ang kanilang pamarisan o dapat gawin. E, gayon pala; bakit sinasabi nilang "ganap na nawala sa ibabaw ng lupa ang mga dating tagasunod ni Jesus, inagaw at nilipol ng mga bulaang propeta." Huwag ninyong gawing sinungaling si Jesus. Malinaw ang kanyang sinabing garantiya na mababasa sa Juan 10:28-29, at inyong ginamit din.

At bago tayo magwakas ay kukuha pa tayo ng isang punto na may kaugnayan din dito.

(b). PASUGO Agosto 1971, p.22:

Tinitindigan namin na ang Iglesiang itinatag ni Cristo ay talagang iisa
lamang. Nang magkaroon ng INK sa Pilipinas ay wala na ang Iglesia ni Cristo sa Jerusalem.

Ang ibig nilang palitawin dito, ay noong 1914, ay nawala na ang itinayo ni Cristo. Bueno, tingnan natin ang bagay na ito, sapagkat may isang banggit na nasusulat sa PASUGO, Abril 1966, p. 46:

Ang totoo hanggang sa kasalukuyan ay patuloy na ginagawa ni Satanas ang pagpapasok ng mga maling aral sa Iglesia Katolika na sa pasimula'y siyang Iglesia ni Cristo. Sadyang matalino at tuso ang diablo. Hindi niya ginawang biglaan ang pagtalikod sa Iglesiang itinayo ni Cristo noong unang siglo."

NOTA: Dapat pansinin natin ang katugon na petsa nitong banggit na "kasalukuyan." Ang petsa nito ay noong Abril 1966, sapagkat noon nga napalathala ang sinasabi nilang ito. Kung gayon, maliwanag na hindi pa nawala ang Iglesiang itinayo ni Cristo sa Jerusalem noong unang siglo. Bakti? Sapagkat pinapasukan pa rin ni Satanas ng kanyang mga maling aral. Malinaw po ba?

Ang lahat ng mga bagay na ito mga kababayan naming kaanib sa Iglesiang tatag ni Felix Manalo ay pinakikiusapang ipaliwanag at sagutin asna ninyo sa lalong madaling panahon. At kung hindi ninyo kayang sagutin sapagkat tinitiyak kong malalagay kayo sa kahihiyan, ay itigil sana ninyo ang gawaing tungo sa kapahamakan.

Ganito naman ang sinasabi ni Propeta Isaias tungkol sa mga Manunulat katulad nitong tagasulat ng Pahayagang PASUGO. Isaias 10:1-2, ay ganito ang sinasabi: "Sa aba nila na nagpapasya ng mga likong pasya, at ng mga manunulat na sumusulat ng mga kasuwalian. Upang iligaw sa kahatulan ang mapagkailangan, at upang alisin ang katuwiran ng mga dukha ng aking bayan, upang an mga babaeng balo ay maging kanilang samsam, at upang kanilang gawing kanilang huli ang mga ulila".

KABUUAN NG PAKSANG TINALAKAY:

• Si Cristo ang tanging makapagtatayo ng Iglesiang magiging dapat sa Dios, at sinumang tao maging marunong o mangmang ay walang karapatang magtayo ng Iglesia.
  Si Felix Manalo ay tao, kung gayon walang karapatang magtayo ng Iglesia.
• Ang mga aral ng sugo ng Dios ay mula sa Dios. Ang aral ng Iglesia ni Cristo na lumitaw sa Pilipinas noong 1914, ay mula sa sarili ni G. Felix Manalo.
• Nang magipit sa mga unang paninindigan, ay lumukso sa pag-uusig, na kaya raw tunay ang Iglesia ni Cristong kinaroroonan nila ay sapagkat sila raw ay inuusig at pinararatangang demonyo. Datapuwat hindi rin nakaiwas sa pag-ilag, sapagkat pinatunayan ng kanilang magasing PASUGO na ang nang-uusig na ang lahat maliban sa kanila ay pawang sa demonyo o kay Satanas at ang Papa raw ng Iglesia Katolika ang siyang tunay daw na anti-Cristo.
• At ang kahuli-hulihang nilundagan ay pagtalikod o pagkawala raw sa mundo ng Iglesiang itinayo ni Cristo sa Jerusalem noong unang siglo at nais nilang palitawin na ang mga lokales lamang ng Iglesia ang itinatag ni Manalo. Ngunit lalo siyang naipit sapagkat wala silang kamalay-malay na naisulat sa magasing PASUGO ang mga tanikalang panakal sa kanilang mga leeg.

Read The Truth About the Iglesia ni Cristo (Second Part)


Picture Credit: wikimedia.org

Ex-Jehovah's Witnesses Testimonies

I lived in a very remote place in Bulacan where cults and new sects move freely proselytizing cradle Catholics and unbelievers. Even my former friend is a member of the cult Jehovah's Witnesses, an apocalyptic cult founded by Charles Taze Ruzzel, while his good father is a very active Elder but because of his wrong choices of friends and unhealthy lifestyle, I decided to loose break with him. How I wish I could be of help however he's unwilling. With this simple post, I hope those JW who are willing to shell out their old belief and come back to the real fold, would find this article helpful. Please feel free to discover the real Church.

I'd like to share with you a good website where amazing stories of Ex-Jehovah's Witnesses would stir your curiosity why they left Charles Taze Russel's religion and went home to Rome, please point your mouse here!

For further reading materials, click your mouse here

For chatting, click your mouse here!

Fr. Corapi's Conversion Story - Condensed Version

Journey to the Catholic Church - P2

Journey to the Catholic Church - P1

Why I became Catholic

Dispelling Myths about Catholicism

Fitna the Movie-- How True?

I am deeply saddened if all this film's claims are true and accurate. I am totally against anyone who's against anyone just because his beliefs are different from what he/she believes, whether Jews, Christians or Muslims, or even those religions outside Abrahamic family.

All those who fear God (and love HIM) will you vow before your God that you would demonstrate him as good God and stand for this great and noble cause to world peace!

My brethren Muslims, rise up, stand for true peace and genuine tolerance!
Moderate ones, be counted, be heard!

May God bless Abraham's family.

Catholic Resource's on Jehovah's Witnesses

BIBLICAL EVIDENCE FOR CATHOLICS

A Church in Saudi Arabia? - Time

The first Christian Church in Qatar is a Catholic Church

TIME - Interfaith dialogue has become an important exercise in finding the right words to overcome both extreme violence and ordinary misunderstanding. True progress, however, is best measured in deeds. The inauguration last week of Qatar's first Christian church — a small Catholic chapel bearing neither bells nor visible crosses — has been hailed as a welcome step forward in relations between Catholicism and Islam. But an even more dramatic development is under discussion just across the border: The Vatican has confirmed that it is negotiating for permission to build the first church in Saudi Arabia.

Presiding over the cradle of Islam and home to its holiest sites, the Saudi monarchy has long banned the open worship of other faiths, even as the number of Catholics resident in Saudi Arabia has risen to 800,000 thanks to an influx of immigrant workers from places like the Philippines and India. Mosques are the only houses of prayer in a country where the strict Wahhabi version of Sunni Islam dominates. But Archbishop Paul-Mounged El-Hachem, the papal envoy to the smaller countries on the Arabian peninsula, such as Kuwait and Qatar, has confirmed that talks are under way to establish formal diplomatic relations between the Vatican and Saudi Arabia, and to eventually allow for Catholic churches to be built there. Pope Benedict XVI is believed to have personally appealed to King Abdullah on the topic during the Saudi monarch's first ever visit to the Vatican last November.

Iglesia Ni Cristo Lies and Deceit

All Christian Catholics and non-Catholics who love Jesus the Lord, you have a mission to challenge the errors of the Iglesia ni Cristo’s modern revival of a schism by Nestorius that had been refuted since 431 A.D. by Council of Efesus and the Council of Constantinople II by reviving Jesus’ humanity and worst, denying his divinity when in fact nothing was written in the Bible disproving his divinity.

Every Christian should be aware of how INC ministers are deceiving people to believe in their repeated lies made true by their Bible references as if the Holy Scripture was specifically addressed to them to go with their convenience raising Felix Manalo as an angel and dethroning Jesus to a mere human state rejecting him as God and accepting the more obvious lie about Felix Manalo’s “angelic” status. When it hurts them too deep they twist the Bible.

Every Saturday 8 o’clock in the morning. If you are in the Philippines, turn on your TV and switch your channel to ABS-CBN local channel (Channel 2) and wait for the Iglesia Ni Cristo’s program with Ka Bularan as its usual anchor and another side-kick whose task is to pretend ask ignorant questions (so basic and elementary) attacking Catholic doctrines and local customs and practices. In response, Ka Bularan would give his most intelligent answer without any hint of a sound Theological background from the mainstream Protestant Theology so normally you expect a nonsense explanation from him. Like the rest our separated brethren, they need to back up their claims with Biblical passages to make it appear that what they teaches are authoritative according the Holy Scripture. But is it true? The only purpose? They need to confuse more confused Catholics and once they’re confused, they would turn away from anything “Catholic” and be die-hard defenders of the “church” which Ka Felix Manalo, a self proclaimed “angel” and the founder of the Iglesia ni Cristo in the Philippines in 1914, incorporated it, registered it under the laws of the Republic of the Philippines; a corporation owned and managed by the Manalo clan.

They’re fakes anyway!
Here’s a proof that Catholic practices and teachers are deeply biblical:

1. 
   
   The Holy Mass is a commemoration of Christ’s Paschal Supper written in Mat. 26:26-29; Mark 14:22-27; Luke 22:19-22; 1 Cor. 11:23-34. Supplementary Readings from David MacDonald and Wikipedia
2. 
   
   Divinity of Christ: This topic plays a significant role in the whole history of Christianity convened a Church council in 325 A.D. and the formulation of the Nicene Creed. The obvious Biblical passage we can extract from the Holy Scripture is in John 1:1-- where it was stated that “[I]n the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God…”

This simple Biblical equation of Logos [Read Here] was made complicated by Manalo’s followers and those complicated ones such as in Isaiah he made it simple. That’s the old tactic false angels would quote to suit his self-proclamation as something ‘biblical’. You can be friend and subscribe to someone whose blog is solely dedicated to this topic at Logos Made Flesh or Wikipedia’s article on Cristology or better consult help from Wikipedia or Google, that’s what the website was created for.

The simple made complicated doctrines of the INC, here’s a good site created in a PowerPoint style presentation, the complications are made simple and easy to understand [Read The Church that Manalo Built”], it will help you realize their serious ignorance of the Bible and the Church. Hopefully this will help you decide to leave this church at once by God’s grace.

Some, if not all of Catholic doctrines, this bogus claimant to be Christ’s true church either accuse the Church of festival with pagan origin like Christmas or propagating a lie that Purgatory is an “unbiblical” teachings invented by the Catholic Church without pointing any historical fact to prove when it was invented [Read 2 Macc. 12:43-45]. Without reference to other monotheistic religions, in Judaism, Gehenna is a place where souls are being purified and according to some of Jewish traditions, those who died with sin must spend up to a year before they can be released from purgation at Gehenna. While in Islam some Muslims consider hell as temporary state of punishment and eternal damnation for others.

They simply cannot get out of the Catholic Church when they want to prove their teachings. Without the true Church, they cannot hinge any of their teachings to truth, worst they cannot prove what they stand for beyond any doubt. In other words, their teachings cannot exist independently from the more sound teachings of Christ’s true church, the Catholic Church.

Felix Manalo really lied wasn’t he? Watch this YouTube Video, a sample of their intelligence:
Turning the table in opposition to their claims, Christ’s TRUE CHURCH never apostatized. Christ promised that in Mt. 16:16-19 clearly spelled out by Christ as the founder of his Church that “the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it…” [‘shall’ according to Webster is used to express a command or exortation, which is inevitable or seems likely to happen in the future]. This means that Christ’s true Church would STAND from that day on to the next millennium as he promised.

If INC founder and members taught a false teaching of “Total Apostasy” that no historical fact could back up their claims, worst no Bible verse to make us believe it’s true. Should you believe with their lies, it’s implied that they are teaching CHRIST AS A LIAR in Matthew 16. And if Christ NEVER LIED, then definitely Manalo WAS!

In fact their Official Magazine PASUGO published its confirmation that the Catholic Church was the TRUE CHURCH Christ built, PASUGO April 1966, p. 46:
“Ang Iglesia Katolika na sa pasimula ay siyang Iglesia ni
Cristo." (The Catholic Church even from the beginning was the Church of Christ)
[Read more of these at The Truth About the Iglesia ni Cristo published by Divine Word Publication]

What about their angel? According to trustworthy sources from the internet, Felix Manalo’s church originated in the Philippines written in the pages of its history, on July 27, 1914; OFFICIALLY registered as a Corporation Sole with Felix Manalo as the Executive Minister [Read Iglesia ni Cristo], whose sole rights belongs to him as its Founder [Read Here].

Since Felix death April 12, 1963, his son Eraño took over its overseer, a normal procedure to family owned corporations or in monarchial form churches, next in line is Erano Manalo.

Also in wikipedia’s Timeline of Christian Missions, the INC of Felix Manalo was never mentioned, a damaging truth about the Church supposedly built by Christ through it’s last Sugo, Felix Manalo.

Here’s the INC Monarchial Line:

Felix Manalo INC Founder, a self-proclaimed ‘Last Sugo’

Erano G. Manalo, INC current Executive Minister, the 5th child of Felix Manalo and Honorata De Guzman. His name comes from what he felt was a “New Christian Era” of which the New Era University was built upon.

Eduardo V. Manalo, is the current Deputy Executive Minister, a grandson of Felix Manalo and is the son of the current Executive Minister Erano G. Manalo.
Christ has nothing to do with their family glorification through their family owned corporation! You must have opened your eyes now and leave the cult at once, with the grace of God!

Verbatim I copied these Fundamental Beliefs of the Iglesia ni Cristo from Answers.com a summary of a book by Eraño G. Manalo, INC’s current Executive Minister, a fifth child of Felix Y. Manalo. Under "Fact" are my attempts to refute their lies.

According to Minister Manalo,

(1). The words of God are written only in the Bible. The Bible should be the only basis of service to God. This is the truth which will teach man salvation from punishment on Judgment Day.

[Fact: The Catholic Church’s authority made the list of the Bible complete to its present form. The same authority is considering the Iglesia ni Cristo as hoax.]

The Bible & the Catholic Church
First the Church then the NT
Few Facts about the Bible

(2). The Father who created all things is the only true God. There is no Trinity, no three persons in one God.

[Fact: Iglesia ni Cristo ministers can’t explain why they’re using the “Trinitarian Formula” during baptismal rites by immersion] Read more at NewAdvent.org under ‘Form’.

(3). The belief that all churches belong to God is false. Christ founded only one true Church - the Church of Christ (Iglesia ni Cristo).

[Fact: PASUGO April 1966, p. 46:
“Ang Iglesia Katolika na sa pasimula ay siyang Iglesia ni Cristo." ]

(4). The Church of Christ is the Church that Jesus will save (Acts 20:28 Lamsa) because he made this Church His body and heads it Himself - before God, the Church and Christ are one new man (Eph.2:15 NKJV; Col.1:18 NKJV). This is the reason why Christ is able to answer for the sins of His Church without violating God's law that whoever commits a sin, the same must die for that sin (Dt.24:16). Hence, the belief that salvation can be attained by means of faith in Christ alone, even without membership in the Church of Christ is false. The Church is necessary, not because it saves, but because it is the entity that Christ will save (Eph.5:23 TEV).

[Fact1: PASUGO April 1966, p. 46:
“Ang Iglesia Katolika na sa pasimula ay siyang Iglesia ni Cristo." Therefore the Catholic Church which they recognize as the true Church, Christ will save it according to Eph. 5:23.

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." (When was INC in the Philippines registered under its Government? It was in July 27, 1914. Truly, the registry confirms Brother F. Manalo as the founder of INC.”)

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." (If our focus of discussion is who’s the founder, he should own what he’s founded, and authorized teachings should come from him.”)

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..." (There’s only one who has the authority to build a Church worthy to be God’s. Only the Lord Jesus Christ! No human being, whether wise or fool—has no authority to build…”)

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!" (The true Church of Christ is one only, this is the Church built by Christ. Any church emerging, claiming they too are Church of Christ, these are false and fake!”)

(5). The Church built by Christ during the first century has apostatized (Acts 20:29). It was led away by false prophets which arose in the Church after the time of the Apostles (Mt.24:11 RSV), and those who remained firm in the faith were slain by ravenous wolves (Mt.7:15). The prophesied false teachers who led the Church away were the Catholic priests. They introduced false teachings (1 Tim.4:1,3) into the Church, until the Church became the Catholic Church - a church essentially different from the Church of Christ as described in the Bible.

[Fact: No historical proof. No Biblical verses to prove it! The more than 2,000 years of Christianity and Catholicsm, none can point out total apostasy.]

(6). The apostasy of the Catholic Church from the Church established by Christ in the first century took place with their turning away from the teachings of God taught by Christ and His Apostles (Worship of Images, Mass, Popes and Priests as vicars or successors of Christ, Mediator Saints, Purgatory). Therefore, the apostasy takes place whenever there is a teaching of God the Catholic Church violates. In view of this, all the doctrines and practices of the Catholic Church should be rejected.

[Fact: Felix Manalo can’t accommodate himself with Catholic doctrines. He cannot simply submit himself to its authority so instead he defied and deified himself to a status higher than Christ as mere man and build his own. But fact remains, INC is fake!]

(7). We should not be surprised at the number of churches today that are not of Christ. It is not Christ who established them but the enemy or the devil (Mt.13:24-30,36-39 NKJV). These churches that do not belong to Christ are the Catholic Church and her offspring, the various Protestant denominations and sects. Only one Church belongs to Christ, the Church of Christ.
[Fact: PASUGO April 1966, p. 46:
“Ang Iglesia Katolika na sa pasimula ay siyang Iglesia ni Cristo."

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". (And who’s behind the formulation of lessons to be taught by ministers, even to worship, doctrines or propaganda? It’s Brother 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." (As a fulfillment of the prophesy, all the teachings taught by the Ministers of INK in worship, doctrines, and preaching in towns, only Brother Felix Manalo is drafting and teaching them.)

(8). Many Protestant groups uphold the belief that faith alone in Christ is sufficient for salvation. They have excluded other conditions such as baptism (Mt.16:15-16), church membership (Jn.10:9,Acts 2:47, 20:28 Lamsa), suffering for Christ's sake (Phil.1:29), works (Js.2:14,17,20), preaching by the messenger of God (Acts 16:32-33), remaining in the true church (Jn.15:5-6), holding firm and obeying the Gospel (1 Cor.15:1-2 NIV) and enduring and remaining until the end (Mt.24:13). Their faith-alone concept of salvation is in direct conflict with the Bible where we can find pronouncements that man is not justified by faith only (Js.2:24).

[Fact: Equally the INC is in direct contradiction with the Holy Scripture. Remember Satan quoted the Holy Scripture to suit his own vile. What do you think of the INC quoting the Bible?]
(9). One should not deny the necessity of one organized church as the Church of Christ.

[Fact: PASUGO April 1966, p. 46:
“Ang Iglesia Katolika na sa pasimula ay siyang Iglesia ni Cristo." (The Catholic Church which from the very beginning was the Church of Christ..)

(10). The Church of Christ which emerged in the Philippines in these last days was established by virtue of the fulfillment of the prophecies of God (Isa.43:5 Moffatt) and of Christ (Jn.10:16;Acts 20:28 Lamsa). This is the third group (Acts 2:39) of people in the Church established by Christ. Even the spread of this Church in the Far West (Isa.43:4-6;59:19 NKJV) is a fulfillment of God's prophecy written in the Bible.

[Fact: Biblical Prophesies indeed has taken its fulfillment!

Mt. 16:18 “…[T]he gates of hell will NEVER prevail against [Church of Christ] it…”
Mk. 13:3-8 “…Jesus began to say to [apostles], "See that no one deceives you”.Lk. 21:7-11 “See that you not be deceived, for many will come in my name, saying, 'I am he,' and 'The time has come.' Do not follow them!”Mt. 7:15-23 “By their fruits you will know them.”Mt. 24:11 “Many false prophets will arise and deceive many.”2 pt. 1-3 2 Pt. 2:1-3 “There were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will introduce destructive heresies and even deny the Master who ransomed them, bringing swift destruction on themselves. Many will follow their licentious ways, and because of them the way of truth will be reviled. In their greed they will exploit you with fabrications, but from of old their condemnation has not been idle and their destruction does not sleep.”
1 Jn. 4:1-3 “Beloved, do not trust every spirit but test the spirits to see whether they belong to God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.”Gal. 1:8-9 “But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach (to you) a gospel other than the one that we preached to you, let that one be accursed! As we have said before, and now I say again, if anyone preaches to you a gospel other than the one that you received, let that one be accursed!”

(11). The messenger of God (Rom.10:15 NKJV) in these last days (Isa.43:6) is Brother Felix Y. Manalo (Rev.7:2-3). It was not he who built the Church of Christ but it was Christ Himself (Mt.16:18) by virtue of the fulfillment of the prophesy (Jn.10:16). Felix Manalo was only utilized by God as His instrument to preach the pure Gospel of salvation in these last days. His authority as God's messenger is clearly stated by various prophecies in Scriptures (Is.41:9-10; Is.46:11-13; Rev.7:2-3). Hence, it behooves man to have faith in the commissioning of Brother Felix Y. Manalo.

[Fact: 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." (When was INC in the Philippines registered under its Government? It was in July 27, 1914. Truly, the registry confirms Brother F. Manalo as the founder of INC.”)

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!" (The true Church of Christ is one only, this is the Church built by Christ. Any church emerging, claiming they too are Church of Christ, these are false and fake!”)

(12). Persecutions cannot be avoided because overcoming it serves as the basis for inheriting the kingdom of heaven (Mt.5:10-12). Thus, whatever kind or extent of persecution a member of the Church of Christ may face, he should not falter or withdraw. He should instead pray to God for assistance in order to overcome religious persecutions.

[Fact: INC are the persecutors! Ask for a copy of their official “Pandoktrina Lessons”, watch their preaching on TV, radio and print like in PASUGO Disyembre 1965, p. 5:
“Kaninong Ministro kung ganyan ang mga Paring Katoliko? Mga Ministro ni
Satanas na Diablo." (Whose Ministers therefore are the Catholic Priests? They are the Ministers of Satan the Evil One.”)

PASUGO Oktubre 1959, p. 5:
“Mga magdaraya at anti-Cristo, ang mga nagtuturong si Cristo ay Dios." (They are deceivers and anti-Christ all those who teaches Christ as God.”)

PASUGO Agosto 1962, p. 9:
“Kaya ang tunay na anti-Cristo, ang mga Papa ng Iglesia Katolika Apostolika Romana. At ang tunay na ampon ng anti-Cristo ay ang mga Katoliko." (Therefore, the true anti-Christ, the Popes of the Apostolic Roman Catholic Church. And the true adopted anti-Christ are the Catholics!)

PASUGO Oktubre 1956, p. 1:
“Ang Iglesia ni Cristo ay nagdaos ng pamamahayag sa Lunsod ng Davao. Nagsalita roon si Kapatid na Felix Manalo at ang kasama niyang mga Ministro. Ipinahayag doon ng mga nagsalita na ang Iglesia Katolika Romana ay hindi itinatag ni Cristo kundi itinatag ng Diablo." (The Iglesia ni Cristo held its preaching in the City of Davao. There, Brother Felix Manalo and his companion Ministers preached. They made the statement that the Roman Catholic Church wasn’t the Church Christ’s built but the Devil’s.”)

(13). The proper way of joining the Church of Christ is that which is done because of faith (Rom.5:2) in God and in Christ (Jn.14:1-2), as well as the recognition and acceptance of the Church and of God's commissioning of His messenger in these last days (Jn.6:29). If the motive for joining the Church of Christ is pure and proper, the man who joins the Church would be able to perform all the commandments and Church disciplines, the performance of which proves that he is a true member of the Church of Christ. He does not easily discouraged and neither does he drew back. Instead, he remains firm in his election.

[Fact: Manalo isn’t original in this teaching. Christ himself sternly warned his disciples of coming false prophets disguishing as prophets or angels. Instead, he promised to remain with them until the ends of time and his Church will never aposticize— Christ’s warning fulfilled in Manalo and His teachings Manalo turned them upside down.]

(14). Christ should be highly honored and worshiped by members of the Church of Christ because this is the will of God (Phil.2:9-11). Christ should be recognized as the Son of God (Mt.3:7), Lord (Acts 2:36), Saviour (Acts 5:31), Mediator (1Tim.2:5), a holy man who did not commit sin (1 Pet.2:21-22). The attributes mentioned here give no indication to His nature which we believe is of a man (Jn.8:40); He is not the true God. (Ezek.28:2) Man should also renounce the belief that Christ is true God and true man (Hos.11:9)

[Fact: Christ is God according to the Holy Scripture. No Biblical verse that says He is NOT God! Manalo and his Ministers cannot even provide one single verse to disprove his divinity. All they use are verses that confirms him as man but does doesn’t negate his divinity at all. As warning, all men and women should also renounce the belief that Manalo is a man and an angel which is biblically unfounded. Fact also remains that only God has the right to be worshipped and if the INC are worshipping Christ as a man ONLY, they are guilty of blasphemy.]

(15). The clear distinctions of Christ from God are proofs that the true God is not Christ. Jesus possesses attributes surpassing the ordinary man, but this does not mean that he is God. God has attributes which we do not find in Christ. If Christ can do wonders such as miracles, all these are done by God, through Him as God's instrument. On his own powers alone, Christ cannot do anything. Christ Himself states, "I can of my own do nothing."

[Fact: Jesus said, ‘Before Abraham came to be, I AM.” -Jn. 8:58 of which the Jews understood him exactly. That’s why they accused him of blasphemy of calling himself the title exclusively for God. Did Christ recanted to their aproar? No! For he is God! ]

(16). Teachers of the "Christ is God" doctrine also use the Bible. But we should not allow ourselves to be deceived by them because we cannot read any text in the Bible where Christ says He is the true God. If that is the case, why do they have biblical texts to prove their contentions? Those biblical texts have been given erroneous interpretations (Jn.1:1,14; Isa.9:6) or wrong meanings (1 Jn.5:20) or even based on verses wrongly translated (Rom.9:5).

[Fact: It is more true that the Bible is silent about their claim that Christ IS NOT God. The Church with no one to claim it’s founder except Christ is accused b a self-problaimed man, ‘Last Messenger’ of “erroneous interpretation (Jn. 1;1,14) when he himself had interpreted the whole Scripture to praise himself!]

(17). It is not enough for man to join or become a member of the Church of Christ to be saved. He should lead a new life, too. Members who lead a new life are truly of Christ and of God. Thus, all sinful ways should be renounced and he should live by the teachings he has received.

[Fact: To this day, none of INC members has received Noble Peace Prize or has achieved any international recognition of such a good life emulating the Lord. Not even Felix Manalo has done miracles to prove his divine origin during his lifetime.

Felix Manalo’s life isn’t extra ordinary, not even considered ‘holy’ life. His way of life was far enough to compare to the lives of Catholic Saints (including the apostles and Christ).
Felix Manalo’s lifestyle and biography is made available through Let Us Reason and a thorough detail is mentioned in Wikipedia-Felix Manalo.

An attempt to make Felix Manalo a “saint” Truth Finder tried to make his story humble and persuasive but it was just too good to be true, biased and unconfirmed since the INC management has no official website to this day.]

(18). Each member of the Church of Christ believes that constant attendance in worship services is one of his obligations. Great blessings accrue to those who constantly attend worship services while great sins are committed by those who disregard this responsibility.

[Fact: INC sense of sin depends on Church attendance for economic reasons. Abortion, adultery, murder, as heinous crime were not even mentioned. Felix was one of those firstly to be chastised for being adulterer and a rapist. Rosita Trillanes was just one among his victims.]

(19). The Church of Christ believes that it is God who gave the command to contribute and give thanksgiving offerings to support the needs of the Church. To fulfill these obligations is to lay up a good foundation for the attainment of eternal life.

[Fact: God has nothing to do with Manalo’s Church. If there’s anything its members donate, it’s for the Manalo clan, stipulated in their registration as a Corporation Sole at Securities and Exchange Commission.]

(20.) The Church of Christ believes that it is the will of God for us to love one another as true brothers and sisters. Hence, if anyone has sinned against us, we should forgive him and we should reconcile with those who are mad at us.

[Fact: They forgive their own members but not members of the Catholic Church. Fierce battle between INC and members of ADD prove otherwise.]

(21). The members of the Church of Christ believe that it is God who forbids the eating of blood and prohibits marriage with those of other faiths. Elopement is an act of disrespect for parents and this is a sin in the eyes of God.

[Fact: INC as owned by Felix Manalo has the least authority to tell anyone of what’s moral and immoral. Felix Manalo himself wasn’t even a moral and upright man to be emulated.]

(22). The Church of Christ believes that baptism is necessary for one to become a disciple of Christ and for the attainment of eternal salvation. But this should be done in accordance with the teachings of the Bible.

[Fact: They cannot assume the autority of the Bible without acknowledging the authoritative body that formulated the Bible. With regard to Baptism as necessary means to “become a disciple of Christ and for the attainment of eternal salvation” Manalo was never baptized in his founded Church thus reducing his rights to be in paradise. If not, then he must be in eternal damnation.]

(24). The Church of Christ believes that each member should do missionary work or share his faith with others. Each one should learn how to pray to God so that he would not weaken in faith and thus be able to resist temptations.

[Fact: The true Church of Christ in the Catechism of the Catholic Church has a thorough explanation about its faith, made available in print and in the web which INC not even have published “Pandoktrina” or a website to spread their “true” church which is contrary to common sense.]

(25). Each member should submit to the Administration placed by God in the Church by means of total agreement with the teachings and rules observed in the Church of Christ.

[Fact: INC Administration headed by the son of Felix Manalo down to the third generation clearly proves its ownership. God and Christ has nothing to do with the Iglesia ni Cristo so its members are not subjected to submit to its Manalo administration rather to submit themselves in obedience to the Magisterium of the true Church founded by Christ as they admitted in their Pasugo.]

(26). The Church of Christ believes that unity is God's teaching and that division within the Church is an evil thing. This unity is implemented by the Church of Christ not only during election time but also in all its works in the service of God.

[Fact: They have condemned themselves. Felix Manalo detached himself from the real Church Pasugo had claimed to be the Catholic Church. And if those who caused division among the Church’s members are evil according to them.]

(27). The Church of Christ believes that God has determined the Day of Judgment which will take place at the second coming of Christ. This is the great day when the Church of Christ will receive the reward promised by God -- the everlasting home for God's chosen people.

[Fact: As earlier stated by Pasugo, the real Church Christ built was the Catholic Church and that this Church will “receive the reward promised by God – the everlasting home for God’s chosen people.]

By now, you are ready to leave Manalo's Corporation disguishing as God's church!

Islam's Global War against Christianity

By Patrick Poole

From American Thinker

From Nigeria to Indonesia, Christians are under siege in virtually every single country in the Muslim world, the victims of countless acts of discrimination, depredation, brutality, and murder that are so widespread and systematic that it can rightfully be called the new Holocaust. This time, however, the perpetrators of this Holocaust aren't wearing swastikas, but kufi skull caps and hijabs.

Some of the oldest Christian communities in the world are subject to relentless attack and teeter on the brink of extinction at the hands of the "Religion of Peace": Palestinian Christians in Gaza and the West Bank; Assyrian, Syriac and Chaldean Christians in Iraq; Coptic Christians in Egypt; Evangelical and Orthodox Christians in Eastern Ethiopia and Eritrea; Armenian Orthodox Christians in Turkey; and Maronite Christians in Lebanon.

Several of these communities date back to the beginning decades of Christianity and all have weathered wave after wave of Islamic persecution for centuries and more, but in the very near future some will simply cease to exist. In our lifetime, the only trace of their past existence will be in footnotes in history books (and probably only Western history books at that).

Karl Keating's Appeal for Catholics

Karl Keating, owner of the website www.catholic.com recently sends email to subscribers for an appeal to all concerned Catholics.

His appeal is about Dan Brown's recent attack on Catholic belief in his book the Da vinci Code...


If you thought The Da Vinci Code was bad, wait until you hear about this hateful smear! Receive 5 free copies of Catholic Answers’ new answer guide, Angels and Demons.Details below . . . or click on this link now! http://www.catholic.com/angels.asp

Dear Friend of Catholic Answers,

I’m sure you remember the virulently anti-Catholic, and basically anti-Christian movie, The Da Vinci Code, which infested the world’s movie theaters last year and raked in $758 MILLION at the box office. Although The Da Vinci Code was fiction, it was sold to audiences under the false premise that it was “really true.”Consider these examples of the heresies and blasphemies with which The Da Vinci Code was rife:

* Jesus is not God. He was only a man.

* Jesus was married to Mary Magdalene.

* Mary Magdalene is to be worshiped as a goddess.

* Jesus got Mary Magdalene pregnant, and the two had a daughter.

* That daughter gave rise to a prominent family line that is still present in Europe today.

* The Bible was put together by a pagan Roman emperor.

* Jesus was viewed as a man and not as God until the fourth century, when he was deified by the Emperor Constantine.

* The Gospels have been edited to support the claims of later Christians.

* In the original Gospels, Mary Magdalene rather than Peter was directed to establish the Church.

* There is a secret society known as the Priory of Sion that still worships Mary Magdalene as a goddess, and this group is trying to keep the truth alive.

* The Catholic Church is aware of all this and has been fighting for centuries to keep it suppressed and often has committed murder to do so.

* The Catholic Church is willing to and often has assassinated the descendents of Christ to keep his bloodline from growing too large.

Words cannot describe the absurdity of these assertions. You wouldn’t expect any discerning individual to take them seriously. But that’s the problem: apparently there aren’t too many “discerning individuals” around these days.

The Da Vinci Code was taken seriously by millions of gullible people, egged on by the media, which ran news stories and documentaries exploring the premises of The Da Vinci Code.One such “documentary”—produced by ABC and titled “Jesus, Mary, and Da Vinci”—was hosted by a Catholic reporter, Elizabeth Vargas, who basically said, “Gosh, what if these things are true!”Ridiculous?

Yes. But worse. Scandalous! As you know, giving scandal is one of the most serious sins anyone can commit. God does not take it lightly when someone causes one of his children to fall.

That’s why Jesus’ words about causing scandal were recounted in three of the Gospels, when he said:Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a great millstone fastened round his neck and to be drowned in the depth of the sea. (Matt. 18:6; cf. Mark 9:42; Luke 17:2)

The Da Vinci Code—written by novelist Dan Brown—did indeed give scandal, both as a novel and as a Hollywood movie. The novel sold more than 70 million copies (more than any other fictional work in U.S. history) and has been translated into over forty languages. The movie has been seen by more than 60 million people worldwide. And with every screening, more souls are brought nearer to the point of losing faith in Christianity in general and in the Catholic religion in particular.

You see, all it takes is to plant a seed of doubt—which is what The Da Vinci Code does so cleverly—to shake the faith of weak Catholics, nominal Christians, and anyone who was even considering a conversion.

Dan Brown knows his book is pure fiction, but he doesn’t care. According to the New York Times, Brown has made $250 million off The Da Vinci Code novel. And that’s not counting what he made from the movie. (He was paid six million just for the rights. Tens of millions more ended up in his bank account from movie tickets and DVD sales.) And now he’s going to do it again—with yet another attack on the Catholic Church.

His first novel in this anti-Catholic series (written and published before The Da Vinci Code) is titled Angels and Demons—and it too has become a best-seller because of the media hype over The Da Vinci Code.

Angels and Demons is described as “a science vs. religion thriller set within a Swiss physics lab and Vatican City.”

Whatever.

I won’t go into detail about the plot. But it’s basically another one of Brown’s fictional conspiracy theories—complete with Vatican intrigue, dark secrets, sex scandals, murders, Masons, assassinations, you name it. The only thing he didn’t include is a Keystone Cops chase scene.

I have no problem with mysteries/thrillers. But Dan Brown is trying to slime the Catholic faith to make a buck. And when he leads audiences astray—as he clearly did with The Da Vinci Code—he gets into serious trouble on a moral level.

As I mentioned, God does not appreciate being mocked. Nor does he look kindly on those who cause his children to sin. But again, Dan Brown doesn’t care. He calls himself a Christian—and he claims that his movies cause people to “think,” “debate,” “dialogue,” etc.

He says Christians should “use the book as a positive catalyst for introspection and exploration of our faith.”Right. But introspection and exploration should be based on fact, not outright fiction. And especially not fiction that blasphemes the Son of God.

Would Brown write a similar novel encouraging “debate” about the Protocols of the Learned Elders of Zion? Or “exploring” the idea that the Nazi Holocaust never happened?

Would he even live to see another day if he wrote insulting fiction about Mohammed?

No.

So he picks on the easiest target of all: Catholics.

We’re an easy target for several reasons:

1. We don’t fight back like we should; instead, we just hope that this guy will get lost.
   
2. We’re used to being picked on and misunderstood, so we’ve lost our sense of outrage.
   
3. We know we’re right, so it doesn’t bother us when people attack our faith. And
   
4. Many of us don’t know our faith and just clam up and offer zero resistance.
   

We’re easy prey for bullies.But that’s not the case here at Catholic Answers. Not by a long shot.We do defend the faith. And when it gets dragged through the mud (as in The Da Vinci Code and Angels and Demons), we stand up and fight.

Often, we take the fight to the enemy. And that’s why I’m writing to you today.I need your help to persuade director Ron Howard to decline the invitation to make the Angels and Demons movie. Would you be able to send us a gift of $35.00 or more? Click here. http://www.catholic.com/angels.asp

Howard was the director of The Da Vinci Code—and he’s being wooed to come back and direct Angels and Demons.But it’s not a done deal.Why? Because the critics hated The Da Vinci Code. People were falling asleep during the movie or else getting up and walking out—even at the Cannes Film Festival where it debuted.

Howard is quoted as saying that the overwhelmingly negative reviews were “frustrating” to him. Serves him right, though. Catholics and Protestants alike—by the millions—asked him to take out the anti-Catholic/anti-Christian stuff, and he ignored us.

Apparently he didn’t mind making an anti-Catholic/anti-Christian movie. In an interview with Newsweek, he was quoted as saying, “It would be ludicrous to take on this subject and then try to take the edges off. We’re doing this movie because we like the book.”

The “edges” Howard describes are what the Da Vinci controversy is all about: a deep, dark conspiracy about hiding the true nature of Jesus. But the hit he took for making that movie should tell him that a director of his talent shouldn’t make movies that insult and mock God.

And that’s what we need to communicate to him—before he signs on as director of Angels and Demons—by sending him the enclosed postcard by the tens of thousands.Ron Howard needs to re-think his role as director of another mediocre movie based on a mediocre novel with a controversial, highly insulting, and blasphemous message.

And this time, it’s different.

Howard has been stung by The Da Vinci Code because of the poor reviews it received. Now it’s time to tell him to decline Angels and Demons—if for no other reason than to redeem himself for making The Da Vinci Code.

So right now, I ask that you to mail a postcard to Ron Howard. Tell him as a faithful Catholic, you were offended when he made the anti-Catholic movie The Da Vinci Code, which mocked Jesus Christ and your religion.

Tell him that you understand he is now considering being the director for Dan Brown’s similar story Angels and Demons, which insults the papacy and the Vatican.

Urge him to reject any offer to make Angels and Demons and use his God-given talents to make movies that uplift the good in all of us.

Please send your postcard to

Mr. Ron Howard
c/o Imagine Entertainment
9465 Wilshire Blvd.,
7th FloorBeverly Hills,
CA 90212USA

And then, please send us a gift of $35.00 or more so we can have the funds necessary to do battle against Angels and Demons, which is set to be released right before Christmas of next year. (How convenient.)

Click here now to donate and receive your 5 free copies of Angels and Demons. http://www.catholic.com/angels.aspWe’re going to produce a special report to expose Angels and Demons for what it is: Catholic-bashing of the worst sort. And then we’ll distribute it to parishes across the country in order to alert our fellow Catholics about the danger of this new movie.We need gifts of $35, $50, $100, and even $500 and $1,000 to make that happen. Or else Angels and Demons will do more damage to our people. Please donate now to help with this very important project.http://www.catholic.com/angels.aspWe fight now or regret it later.Please let me hear from you soon.Sincerely in Christ,Karl KeatingP.S. The latest reports in the news media indicate that Tom Hanks has signed on to star in Angels and Demons, as he did in The Da Vinci Code. But apparently it took a really big paycheck. One source says, “It’s the biggest salary ever paid to an actor in the history of Hollywood.”I’m reminded of the question Jesus asked in the Gospel, “What does it profit a man to gain the whole world but lose his soul?” Answer: nothing.So please pray for Tom Hanks.And send a special gift to Catholic Answers. Click here. http://www.catholic.com/angels.asp

It’s time to fight—and we need your help!

A Muslim Friend's Letter to Slain Father Ragheed

ROME, JUNE 6, 2007 (Zenit.org).- Here is a translation of a letter written posthumously to Father Ragheed Aziz Ganni by a Muslim friend of his who is a professor at the Pontifical Gregorian University. Father Ragheed and three deacons were shot and killed in Mosul, Iraq, on Sunday after Mass.

* * *

In the name of the compassionate and merciful God,

Ragheed, my brother,

I ask your forgiveness for not being with you when those criminals opened fire against you and your brothers. The bullets that have gone through your pure and innocent body have also gone through my heart and soul.

You were one of the first people I met when I arrived to Rome. We met in the halls of the Angelicum and we would drink our cappuccino in the university's cafeteria. You impressed me with your innocence, joy, your pure and tender smile that never left you.

I always picture you smiling, joyful and full of zest for life. Ragheed is to me innocence personified; a wise innocence that carries in its heart the sorrows of his unhappy people. I remember the time, in the university's dining room, when Iraq was under embargo and you told me that the price of a single cappuccino would have satisfied the needs of an Iraqi family for a whole day.

You told me this as if you were feeling guilty for being far away from your persecuted people and unable to share in their sufferings …

In fact, you returned to Iraq, not only to share the suffering and destiny of your people but also to join your blood to the blood of thousands of Iraqis killed each day. I will never forget the day of your ordination [Oct. 13, 2001] in the [Pontifical] Urbanian University … with tears in your eyes, you told me: "Today, I have died to self" … a hard thing to say.

I didn't understand it right away, or maybe I didn't take it as seriously as I should have. … But today, through your martyrdom, I have understood that phrase. … You have died in your soul and body to be raised up in your beloved, in your teacher, and so that Christ would be raised up in you, despite the sufferings, sorrows, despite the chaos and madness.

In the name of what god of death have they killed you? In the name of which paganism have they crucified you? Did they truly know what they were doing?

O God, we don't ask you for revenge or retaliation. We ask you for victory, a victory of justice over falsehood, life over death, innocence over treachery, blood over the sword. … Your blood will not have been shed in vain, dear Ragheed, because with it you have blessed the soil of your country. And from heaven, your tender smile will continue to light the darkness of our nights and announce to us a better tomorrow.

I ask your forgiveness, brother, for when the living get together they think they have all the time in the world to talk, visit, and share feelings and thoughts. You had invited me to Iraq … I dreamed of that visit, of visiting your house, your parents, your office. … It never occurred to me that it would be your tomb that one day I would visit or that it would be verses from my Quran that I would recite for the repose of your soul …

One day, before your first trip to Iraq after a prolonged absence, I went with you to buy souvenirs and presents for your family. You spoke with me of your future work: "I would like to preside over the people on the base of charity before justice" -- you said.

It was difficult for me to imagine you a "canonical judge" … And today your blood and your martyrdom have spoken for you, a verdict of fidelity and patience, of hope against all suffering, of survival, in spite of death, in spite of everything.

Brother, your blood hasn't been shed in vain, and your church's altar wasn't a masquerade. … You assumed your role with deep seriousness until the end, with a smile that would never be extinguished … ever.

Your loving brother,

Adnam Mokrani
Rome, June 4, 2007
Professor of Islamic Studies in the Institute for the Study of Religion and Culture,
Pontifical Gregorian University


Original text: Arabic. Translation by ZENIT.