THE Chaplain of Filipino Ministry of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles has asked Catholic faithfuls to pray for the members of the Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) as they go through a very deep crisis in their organization.
Fr. Albert H. Avenido, who also serves at the Filipino-dominated St. Philomena church in Carson City, urged Filipino Catholics to refrain from engaging in actions that would agitate or offend the sensibilities of the members of the INC, the largest and most powerful home-grown church in the Philippines. “Huwag nating paliyabin ang sitwasyon. Alalahanin natin na mga kapatid din natin sila,” Avenido said in a telephone interview.
The priest recalled that when the Archdiocese of Los Angeles was also rocked by scandals a couple of years ago, the INC as a church did not do anything to hurt the feelings of Catholics.
“Ipinagdasal din nila tayo noong mayroong din tayong pinagdadaanan,” Avenido recalled.
Weekend Balita pressed the priest for comment because of the social media bashing being done by netizens, some of them probably Catholics, against the members of the INC and their church.
The Filipino priest said the mean comments on social media were unfortunate and do not reflect the nature of a true Christian. (Abner T. Galino)