Iglesia Ni Cristo defends dismissal of minister Samson

Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) central headquarters in Quezon City.
PHOTO BY NINO JESUS ORBETA

While several of its ministers are facing criminal charges before the Department of Justice, the Iglesia Ni Cristo defended the dismissal of one of its ministers, saying it was only “enforcing discipline” within the religious organization. 

In a statement read by spokesperson Bienvenido Santiago on Wednesday, the INC said it was only natural to discipline its members–including expelled minister Isaias Samson Jr.–for sowing disunity and for attacking the INC administration. 

Samson filed serious illegal detention complaint against the eight members of the church’s Sanggunian before the DoJ.

“Natural lamang na kailangang ipatupad ng Iglesia ang mga disipilina, ayon sa mga aral at tuntuning itinataguyod ng organisasyong ito mula pa noong una, na nakasalig sa Banal na Kasulatan o Biblia,” he said. 

In his complaint, Samson said he and his family were allegedly detained in their townhouse in Tierre Bella, Quezon City amid the power struggle that rocked the influential religious sect in July.

When they were under house arrest, Samson said their communication lines were cut off and their passports were confiscated from them. He said they were only able to escape from the armed men guarding them when they pretended to go to church. 

Without denying Samson’s allegations, Santiago said it was the organization’s right to defend itself against anyone damaging the reputation of INC. 

“Karapatan naman ng organisasyong ito, at marahil ng alinman organisasyon, na dumipensa laban sa sinumang nais puminsala rito. Kaya, may mga pagsisiyasat na kinailangang gawin, may mga pagsuspinde sa pagtupad ng tungkulin ng iba, at may mga kinailangang itiwalag,” he said.

(It’s the right this organization, or perhaps any organization, to defend itself from whoever is trying to destroy it. That’s why there are investigations to be done, suspensions to be enforced and there are others who need to be expelled.)

“At iyan naman ay naiintindihan at itinataguyod noon ng mga taong inalis na sa Iglesia. Sapagkat iyon ang paraan para mapanatili ang pagkakaisa ng Iglesia–dalhin sa labas ng Iglesia ang mga nanggugulo at nagtatangkang maghasik ng pagkakabaha-bahagi,” he added. 

(And that was understood by those who were dismissed by the Iglesia. Because that’s the only way to preserve the unity of the Iglesia. Because those who sow disunity should be expelled.) TVJ

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