IN THE wake of pronouncements from various denominations slamming the growing gap between the rich and the poor, the Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) Monday called for a “multisectoral, cross-religious effort to combat poverty,” which the church referred to as “public enemy No. 1.”
“While we have different beliefs, we agree wholeheartedly that we should wage all-out war against growing social inequity. Poverty is a problem that confronts us all, one that all faiths universally condemn,” INC general auditor Glicerio Santos Jr. said in a statement.
Santos’ call was similar to the one made by Roman Catholic prelates who attended the recently concluded 51st International Eucharistic Congress in Cebu City: That something must be done about hunger and poverty, especially when brought about by corruption and social injustice.
Santos said that under the leadership of Executive Minister Eduardo Manalo, the INC has intensified its antipoverty and sociocivic initiatives, which are conducted through the church’s Felix Y. Manalo Foundation.
Its pilot livelihood projects—eco-farming sites all over the Philippines—were launched two years ago by the current INC administration.
“Our Lingap Pamamahayag is a year-round program that’s been actively providing material and spiritual help to Iglesia and non-Iglesia members all over the country. We envision an expansion of this initiative through the participation of our brethren from other sociocivic and religious groups so we can have a bigger impact on poverty reduction,” Santos said.
“Poverty is an enemy that we should all, regardless of political and religious affiliation, wage an unrelenting war against. We can better combat poverty if we work and pull our resources together,” Santos said.
‘UN reps’ denied entry
Meanwhile, a peace advocate and an expelled member of the INC were denied entry to a Quezon City compound formerly occupied by the estranged Manalo siblings Monday morning.
Based in Los Angeles, California, both claimed to be United Nations representatives tasked to inspect an INC property for alleged human rights violations.
Around 10:30 a.m., the legal counsel of the religious sect barred Humphrey Angeles and Lisa Beth Clapier from entering the former residence of Angel Manalo and Lolita Manalo-Hemedez at No. 36 Tandang Sora Avenue in Quezon City.
Angeles identified himself as a representative of the International Media and Humanitarian Aid and Rescue Project, while Clapier, a live broadcast transmedia producer affiliated with the World Peace One and Unify Org.