SOME
PROPERTIES OF THE
CHURCH WERE
SOLD!
SO WHAT?
Does it prove hat there is corruption if the
Church sold some of her properties?
Church sold some of her properties?
IN the article entitled “BRO.
JUN SANTOS: ‘OH WE BOUGHT THIS, WE BOUGHT THAT’ -- THIS IS WHAT HE IS NOT
SAYING: ‘WE ARE SELLING THIS, WE ARE SELLING THAT’” posted in their blog last
June 8, 2015, those opposing the Church Administration claim that there are corruption and anomalies happening in the Church today and the selling of Church properties proves this. This is what they said:
“These
are just but a sneak peek of the first batch of PRIME Properties of the Iglesia
Ni Cristo which is now FOR SALE. I had to pay a premium just to be able to get
these documents out, each compilation of documents per property is quite thick
but contains all the necessary requirements for PROPERTY ACQUISITION FROM ANY
INTERESTED BUYER.
“This
is an ANOMALY. Before, we didn’t sell properties because sooner or later, they
can and will be used for building churches and/or other Church related
infrastructures. SO WHY IS THE SANGGUNIAN SELLING THESE PRIME PROPERTIES AGAIN…?
Are we really in a dire need of money? Bro. Glicerio B. Santos Jr. can shout at
the top of his voice that there is no anomaly in the Finance of the church, BUT
this rampant disposal of church properties at a very low appraisal value IS A
GLARING PROOF THAT THERE IS AN ANOMALY (def: deviation from the norm).”
Take note that they even gave
a definition of the word “anomaly.” He said, “…ANOMALY (def: deviation from
norm).” So, for those opposing the Church Administration, the selling of
Church properties is an “anomaly” – a deviation from the rules or by-laws of
the Church. REALLY?
“CONTRA FACTUM NON HABET ARUMENTUM”
("Against Facts you cannot Argue")
("Against Facts you cannot Argue")
To those “opposing the Church
Administration” please answer these following points:
(1) First of all, these
properties that been sold are no longer needed by the Church or the Church has no
longer use for them, for example those properties in Baguio and Tagaytay are “rest houses” and no locale, district or department using it. If those opposing
the Church Administration will argue that these “rest houses” in Baguio and
Tagaytay are still needed so it must not be sold, NEEDED BY WHO? Antonio
Ebangelista and the people behind him?
(2) It is not
against the law that the Church sell properties no loner needed. This is
what the law says:
“Section
164. Such corporations shall have the right to purchase, hold, mortgage, or
sell real estate for its church...” (The Corporation Law of the Philippines, Section
164.)
Those “opposing the Church
Administration” stated that “anomaly is defined as “deviation from the norm.”
Is it against the law to “sell properties” especially those no longer needed by
the Church? The law states, “Such corporations shall HAVE THE RIGHT to
purchase, hold, mortgage, or SELL real estate for its church…” Thus, selling
church’s properties are not a deviation from the “norm.” Thus, selling Church properties is NOT AN ANOMALY because it is not a deviation from the law, it is not against the law, and instead, there is a provision in the law stating the Church Administration has the authority to do so.
(3) The Church is registered as a religious corporation or a corporation sole:
“Section
154. For the administration of the temporalities of any religious denomination,
society, or church, and the management of the estates and properties thereof,
it shall be lawful for the bishop, chief priest, or presiding elder of any such
religious denomination, society, or church to become a corporation sole unless
inconsistent with the rules, regulations, or discipline of his religious
denomination, society, or church or forbidden by competent authority thereof.”
(The Corporation Law of the Philippines (Act No. 1459), s.v. “Religious
Corporation,” Section 154.)
Thus, it is
lawful (valid and legitimate) that the Church Administration as corporation
sole “to purchase, hold, mortgage, or sell real state for its church, charitable,
benevolent, or educational purposes.” Also, according to the law the
administrator of the “temporalities” (properties) of the Church is the Executive
Minister as the “corporation unipersonal” or the “corporation sole.” Thus, IT
WAS THE DECISION OF THE CHURCH ADMINISTRATION (THE EXECUTIVE MINISTER OF THE
IGLESIA NI CRISTO) AND NOT ANY OF THE MEMBERS OF THE SANGGUNIAN TO SELL THOSE
PROPERTIES NO LONGER NEEDED BY THE CHURCH, AND THE CHURCH ADMINISTRATION HAS
THE RIGHT OR AUTHORITY TO DO SO.
(4) during
the administration of Brother Eraño G. Manalo, a property was bought also in
Baguio City from Catholic nuns. Ka Erdy’s plan why this property was purchased
is to build an extension of the CEM (College of Evangelical Ministry) in this
area. However, because of some circumstances, the plan of building a cem extension
in Baguio City did not materialize. So, because the Church has no longer use of
that property, Ka Erdy decided to sell it. The Church also sold other
properties during the time of Brother Eraño G. Manalo, and even during the time of Brother Felix Y. Manalo.
(5) If the Church has no
longer use for a property, the Church Administration has all the “legal right”
to decide if that property will be sold or not. Why sell a property no longer
needed by the Church? There are expenses in maintaining those properties like paying
the necessary taxes, and laso the upkeep ,maintenance and security of those properties. Thus,
selling properties that the Church has no longer use is not an anomaly or not
an irregularity, but a proof of the Church Administration's effiecientcy and competency in managing the finances of the Church.
What is an anomaly or an irregularity is maintaining those properties the Church has no longer use for them.
What is an anomaly or an irregularity is maintaining those properties the Church has no longer use for them.
(6) Like the “mehoras” of
a certain locale or district that if they are no longer needed these “mehoras”
will be sold or be disposed (surely in accordance with the Church’s regulations).
For example, if a new House of Worship was built for a certain locale, the old
House of Worship, if it is no longer needed, it will be scraped and be sold.
(7) If a locale or a district sold “mehoras” no longer needed, does this follow that the locale or district is in debt? Non-sequitur my friend, non-sequitur. Not because the Church sold properties no longer needed it follows that the Church is in debt.
(7) If a locale or a district sold “mehoras” no longer needed, does this follow that the locale or district is in debt? Non-sequitur my friend, non-sequitur. Not because the Church sold properties no longer needed it follows that the Church is in debt.
Thus, It is not an anomaly but
only being PRACTICAL, EFFICIENT and COMPETENT to dispose properties no longer needed or the Church no longer has
use for them.
AS LONG AS THE FACT REMAINS
Those “opposing the Church
Administration” boasted that what he mentioned in his article are the first
batch of the properties for sale:
“Like
what I’ve said, this is JUST the FIRST BATCH for the Properties FOR SALE HERE
IN THE PHILIPPINES. You’ll jaw will drop for the coming articles on the rest of
the FOR SALE PROPERTIES. This is just the FOR SALE PROPERTIES, wait til you see
THE ALREADY SOLD PROPERTIES.”
OK, go ahead. But, even though
you can show hundreds or even thousands of Church properties that been sold, the fact remains: (1) the properties being sold are those no longer
needed or the Church has no longer use for it; (2) the law states that the
Church as a religious corporation “Such corporations shall HAVE THE RIGHT to
purchase, hold, mortgage, or SELL real estate for its church…”; (3) It was the
decision of the Church Administration (the Executive Minister of the Iglesia Ni
Cristo) and not any of the members of the Sanggunian to sell those properties
no longer needed by the church because it is the Church Administration who has
all the legal rights to decide to such matter; (4) the past administration also did it; (5) It is not an anomaly but
only being practical, efficient and competent to disposed properties no longer needed or we no longer
has use for it; (6) it is not against the "tuntunin" and "prcatices" of the Church; and (7) it doesn't follow (non sequitur) that if the Church sold properties it means that the Church is bankrupt or in debt.
Again, those opposing the
Church Administration boasted:
“Because
THEY KNOW THAT WHAT I AM SHOWING HERE IS THE TRUTH. UNDENIABLE TRUTH! I dare
you to prove me wrong. Show your documents! Show your evidences! But I wouldn’t
hold my breath waiting for it.”
This is ace of half-true and half false black propaganda to taint the image of the Church Administration. There are properties of the
Church being sold is truth, however the other half of your statement is indeed false. Not because there are properties of the Church being sold, it means
that there are anomalies in the finances of the Church. The whole
truth are the facts that we enumerated which the people expect that you will answer. HOWEVERM THESE FACTS INDEED
PROVE YOU WRONG!
Brethren:
Will you believe a person who you doesn’t know and who cannot even
reveal his identity saying there is corruption in the Church THAN our beloved
Executive Minister, Brother Eduardo V. Manalo, who says that “there is no
corruption in the Church”?
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