"Ipaglaban mo nang puspusan ang pananampalataya. Panghawakan mong mabuti ang buhay na walang hanggan, dahil diyan ka tinawag ng Diyos nang ipahayag mo sa harap ng maraming saksi ang iyong pananalig kay Cristo." I Tim. 6:12

April 18, 2013

Congratulations to Bb. Pilipinas-Universe 2013 winner Sis. Ariella Arida




Arida is a 24-year-old Chemistry graduate of University of the Philippines Los BaƱos from Alaminos, Laguna. A sportswoman who loves the outdoors, especially the beach, Arida was also judged best in swimsuit in the 50th anniversary of the country’s popular beauty pageant. Prior to winning the title, Ara competed at Miss Philippines Earth 2012 and was a former Mutya ng Laguna titleholder. Additionally, Ariella is a member of Iglesia Ni Cristo, a highly recognized church in the Philippines.

Miss Philippines Earth 2012

Arida participated in the 2012 edition of Miss Philippines Earth, where she was unplaced.

Binibining Pilipinas 2013

Arida won Miss Universe-Philippines and Best in Swimsuit and crowned by Miss Universe 2012 1st Runner-up, Janine Tugonon at a pageant held at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on April 14, 2013. She was crowned along with Binibining Pilipinas-International, Bea Rose Santiago; Binibining Pilipinas-Tourism, Joanna Cindy Miranda; Miss Supranational Philippines, Mutya Johanna Datul; and Runner-up or Virreina, Pia Wurtzbach.


Miss Universe 2013

Twenty-four year old Ariella Arida from Laguna will represent the country at the 2013 Miss Universe pageant after she was named Miss Universe Philippines 2013 during the Binibining Pilipinas coronation night at the Araneta Coliseum on April 14, 2013.

Her answer was, "One lesson in life that we, women, can teach men is being sensitive. Because we all know that men are more logical when it comes to decision. They usually are more rational, straight forward. Unlike we, women, we use our heart and we tend to get emotional in some of our decisions. For me, sensitivity is something that we can teach men."

source: wikipedia

Yes. I just found out recently that Ms. Ariella Arida is an Iglesia ni Cristo member, from the locale of Alaminos, District of Laguna, a CBI member at U.P Los Banos and a choir member.

Let us support Sis. Ariella Arida!


(I know jealous nonmembers heard this news and i will not be surprised that they will attack the Iglesia ni Cristo using our kapatid especially if she will not make it to the Miss Universe 2013 top 10 or top 5. Let us see what dirty things they will soon do.)


April 17, 2013

Si Kristo tao, si Ka Felix Manalo anghel?

Maraming taong nabubuwang sa pagkakaintindi sa turo sa Iglesia ni Cristo. 

Bakit nabubuwang? 

Dahil hindi nila maintindihan ang totoong turo ng Iglesia ni Cristo tungkol kay Kristo at kay Ka Felix Manalo kung kaya hilo sila sa pagsasabing "ano ba yan, mas dakila pa pala si Manalo kesa kay Kristo kasi si Kristo TAO LANG si Manalo ANGHEL!"

Tanong, TOTOO ba ang kanilang pagkakaintindi at akusasyon na MAS DAKILA, at MAS MATAAS daw ang ranggo diumano ni Ka Felix Manalo sa ating Panginoong Hesukristo na tagapamagitan at tagapagligtas?

Sagot: HINDI. Kailanman ay hindi namin kinilala at kahit kailan ay hinding hindi namin kikilalanin na mas mataas si Ka Felix Manalo sa ating Panginoong HesuKristo!

Klaruhin natin ang mga bagay-bagay....

Ang turo ng Iglesia ni Cristo sa LIKAS NA KALAGAYAN ni Kristo ay TAO. Pag sinabi po naming tao siya, hindi po namin sinasabing TAO "LANG" na parang ordinaryong tao lang dahil kung nagbabasa tayo ng bibliya alam natin na marami siyang ginawa na hindi nagawa o hindi kayang gawin ng ordinaryong TAO. Pero hindi porke nakagawa siya ng mga bagay na hindi kayang gawin ng ordinaryong tao eh DIYOS AGAD.

Bakit?

Dahil tayo mismo ang nakakasaksi na may mga tao din naman ngayon na nakakagawa ng mga bagay bagay na hindi kayang gawin ng ordinaryong tao. Kaya hindi natin pwedeng sabihing DIYOS din sila.

Ang turo naman ng Iglesia ni Cristo sa pagka-anghel ni Ka Felix Manalo ay hindi yung anghel na iniisip nating nakakulay puti na may pakpak. Si Ka Felix Manalo ay tao lang din. Ang sinasabi namin ay siya ang katuparan ng hula bilang pangatlong anghel sa Rev. 9-11, at itong "anghel" na binabanggit sa talatang ito ay hindi namin tinuturing na anghel na kulay puti na may pakpak kundi ang ibig sabihin sa amin nito ay "sugo ng Diyos" o "Messenger of God". 

At hindi porke sinasabi namin na sa Rev. 9-11 at sa Rev. 7:2-3 ay "Messenger of God" ang ibig sabihin nito sa amin hindi namin sinasabi na sa lahat ng buong nilalaman ng bibliya na kapag may "ANGHEL" na nakasulat ay hindi ito yung mga espiritong anghel na nasa langit na ginawa ng Diyos.

Ayon na rin sa Christiananswers.net:

The word “angel” actually comes from the Greek word aggelos, which means “messenger.” The matching Hebrew word mal'ak has the same meaning.  
Sometimes, the Bible uses these words for human beings:
  • ordinary people who carry messages (Job 1:14; Luke 7:24; 9:52)
  • prophets (Isaiah 42:19; Malachi 3:1)
  • priests (Malachi 2:7)
  • church leaders (Rev 1:20)
Sometimes, it speaks figuratively of things or events as “messengers”…
  • the pillar of cloud (Exodus 14:19)
  • pestilence or plagues (2 Samuel 24:16-17)
But it usually describes the whole range of spirits whom God has created, including both good and evil angels, and special categories such as cherubim, seraphim, and the archangel.
Angels are mentioned at least 108 times in the Old Testament and 165 times in the New Testament (Chafer, Systematic Theology, II, 3). Hence, there is ample information available in Scripture to allow us to build a foundation for our knowledge of angelic beings.

Kung sinasabi ninyong mas mataas si Ka Felix Manalo dahil kinikilala namin siyang ANGHEL at si Kristo eh TAO "LANG", eh di mas mataas din pala si John the Baptist kay Kristo dahil siya ay tinawag ding ANGHEL?


"And when they went their way, Jesus began to say to the multitudes concerning John: What went you out into the desert to see? a reed shaken with the wind? But what went you out to see? a man clothed in soft garments? Behold they that are clothed in soft garments, are in the houses of kings. But what went you out to see? a prophet? yea I tell you, and more than a prophet. For this is he of whom it is written: Behold I send my angel before thy face, who shall prepare thy way before thee." Matt. 11:7-10 Douay Rheims Bible

Eh ano daw ba ang dapat na maging pagkakaintindi natin dito?

Ayon sa Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible commentary:

"...which last is the true sense of the passage: nor should it be once called in question, when our Lord himself has applied it to John the Baptist; to whom the things said in it perfectly agree. He was an "angel", not by nature, but by office; a "messenger" sent by God,..."

Yun naman pala, hindi naman pala BY NATURE na ANGHEL si John the Baptist kundi MESSENGER pala ang ibig sabihin noon... Kaya nga sa ibang salin ng bibliya eh ganito ang nakasaad:


"This is the one of whom it is written, Behold, I send My messenger ahead of You, who shall make ready Your way before You." Matt. 11:10 Amplified bible

Pero dahil gusto ko ay happy kayo, sige sakyan nating yan pagkakaintindi niyo na kesyo si Ka Felix Manalo ay anghel na hindi simpleng "messenger of God" ang ibig sabihin kundi yung espiritung anghel na kulay puti na may pakpak, pero ang tanong, MAS DAKILA BA o MAS MATAAS BA ANG ANGHEL KAY KRISTO?

"Siya ang kaliwanagan ng kaluwalhatian ng Ama at ang ganap na kapahayagan ng pagka-Diyos ng Ama. Siya ang humahawak ng lahat ng bagay sa pamamagitan ng salita ng kaniyang kapangyarihan. Pagkatapos niyang gawin ang paglilinis sa ating mga kasalanan, umupo siya sa kanan ng Kamahalan sa kaitaasang dako. Yamang siya ay higit pang dakila sa mga anghel, ang pangalan na kaniyang minana ay higit pa kaysa sa kanilang pangalan." Hebreo 1:3-4

Tignan natin sa ibat ibang salin ang Hebreo 1:4:

 New International Version (©2011)
So he became as much superior to the angels as the name he has inherited is superior to theirs.
New Living Translation (©2007)
This shows that the Son is far greater than the angels, just as the name God gave him is greater than their names.
English Standard Version (©2001)
having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs.
New American Standard Bible (©1995)
having become as much better than the angels, as He has inherited a more excellent name than they.
King James Bible (Cambridge Ed.)
Being made so much better than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.
Holman Christian Standard Bible (©2009)
So He became higher in rank than the angels, just as the name He inherited is superior to theirs.

International Standard Version (©2012)
and became as much superior to the angels as the name he has inherited is better than theirs.
NET Bible (©2006)
Thus he became so far better than the angels as he has inherited a name superior to theirs.
Aramaic Bible in Plain English (©2010)
And This One is altogether greater than the Angels, according to how much more excellent than theirs is The Name which he possesses.
GOD'S WORD® Translation (©1995)
The Son has become greater than the angels since he has been given a name that is superior to theirs.
King James 2000 Bible (©2003)
Being made so much better than the angels, as he has by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.
American King James Version
Being made so much better than the angels, as he has by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.
American Standard Version
having become by so much better than the angels, as he hath inherited a more excellent name than they.
Douay-Rheims Bible
Being made so much better than the angels, as he hath inherited a more excellent name than they.
Darby Bible Translation
taking a place by so much better than the angels, as he inherits a name more excellent than they.
English Revised Version
having become by so much better than the angels, as he hath inherited a more excellent name than they.
Webster's Bible Translation
Being made so much better than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.
Weymouth New Testament
having become as far superior to the angels as the Name He possesses by inheritance is more excellent than theirs.
World English Bible
having become so much better than the angels, as he has inherited a more excellent name than they have.
Young's Literal Translation having become so much better than the messengers, as he did inherit a more excellent name than they.

source: bible.cc

Naku, kahit naman pala ipagpilitan ninyong ANGHEL SI KA FELIX MANALO, yung may pakpak, hindi pa rin pala siya magiging MAS DAKILA O MAS MATAAS KESA SA ATING PANGINOONG HESUKRISTO!


April 16, 2013

Iglesia ni Cristo and MCGI debate





The debate was held on Nov. 7, 2004 at Rizal Park, Davao City.

Who won? You decide!^^

Imoralidad sa Iglesia ni Cristo?

Ang layunin ng post na ito ay hindi sa kung ano pa man kundi upang ilahad ang katotohanan sa lahat. Ang mga mapapag usapan dito ay pawang reyalidad, mga nangyayari sa totoong buhay. Bago sana natin basahin ang kabuuan nito ay buksan natin ang ating isip, wag maging over sensitive o over reacting. 

Sabi nga sa bibliya:
"makikilala ninyo ang katotohanan, at ang katotohanan ang magpapalaya sa inyo." Juan 8:32

Ang katotohanan ang magpapalaya sa atin. Kaya dapat tinatanggap natin ang katotohanan kahit masakit, dahil ang katotohanan ay katotohananan.

Isa sa nangungunang mga atake ng marami ngayon lalo na sa internet ang sinasabi nilang "imoralidad sa Iglesia ni Cristo". Sinasabi nila, ganyan ba ang tunay na iglesia? may pumapatay, may nanghahalay, gumagamit ng dahas at kung ano ano pa, at kineklaim nyo pang kayo lang ang maliligtas, ganyan ba ang maliligtas?...

Bago natin puntahan yang favorite nilang gawain, ang mag post ng mga litrato ng mga pahayagan kung saan nasangkot ang mga kaanib at mga may tungkulin sa masasamang bagay, gusto ko munang linawin ang TOTOO naming aral, hindi yung ipinipilit ng marami na "ARAL" daw namin kuno na ang intindi kasi nila sa aral ng Iglesia ni Cristo eh kapag nag Iglesia ka automatically maliligtas ka na kahit gumawa ka pa ng masama....


Ang Iglesiang kay Kristo lamang ang maliligtas

Para sa ikaaalam ng karamihan, ang doktrinang "the church is necessary for salvation" o "outside the church there is no salvation" ay hindi imbento ng Iglesia ni Cristo dahil ito po ay nasa bibliya. Katunayan, mismong ang Roman Catholic Church po eh may doktrina ring ganyan:


"The Latin phrase extra Ecclesiam nulla salus means: "outside the church there is no salvation".The most recent Catholic Catechism interpreted this to mean that "all salvation comes from Christ the Head through the Church which is his Body."
source: wikipedia

 Ganoon din naman ang Iglesia ni Mr. Soriano, ayon sa kanilang doktrina:

"The Members Church of God International affiliates to the only true church of God first preached in Jerusalem during the 1st century AD and brings the message of salvation to the world. The church of God is the Kingdom of God on earth and is necessary for one's salvation. Those who have heard of the gospel and of the church must join this church in order to be saved."

source: wikipedia

Mga protestante lang naman ang hindi naniniwala na hindi na daw kailangan ng "Church" para maligtas. Pero kung nagbabasa kayo ng bibliya, alam nyo ang tungkol dito.

Ngayon, puntahan natin ang bibliya, ano ba ang sinasabi ng bibliya tungkol dito?

Alam nating lahat na si Kristo ay may itinayong IGLESIA:

"At sinasabi ko sa iyo, ikaw ay Pedro, at sa ibabaw ng batong ito ay itatayo ko ang aking iglesya at ang pintuan ng daigdig ng mga patay ay hindi magtatagumpay laban sa kanya." Mat. 16:18

Inihalintulad ang kaugnayan ng Iglesia kay Kristo sa mag-asawa:


"23Sapagkat ang lalaki ang ulo ng kanyang asawa, tulad ni Cristo na siyang ulo ng iglesya, na kanyang katawan, at siyang Tagapagligtas nito.
24 Kung paanong nasasakop ni Cristo ang iglesya, gayundin naman, ang mga babae ay dapat pasakop nang lubusan sa kanilang asawa.               
25 Mga lalaki, mahalin ninyo ang inyong asawa na gaya ng pagmamahal ni Cristo sa iglesya. Inihandog niya ang kanyang buhay para sa iglesya
26 upang ialay ito sa Diyos, matapos linisin sa pamamagitan ng tubig at ng salita.
27 Ginawa niya ito upang ang iglesya ay maiharap niya sa kanyang sarili bilang isang maluwalhating iglesya na walang anumang dungis ni kulubot man upang ito ay maging banal at walang kapintasan.
28 Gayundin naman, dapat mahalin ng mga lalaki ang kanilang asawa tulad ng sarili nilang katawan. Ang lalaking nagmamahal sa kanyang asawa ay nagmamahal sa kanyang sarili.
29 Walang taong namumuhi sa sarili niyang katawan. Sa halip, ito'y kanyang pinapakain at inaalagaan, tulad ng ginagawa ni Cristo sa iglesya.
30 Tayo nga'y mga bahagi ng kanyang katawan.
31 Gaya ng sinasabi sa kasulatan, "Dahil dito'y, iiwan ng lalaki ang kanyang ama't ina, at magsasama sila ng kanyang asawa; at sila'y magiging isa."
32 Ito ay isang dakilang hiwaga na aking inihahayag tungkol sa kaugnayan ni Cristo sa iglesya."
Efe. 5:22-32

Si Kristo ang ulo at ang Iglesia naman ang kaniyang katawan, sinabi rin na si KRISTO ang TAGAPAGLIGTAS nito.

Kung siya ang tagapagligtas ng Iglesiang kaniyang itinayo, ano ang dapat nating gawin? Ano bang sinabi ng ating Panginoong Hesukristo?

  "Ako nga ang pintuan. Ang sinumang pumapasok sa pamamagitan ko'y maliligtas..." Juan 10:9

"Sumagot si Jesus, Ako ang daan, ang katotohanan, at ang buhay. Walang makakapunta sa Ama kundi sa pamamagitan ko." Juan 14:6

Dapat pala nating pasukan si Kristo, pero eto ba yung literal na papasok tayo sa katawan niya? Hindi. Ang ibig sabihin lamang ng mga sinabi ni Kristo MISMO na kailangan ang pag-anib sa kaniyang iglesia upang maligtas, eto nga yung "the church is necessary for salvation" na tinatawag. At kung sinabi niya rin na walang makakapunta sa Diyos, ang AMA, kundi sa pamamagitan NIYA, kayo na mismo ang tatanungin ko, may kaligtasan ba sa labas ng tunay niyang Iglesia?

Eh ano naman ang pangalan ng Iglesiang itinatag ni Kristo?
"Take heed therefore to yourselves and to all the flock over which the Holy Spirit has appointed your overseers, to feed the church of Christ which he has purchased with his blood." Acts 20:28 (Lamsa translation) 
"Magbatian kayo ng banal na halik. Bumabati sa inyo ang mga iglesia ni Cristo" Romans 16:16

Bakit naman Iglesia ni Cristo/Church of Christ? 

Bakit hindi Members Church of God International? Bakit hindi One holy catholic apostolic roman church? Bakit hindi Baptist Church? Bakit hindi Jehovas Witnesses? Bakit hindi Lutheran Church? Bakit hindi Orthodox Church? Bakit hindi Methodist Church? Bakit hindi Seventh Day Adventist? at kung ano ano pa...?

Ang sabi sa bibliya:
"Ang Jesus na ito, 'Ang batong itinakwil ninyong mga tagapagtayo ng bahay,
ang siyang naging batong-panulukan.' Sa kanya lamang matatagpuan ang kaligtasan, sapagkat walang ibang pangalan ng sinumang tao sa buong mundo na ibinigay ng Diyos sa mga tao upang tayo ay maligtas." Gawa 4:11-12

Wala palang PANGALAN sa sinuman tao sa buong mundo na SUKAT natin ikaligtas, kundi sa pangalan ng ating tagapamagitan at tagapagligtas na si Hesukristo. Sa kanya LAMANG pala matatagpuan ang KALIGTASAN.

Ngayon, IMBENTO lang ba ng Iglesia ni Cristo ang tungkol sa kaugnayan ng iglesia sa KALIGTASAN NG TAO? Kung hindi pa rin po kayo naniniwala, suggestion ko, basahin nyo po ang New Testament para malaman nyo ang katotohanan. 

Isa pa, hindi porke natupad mo na ang "isa sa mga utos" opo, ang pagpasok sa TUNAY NA IGLESIA ay isa lamang sa mga utos, hindi porke nakapasok na sa tunay na Iglesia LIGTAS AGAD AGAD. Hindi po ganyan ang doktrina sa INC, kailangan pa rin po siyempre ang pagbabagong buhay at paggawa ng kabutihan o pagsunod sa katuran ng Diyos. Inshort, kailangan ng GAWA para maligtas, importante po ang GAWA hindi pananampalataya lamang:

"Anong pakikinabangin, mga kapatid ko, kung sinasabi ng sinoman na siya'y may pananampalataya, nguni't walang mga gawa? makapagliligtas baga sa kaniya ang pananampalatayang iyan" Santiago 2:14
"Imoralidad sa Iglesia ni Cristo"

Sasabihin ng ilan, oh sige, tanggap ko na na may kaugnayan ang iglesia sa kaligtasan, pero kahit kailan hindi ko matatanggap na ililigtas ni Kristo ang Iglesia nyo dahil may mga myembro kayo na gumagawa ng masama!

Una, gusto ko pong klaruhin na hindi porke nag Iglesia ni Cristo ka ay AUTOMATICALLY ligtas ka na o maliligtas ka kahit gumagawa ka ng masama at kahit hindi mo sinusunod ang aral sa INC. Wala po kaming doktrinang ganyan.

Para sa akin, may dalawang uri ng myembro sa Iglesia ni Cristo, isang TUNAY at isang PEKE.

Ang tunay na Iglesia ni Cristo ay sumusunod sa mga aral nito na aral naman ng Diyos, siya ay nagbabagong buhay at isinasabuhay ang lahat na kaniyang natutunan sa pagka INC. Ang peke na myembro sa Iglesia ni Cristo, ay yung Iglesia ni Cristo lang sa pangalan, kumbaga sa membership lang siya Iglesia ni Cristo pero sa totoo at sa loob loob niya eh hindi naman niya sinusunod ang aral at hindi rin siya nagbabagong buhay. 

Kaya ang maliligtas ay yung mga TOTOO AT TUNAY NA IGLESIA NI CRISTO, at hindi yung mga peke.

Pangalawa, hindi rin po porke Iglesia ni Cristo ka eh PERPEKTO ka na, na hindi ka na nakakagawa ng masama, na puro kabutihan lang ang ginagawa. Hindi rin po porke sumasamba kami 2 beses sa isang linggo eh mga BANAL na kami. Hindi po ganun yon.

Sabi nga sa bibliya:

"Kung sinasabi nating tayo'y walang kasalanan, dinadaya natin ang ating sarili at wala sa atin ang katotohanan. Subalit kung ipinapahayag natin sa Diyos ang ating mga kasalanan, maaasahan nating patatawarin tayo ng Diyos sa mga ito, at lilinisin tayo sa lahat ng ating kasalanan, sapagkat siya'y tapat at matuwid. Kung sinasabi nating hindi tayo nagkakasala, ginagawa nating sinungaling ang Diyos, at wala sa atin ang kanyang salita." I juan 8-10

Lahat ng tao ay makasalanan: 

"Ano ngayon? Ang kalagayan ba nating mga Judio ay mas mabuti a kaysa sa mga Hentil? Hindi! Tulad na nga ng aming sinabi, ang lahat ng tao ay makasalanan, maging Judio o Hentil man. Ayon sa nasusulat, "Walang matuwid, wala kahit isa." Roma 3:9-10

 Si KRISTO po lamang ang taong hindi nagkasala:

"Ang pagtitiis ng hirap ay bahagi ng pagkatawag sa inyo ng Diyos, sapagkat nang si Cristo ay magtiis para sa inyo, binigyan niya kayo ng isang halimbawang dapat tularan. Hindi siya gumawa ng anumang kasalanan, o nagsinungaling kailanman." I ped. 2:21-22

Kapag sinabi po namin na lahat ng tao ay nagkasala (wala naman sigurong tututol) hindi namin sinasabi na OKAY lang magkasala, hindi excuse yon para gumawa ng masama. Ang punto doon eh hindi maiiwasan ng tao ang magkasala pero kahit ganoon, dapat manaig pa rin ang paggawa ng kabutihan.

Pangatlo, pag sinabi naming kami lang ang maliligtas (o Iglesia ni Cristo lang ang maliligtas) hindi namin sinasabing LAHAT ng hindi Iglesia ni Cristo ay AUTOMATICALLY MAPUPUNTA AT MAPAPARUSAHAN SA DAGAT-DAGATANG APOY.

Panghuli, wala pong doktrina sa Iglesia ni Cristo ang nagsasabing wag ka magbagong buhay, gumawa ka ng masama, wag mong susundin ang turo sa iglesia na nasa bibliya, magnakaw ka, manghalay ka, pumatay ka, maglasing ka, at kung ano ano pa. 

Kung kayo po ay makakakita ng mga INC members na nasa gawang masama, hindi po ito "bunga ng BANAL na aral ng Iglesia ni Cristo" kung sabihin ng ilan, walang aral at walang utos sa Iglesia ni Cristo ang ginawa nila, kundi NILALABAG nila ang aral ng iglesia.

Kaya nga ayon na mismo sa isang hindi INC member:
"The Iglesia teaches a regimented lifestyle. The church has an all-Filipino leadership and has a close-knit authoritarian organization. Church attendance is checked. Nonattenders are visited by the deacons. Ex-communication is practised. Causes that lead to the severance from the church include excessive drinking, immorality, gambling, marriage outside the church, apostacy and disagreement with administrative policies.
Julita Reyes Sta. Roman comments: "The Iglesia pays attention to every little thing and it requires a lot of patience, tact, and courage from the deacons and ministers. It is the duty of and business of local unit officials and even members to watch the behaviour of co-members and report anything they observe, see, or hear to the deacons. Whatever the problems or troubles are the deacons will try their best to resolve."  

source: reforemedreflections.ca Johan D. Tangelder

Ang mga kapatid na nasusumpungan sa pagsuway o masasamang gawa ay kinakausap, pinapayuhan, at pinapaalalahanan sa mga katuruan ng Diyos. At kung hindi na siya makaya ng mga maytungkulin sa Iglesia pagkatapos ng paulit ulit na pagsaway, ayon na rin mismo sa bibliya:

"God will judge those outside. “Expel the wicked person from among you.” I Cor. 5:13 

Kaya sana simula ngayon ay wag tayong manghuhusga na porke may mga INC members na gumagawa ng masama ibig sabihin sa demonyo agad ang INC, sa halip na ang mga gawa ng mga myembro ang tawaging "sa demonyo" eh sinasabi nila at dinadamay ang pangalan ng Iglesia ni Cristo na sa demonyo. Hindi po nirerepresenta ng ilang myembro o maytungkulin o ministro ang Iglesia ni Cristo, porke may ginawa silang masama eh magrereflect na sa church as a whole.

Puntahan na natin ang favorite nilang gawin, ang pagpapakalat sa internet ng mga pictures ng mga pahayagan kung saan nasangkot ang mga myembro ng INC, at sasabihin nila na "ganito pala sa Iglesia ni Cristo" o kaya naman ay "ganyan talaga yang mga Iglesia ni Manalo, mga mamamatay tao, mga rapist, masasamang tao etc." 

Dahil lang mayroong ilang mga kaanib ang nasangkot eh dinadamay ang IGLESIA as a whole? tsk

Sinerch ko ang lahat ng ito, opo, LAHAT na larawan ng pahayagan na kanilang ikinakalat kung saan nasangkot sa masasamang gawa ang mga myembro ng Iglesia ni Cristo. Ito po ay para ipakita at ipatunay sa inyo na pawang mga katotohanan lang ang aking sinasabi at sa katotohanan ako. Pagbigyan na natin ang mga asar na asar sa INC, makikita kasi nila sa mismong INC blog, alam na alam kong tuwang tuwa sila, dun sila kasi nasisiyahan...

O sige pagbibigyan ko kayo wag kayong mag alala, game, magpalakpakan na at magalak na, na parang walang bukas... (napaghahalataan tuloy)





Sasabihin ng ilan, "Bakit ganyan? Bat may Iglesiang ganyan??!"


Hindi ko na sasagutin ang tanong na yan. Ilalahad ko na lang ang FACTS.

Facts:

Walang isang Iglesia ni Cristo ang PERPEKTO.
Lahat ng Iglesia ni Cristo, mapa myembro, maytungkulin, ministro at iba pa ay nagkakasala.
Walang aral sa Iglesia ni Cristo ang nagsasabi at nag uutos na gumawa ka ng masama.

Walang taong hindi nagkasala. (pwera sa ating Panginoong Hesukristo)
Walang relihiyon sa buong mundo na walang miyembro ang HINDI NAGKASALA.
Walang relihiyon sa buong mundo (pwera mga kulto) ang nagsasabi at nag uutos na gumawa ang kanilang myembro ng masasama.


Sa katunayan, ang mismong may kagagawan ng pagpapakalat na ito, ang Iglesia ni Mr. Soriano, hindi nila maidedeny na mismong lider nila eh maraming eskandalong naisapahayagan, at opo, sinearch ko rin ang mga yon. At sa pagsesearch kong yon napatunayan na di hamak na mas sikat si Mr. Soriano kesa sa mga INC members na nasangkot sa mga masasamang gawain, paano ko nasabi? 

Eto po:


At hindi lang si Mr. Soriano ang nasangkot sa mga masasamang gawain ng kahalayan, kundi pati ang kaniyang mga myembro.

Eto po:




CAMP OLIVAS, Pampanga — Several unlicensed guns and undetermined pieces of ammunition were seized by combined police operatives of the Quezon City Police District and Apalit police during a raid at the temple of Eli Soriano’s "Ang Dating Daan" in Barangay Sampaloc, Apalit, Pampanga Monday evening.
In his report to Senior Superintendent Leonardo Espina, Pampanga provincial police director, Chief Inspector Mar Dayag, Apalit police chief, said the seized items include a bodyguard model caliber 30 shotgun, two pieces of caliber .38 revolvers and caliber .30 and M1 winchester rifle from the room of a certain Abner Martizano, reportedly an ADD minister and staying in one of the rooms located inside the compound.
Espina said the raiding team led by Quezon City Warrant and Subpoena Section personnel and members of the local police and Special Weapons and Tactics team, went to the temple to serve the warrant of arrest issued by the Midsayap, North Cotabato Regional Trial Court against Martizano for an alleged rape case.
But the raiding team failed to find Martizano and instead took with them several firearms and ammunition found inside his room.
Retired police Col. Domingo de Guzman, chief security officer of the ADD, assailed the raiding team for an "overkill" in its show of force and violation of the proper procedure in serving an arrest warrant.
He said the actuation made by the raiding team was a gross violation of human rights.
"We were deprived of our rights by the policemen who were all dressed in full-battle-gear. Our temple is not a haven of criminals, why should these policemen act like they’re going to war," De Guzman stressed.
He said the firearms seized by the police were service firearms of the security guards detailed at the main gate and the Larlin gate. The raiding team also took the audio recorder of the security cameras before they left on board L300 vans.
De Guzman reported the incident and had it on record at the office of the 3rd Criminal Investigation and Detection Unit (3CIDU).
He said the ADD is planning to file criminal charges in court against the raiding team.
Soriano was not around during the raid and was attending a Bible Expo and the 25th anniversary celebration of the ADD at the Araneta Coliseum in Cubao, Quezon City, said De Guzman.

source: thebearens.net

At sino to? Diba si Mr. Danny Navales to na MIC ng ang dating daan?




Naku... Tsk. tsk. tsk.

Di na lang po ako magkokomento!^^

Ano pa?

Sa mga Protestante, meron din ba?

Report: Protestant Church Insurers Handle 260 sex abuse cases a year

The three companies that insure the majority of Protestant churches in America say they typically receive upward of 260 reports each year of young people under 18 being sexually abused by clergy, church staff, volunteers or congregation members.
The figures released to The Associated Press offer a glimpse into what has long been an extremely difficult phenomenon to pin down — the frequency of sex abuse in Protestant congregations.

Religious groups and victims’ supporters have been keenly interested in the figure ever since the Roman Catholic sex abuse crisis hit five years ago. The church has revealed that there have been 13,000 credible accusations against Catholic clerics since 1950.

Protestant numbers have been harder to come by and are sketchier because the denominations are less centralized than the Catholic church; indeed, many congregations are independent, which makes reporting even more difficult.

Some of the only numbers come from three insurance companies — Church Mutual Insurance Co., GuideOne Insurance Co. and Brotherhood Mutual Insurance Co.

Together, they insure 165,495 churches and worship centers for liability against child sex abuse and other sexual misconduct, mostly Protestant congregations but a few other faiths as well. They also insure more than 5,500 religious schools, camps and other organizations.

The companies represent a large chunk of all U.S. Protestant churches. There are about 224,000 in the U.S., according to the Association of Statisticians of American Religious Bodies, although that number excludes most historically black denominations and some other groups, which account for several thousand congregations.

Church Mutual, GuideOne and Brotherhood Mutual each provided statistics on sex abuse claims to The Associated Press, although they did not produce supporting documentation or a way to determine whether the reports were credible.

The largest company, Church Mutual, reported an average of about 100 sex abuse cases a year involving minors over the past decade. GuideOne, which has about half the clients of Church Mutual, said it has received an average of 160 reports of sex abuse against minors every year for the past two decades.

Brotherhood Mutual said it has received an average of 73 reports of child sex abuse and other sexual misconduct every year for the past 15 years. However, Brotherhood does not specify which victims are younger than 18 so it is impossible to accurately add that to the total cases.

Abuse reports do not always mean the accused was guilty, and they do not necessarily result in financial awards or settlements, the companies said. The reports include accusations against clergy, church staff and volunteers.

Even with hundreds of cases a year “that’s a very small number. That probably doesn’t even constitute half,” said Gary Schoener, director of the Walk-In Counseling Center in Minneapolis, a consultant on hundreds of Protestant and Catholic clergy misconduct cases. “Sex abuse in any domain, including the church, is reported seldom. We know a small amount actually come forward.”

Tom Farr, general counsel and senior vice president of claims for GuideOne, based in West Des Moines, Iowa, said most abuse cases are resolved privately in court-ordered mediation. Awards can range from millions of dollars down to paying for counseling for victims, he said.
One of the largest settlements to date in Protestant churches involved the case of former Lutheran minister Gerald Patrick Thomas Jr. in Texas, where a jury several years ago awarded the minister’s victims nearly $37 million (euro28 million). Separate earlier settlements involving Thomas cost an additional $32 million.

When insurance companies first started getting reports of abuse from churches nearly two decades ago, the cases usually involved abuse that happened many years earlier. But over the past several years, the alleged abuse is more recent, which could reflect a greater awareness about reporting abuse, insurance companies said.

Insurance officials said the number of sex abuse cases has remained steady over the past two decades, but they also said churches are working harder to prevent child sex abuse by conducting background checks, installing windows in nurseries and play areas and requiring at least two adults in a room with a child.

A victims’ advocacy group has said the Southern Baptists, the nation’s largest Protestant denomination, could do more to prevent abuse by creating a list of accused clergy the public and churches could access.

“These are things people are entitled to know,” said Christa Brown, a member of the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, who says she was sexually abused as a child by a Southern Baptist minister. “The only way to prevent this crime is to break the code of silence and to have absolute transparency when allegations are raised.”

At the Southern Baptist Convention’s annual meeting in San Antonio this week, the Rev. Wade Burleson proposed a feasibility study into developing a national database of Southern Baptist ministers who have been “credibly accused of, personally confessed to, or legally been convicted of sexual harassment or abuse.”

A convention committee referred Burleson’s motion to the SBC executive committee, which will report back with findings and a recommendation at next year’s meeting in Indianapolis.
Southern Baptist President Frank Page said leaders are considering several options to help churches protect children against abuse.

“We believe that the Scripture teaches that the church should be an autonomous, independent organization,” Page said. “We encourage churches to hold accountable at the local level those who may have misused the trust of precious children and youth.”

Several years ago, the Baptist General Convention of Texas, which represents moderates who have increasingly distanced themselves from the conservative-led Southern Baptists, started a list of accused clergy for churches, but not the public. Under pressure from victim advocates, the Texas group just released the names of some convicted sex offenders who may have been ministers in local congregations.

Joe Trull, editor of Christian Ethics Today and retired ethics professor at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, helped the Texas convention create its registry and says there are now about 11 cases involving clergy abuse with minors.

But he believes these are just the “tip of the iceberg” because churches don’t have to report abuse cases to the registry and aren’t likely to.

“The problem we’re having is that churches just weren’t sending the names,” Trull said. “In the normal scenario, they just try to keep it secret. We’re going to have to be more proactive and let them know if they don’t come forward, they’re helping to perpetuate this problem.”
source: insurancejournal.com

Eh ang Roman Catholic Church?

Naku, alam na alam na natin ang tungkol sa mga abuse cases nila! 

Kelangan ko pa bang patunayan? ^^

Oh sige, para sa mga di nakakaalam, hindi balita ang ilalagay ko kundi kung ano ba ito, dahil WORLDWIDE po itong usapin na ito kaya imposible ring hindi alam ng buong mundo ang mga ginawa ng mga pari, bishops, at iba pa...

"The Catholic sex abuse cases are a series of convictions, trials and investigations into allegations of child sexual abuse crimes committed by Catholic priests and members of Roman Catholic orders against children as young as 3 years old with the majority between the ages of 11 and 14. These cases included anal sex, and oral penetration, and there have been criminal prosecutions of the abusers and civil lawsuits against the church's dioceses and parishes. 

Many of the cases span several decades and are brought forward years after the abuse occurred. Cases have also been brought against members of the Catholic hierarchy who did not report sex abuse allegations to the legal authorities. It has been shown they deliberately moved sexually abusive priests to other parishes where the abuse sometimes continued.This has led to a number of fraud cases where the Church has been accused of misleading victims by deliberately relocating priests accused of abuse instead of removing them from their positions."

source: wikipedia


Imoralidad sa Iglesia ni Cristo: TINOTOLERATE BA?

Ito ang isa sa mga masasabi kong bagay na magaling sa INC, hinding hindi tinotolerate ang mga masasamang gawa ng mga myembro, maytungkulin at kahit pa mga ministro. Lalo na ngayon, napakastrikto at napakahigpit na ng pamamahala sa mga paglabag, tanungin nyo pa lahat ng kapatid sa INC.

Halimbawa na lang ang pag-aasawa sa tagasanlibutan, dati ang alam ko pag nakabuntis o nabuntis ng di kapananampalataya pwede pang solusyunan, papadoktrinahan yung boyfriend o girlfriend, ngayon iba na, automatic ITITIWALAG agad. Ito po ay base sa aking nalalaman (pwede akong icorrect ng mga kapatid). At kahit pa INC member to INC member, basta hindi pa kasal at nabuntis o nakabuntis ay itinitiwalag na. Isama na rin diyan ang mga naglilive in.

Ganyan kahigpit ngayon. Mahigpit din sa mga maytungkulin, manggagawa lalo na sa ministro kahit dati pa, at lalong lalo na sa pananalapi. Lahat ng ulat dapat accurate, at dapat naipapasa on time, hindi pwedeng may mali sa mga resibo kundi mananagot ang pananalapi damay na ang ministro doon.

Kaya nga sa lektura ng Ka Erano Manalo dati na ginagamit ng mga kampon ni Mr. Soriano ngayon, ano ba ang kaniyang sabi?

 "Kaya hilingin natin sa Dios, sa ating muling pananalangin na sana'y mabuksan ang ating pag-iisip. 'Wag ninyong tanggapin ang mga salitang ito na paris ng salitang kapagdaramdam ang sabi nga ni Pablo. Tanggapin sana ninyo na ang mga salitang 'yan, siyang kailangan natin, siyang gamot sa matinding sakit na maa-aring pumatay sa atin at sa iglesia. 
Pagkatapos hilingin nating tayo'y kasangkapanin ng Dios para ito'y makarating sa lahat ng kaliit-liitang manggagawa. At hinihiling ko sa Dios, 'yung mga manggagawang tapat lalo na iyong mga manggagawang ginugugol ang buhay nila sa paglalakbay para makarating sa destino, at ang kanilang buhay ay talagang nakahandog na sa Dios!...Iyon ay pagpalain. Pagpalain ng Dios kung hindi ko man sila nakikita, kung hindi ko man nasiyasat ang kanilang mga kalagayan ...sa dami nga ng nagkatabun-tabong mga ulat, pero ang Dios...hinihiling ko sa kanya...itindig 'nya ang mga tapat na manggagawa. Basbasan 'nya, palakasin 'nya! Kung hindi man maging sagana sa buhay na ito't maaring ikahiwalay pa 'nya, makatapos manlang siya ng takbuhin...ang iglesia'y madala 'nyang karapat-dapat..." 
"Pero gusto kong maging saksi ang mga kapatid nating buhay ngayon, lalo na ang mga...nakakita ng hirap at sakit ng sugo at 'tsaka ng iglesia na...hindi natin kukunsintihin ang ganitong masamang gawa. Puputulin natin 'yan, sukdulang walang mai-sugo ako sa pag-samba. Hihilingin ko sa Dios na siya ang gumawa ng paraan...pero hindi ko papayagan na kaylanpaman at pagkatapos ng pulong na ito ay maka...silip ako ng isa pang katiwalian, hindi ako papayag na hindi putulin 'yon...Pero sa paghahangad ko mga kapatid na...mabuhay pa kayo, maitayo pa kayo, magamot pa 'yan...kaya ako nagsalita ng buong tindi sa klaseng ito..."

Sa amin hindi tinotolerate at hindi pinapalagpas ang mga bagay na masasama kahit pa sa kaliit liitang bagay.

Eh sa Roman Catholic Church kaya, ano ba ang ginawa ng kanilang dating Pope Benedict XVI?





Kayo na po ang humusga.

Ang punto ng post kong ito ay hindi para tumakas sa katotohanang may mga INC members ang nagkamali at nagkasala kaya nagpost din ako tungkol sa Iglesia ni Mr. Soriano, sa Roman Catholic Church at sa mga Protestante. Hindi ganoon ang layunin ko. Ang layunin ko ay upang mabuksan ang inyong ISIPAN na kahit kaming mga Iglesia ni Cristo ay nagkakasala din tulad ng marami dahil mga tao lang din naman kami tulad nyo, na kahit pa iclaim namin na ang INC lang ang maliligtas base sa bibliya, hindi nun ibig sabihin na LAHAT NG INC MEMBER maliligtas kahit gumagawa ng masama.

Ayon nga sa bibliya:

 "Ngunit ang mananatiling tapat hanggang wakas ang siyang maliligtas" Mat. 24: 13

Kung sino ang mananatiling TAPAT, tapat sa pagsunod sa aral ng Diyos hanggang wakas ay ang siyang maliligtas.

Saan ba mapupunta ang masasama?

"But cowards, traitors, perverts, murderers, the immoral, those who practice magic, those who worship idols, and all liars—the place for them is the lake burning with fire and sulfur, which is the second death." Rev. 21:8

Kasama pala ang sumasamba sa mga diyos diyosan, oh, ingat po!^^



Kaugnay na post: Pag Iglesia ni Cristo ba ang relihiyon ng isang tao ibig sabihin perpekto na ang lahat lahat sa kaniya?

April 14, 2013

Decline in Catholics' church attendance: Fact or Lie?

It is not even shocking for many that there is a huge decline in Filipino Catholic's weekly church attendance, it is evident not in the number of people in their chapels who attend mass but through their catholic neighbors/friends/relatives/family/classmates/workmates that do not attend mass at all, they attend mass only when there is a special occasion like Christmas or birthdays etc.

But the question is, Is there really a decline in Filipino Catholic's church attendance?

Its a fact. Let's read the news:


The SWS conducted the survey on its own account as a “public service” and to determine if Fr. Joel Tabora’s assertions on his blog, posted on February 7, that “the Catholic church is in trouble is true.
Four topics were covered: Leaving the Catholic Church, how often they go to church, assessment of Church attendance, and religiosity.

The results of the survey showed that about 9.2 percent or one out of 11 Catholics said they “sometimes think of leaving the Catholic Church.” Of the 9.2 percent, only 2.5 percent “strongly agrees” in leaving the Church while 6.7 percent said they “somewhat agree” with the statement “sometimes I think of leaving the catholic church.”

However, the poll firm said those who consider leaving the church “do not consider themselves as very religious, attend church monthly mostly and whose church attendance is less now than five years ago.”

Among the Catholics who contemplate leaving the Church, 4.9 percent consider themselves as “very religious”, 9.1 percent were “somewhat religious”, 16.1 said that they were “not very religious”, and 57.3 said they “have no religious belief”.

The survey, conducted from February 15 to 17, involved 1,200 registered voters.

It did not only cover Catholic voters but also voters from other religions. Of the 1,200, 81 percent were Catholics, six percent were Protestants, three percent were members of the Iglesia ni Cristo, and three percent were of other religions.

Among the Catholic respondents, 43 percent said they hear mass once a week; 22 percent go to Church two to three times a month; 21 percent hear Mass once a month; nine percent attend two to 11 times a year and five percent, once a year at most.

Only 37 percent of Catholics attend church weekly. In comparison, there are nearly twice as many of other Christians who are weekly churchgoers: 64 percent among Protestants, 70 percent among Iglesia ni Cristos and 62 percent among other Christians,” the SWS said.

SWS noted that in 70 SWS surveys regarding church attendance conducted from 1991 to 2013, weekly attendance was always lower among Catholics in general.

SWS said that only 29 percent of Catholics consider themselves very religious, compared to 50 percent among Protestants, 43 percent among Iglesia ni Cristo members, 41 percent among those from other Christian denominations and 38 percent from Muslims.

“Compared with other religious groups, Catholics are the least religious,” the SWS revealed.


source: manilatimes.net

Its not surprising that Catholic priests, bishops, archbishops and even catholic defenders immediately defend their church saying that church's weekly attendance in fact increased and that their chapels are always full of people.

There is maybe a truth that some of their chapels or lets say many of their chapels are filled with churchgoers, but is it a proof that churchgoers really increased? Do they think about the number of catholic population in the Philippines and the number of their chapels across the country? How about their chapels' seating capacity and the number of Catholics in that area? 

My point is, even there are thousands and thousands of catholics attend mass every sunday, we should think that there are MILLIONS of Catholics in the Philippines. The number of Catholic's weekly church attendance in their chapels does not reflect the Catholic's church attendance as a whole.

What's the current situation of Catholics in the United States?

Only about one in four American Catholics attend mass once a week, a number that has been cut in half in the past 40 years, according to a survey by the Pew Research Center released Wednesday.

Only 24 percent of US Catholics said they went to mass on a weekly basis in 2012, down from 47 percent in 1974, according to the study, which was published as the world's 1.2 billion Catholics await the election of a new pope.

Among self-identified "strong" Catholics, only 53 percent went to mass once a week last year, down from 85 percent in 1974.

About a quarter (27 percent) of respondents identified themselves as "strong" Catholics last year, down more than 15 percentage points from the mid-1980s and among the lowest readings since 1974, the Pew data showed.

The figure is in sharp contrast to the 54 percent of Protestants who say they have a strong religious identity -- one of the highest levels since Pew began asking the question nearly four decades ago.
Agence France-Presse
source: globalpost.com

How about Catholics in European countries? 

In France, Germany and Spain, where multiple Pew Research surveys have asked respondents how often they attend church, few Catholics report going to Mass on a weekly basis. In four surveys conducted between 2009 and 2011, no more than 10% of French Catholics said they attend Mass at least weekly. By comparison, between 24% and 31% of Spanish Catholics have said they attend church at least once a week in polls conducted between 2009 and 2011.Among Catholics in Germany, roughly one-in-five said they go to Mass on a weekly basis in 2009 and 2010. In Pew Research polling in 2011, a slightly lower proportion of German Catholics (16%) reported attending Mass at least once a week.

cath-europe-3 
Pew Research surveys have not routinely asked about attendance at religious services in Italy.
 

source: pewforum.org

And how about the center of the Catholic Church, Italy?


ROME, August 8, 2010 (LifeSiteNews.com) – Despite regular polls showing that about 30 percent of Italian Catholics claim to attend Sunday Mass regularly, a closer look at the numbers reveals a more uncertain future for the Italian Church, and consequently for Italy as a moral vanguard in Europe.
For many years, Italians responding to surveys have said that between 30 and 50 percent attend Mass more than once a month. But in 2004-5, the Patriarchate of Venice undertook a study that showed the actual attendance numbers were no more than 22.7 percent, with only 15 percent attending every Sunday. Those who attended one to three times were 7.7 percent. The survey noted that Mass attendance increases with the level of education, in contrast to findings in other parts of Europe. 

While this number still compares favorably to that of other EU countries like France, where regular attendance is thought to be below 5 percent, it is likely to slide further in the coming years. 

A survey conducted by Professor Paolo Segatti of the University of Milan, published in the magazine “Il Regno” in May, found that the news is even worse among younger Italians. Among those born after 1981, Segatti found, Mass attendance, self-identification as Catholic, and adherence to Catholic teaching are “in collapse.” Segatti predicted a near future in which Catholicism holds only “minority status in Italy.”

“It is imaginable that when the children of the younger generation become parents, they will make a further contribution to secularization.”

Segatti writes. “The youngest Italians are the ones to whom religious experience is most foreign. They clearly go to church less, believe in God less, pray less, trust the Church less, identify themselves as Catholic less, and say that being Italian does not mean being Catholic.”

Vatican expert and Italian journalist Sandro Magister noted last week that the loss of faith among young people has strongly affected women: “The collapse is so clear that it also wipes out the differences in religious practice between men and women – the latter of whom tend much more to be practicing – typical of the previous generations. Among the youngest, very few of the women go to church, on a par with the men.”

Mon Aug 09, 2010 11:15 EST
source: lifesitenews.com

You can search other surveys in other countries in the internet.

Now, Is there a DECLINE in the Catholic Church?


First Latin American Pope could counter declining Catholicism

Pope Francis, born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, is the first non-European pontiff since the eighth century, bringing a distinctly New World flavor to the Vatican that Catholics hope can reverse the decades-long trend of Latin Americans leaving the church.

Pope Francis, formerly Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio, acknowledged how unusual his non-European origins are as he greeted thousands of faithful outside St. Peter's Basilica on Wednesday night. "As you know, the duty of the conclave was to appoint a bishop of Rome. It seems to me that my brother cardinals have chosen one who is from far away, but here I am," he said shortly after his election.

Pope Francis shares his faraway home of Latin America with about 40 percent of the world's Catholics, a plurality of the world's faithful that has nonetheless eroded significantly in the past 50 years as droves of Catholics converted to evangelical Protestantism.

Roberto Blancarte, a professor at the Center of Sociological Studies at El Colegio de MĆ©xico, found that about 1,000 Catholics left the church every day between 2000 and 2010, adding up to a loss of 4 million congregants. Overall, Blancarte estimates that about 90 percent of Latin Americans were Catholic in 1970, compared with about 70 percent today, though the percentage varies widely by country. In the United States, the percentage of Hispanic Catholics has also been declining, but more because they are becoming more secular than converting to competing religions.

Having a Latin American pope, whose native language is Spanish, might lure back some of those Catholics to the fold.

"It could be part of an overarching process of helping to revitalize the Latin American church," said R. 

Andrew Chesnut, the Bishop Walter Sullivan Chair in Catholic Studies at Virginia Commonwealth University. 

"A lot of Latin American Catholics will feel very proud and elated that the new pope is one of theirs and his native language is their native language."

The precipitous decline in Catholic affiliation might have nudged the cardinals into selecting a non-European pope for the first time in centuries. Seventeen percent of the cardinals in the conclave were from Latin America.

"With this bleeding of members over the last half-century it made so much sense strategically to choose a Latin American. Europe is lost, the church is in a real crisis there, but Latin America still has a chance to be salvaged," Chesnut said.

Robert P. George, a Christian conservative thinker and law professor at Princeton, said the move will be interpreted by people in Latin America as a recognition "that there is a strong Catholic culture and many faithful Catholics in Latin America."

But not all experts on Catholicism agreed. Blancarte pointed out that Pope John Paul II was unable to battle the larger trend away from Catholicism despite his unprecedented attention to the region during his 26-year papacy.

"John Paul II visited almost every country in Latin America. ... He was as much Latin American as anyone can be," Blancarte said. "The fact that [Francis] is Latin American is a marginal fact."

Miguel Zamora, an Argentine immigrant who lives in New York and works for a pharmaceutical company, said he was elated to learn the new pope is from Argentina. "I think this is going to be a big boost for Argentina," Zamora said.

But he added that the pride he feels for the pope's nationality will not necessarily coax him back to attending mass on Sundays. "I still have hopes that the church is going to change," he said.

Wed, Mar 13, 2013
source: news.yahoo.com 


You decide! 

Is this really the TRUE CHURCH OF CHRIST? 

And the Church that will Christ save?