How much do you know about the Catholic Church?

Iglesia Ni Cristo® of Manalo, what have you contribution for the entire Christian Church? You only created confusion, lies, deceit and hate to the Catholic Church which you admitted as the true Church of Christ!-CD2000

How much do you know about the Catholic Church? Here are 10 fun facts you might not know. See how many you know and post your result in the comments! (Source: Catholic Hausa Choir forum)

Photo Source: ICM Creative Communication

1. Vatican City has the highest crime rate in the world! With a population around 500 people and a little over one crime per day, the Vatican crime rate is above 100 percent, per capita. Although the fact is shocking it should be remembered that the Vatican is about one square mile in size, and has nearly 20 million visitors annually. Most of the crimes are pickpockets, purse snatching and other petty offenses done by outsiders.

2. The ONLY Christian church in existence for the first 1,000 years of Christian history was the Roman Catholic Church. All other Christian churches which exist today can trace their linage back to the Roman Catholic Church. Most non-Catholic churches which exist today are less than a century or two old by comparison.

3. The Catholic Church consists of more than just the Roman Catholic Church. There are 22 Eastern Rites that are in full communion with Rome and although they go by different names, they are every bit as much a part of the Catholic Church.

4. Johannes Gutenberg, the inventor of the printing press, was Catholic and the first book ever printed was the Catholic Bible.

5. The Catholic Church is entirely responsible for the composition of the Bible, which books are included, as well as the breakup of the chapters and verses. Protestants have removed some books of the Bible because some of the verses were inconsistent with their theology. Martin Luther was a prime offender in this regard, removing Tobit, Judith, 1 and 2 Maccabees, Wisdom, Sirach and Baruch. He also made an effort to remove James and Revelations, but this was rejected by his followers and those two books were kept. Catholics are often accused of "adding" the books, but despite this common belief, it is false. Older, pre-Protestant, Catholic translations of the Bible include them.

6. How many saints are recognized by the Catholic Church? There does not seem to be an official number, but it exceeds 10,000. Of course, any person who enters heaven is a saint, by definition, so it is certain the number of actual saints in existence is much greater than the number recognized by the Church.

7. Any Catholic may perform an emergency baptism, such as if a person is in grave danger of death. In such a case, the validity of the baptism only depends upon the wishes of the person being baptized, that they desire the baptism. There are specific guidelines for such practices that Catholics should follow. Anyone wishing to be prepared for such a case should refer to the catechism for a deeper understanding of this allowance. Generally, such practices ought to be left to trained clergy.

8. About 15 percent of all hospitals in the United States are Catholic hospitals. In some parts of the world, the Catholic Church provides the only healthcare, education and social services available to people.

9. The Catholic Church spends more money than Apple brings in. Expenditures by the Catholic Church, largely on charity, exceeded $170 billion in 2012, according to The Economist magazine. In that same year, Apple took in $157 billion in revenue..

10. The Pope is protected by the Swiss Papal Guard. Wearing uniforms designed by Michelangelo and commonly armed with halberds, they are capable of using heavier weapons if needed. Each member is Catholic, male, and Swiss, and must complete military training in Switzerland. They must demonstrate good conduct and be at least five-foot-eight in height. Those who are chosen are granted a private audience with the pope along with their families. In extreme circumstances, they are expected to guard the Holy Father with their lives. The Swiss Papal Guard is the oldest active military unit in continual existence since 1506.

Bukas na Liham para sa Lahat ng mga Katoliko - Mga Kaanib ng Tunay na Iglesia ni Cristo!

Dear all Catholics,

Do you have a relative, classmate or a friend who is a member of the cult called “Iglesia ni Cristo”? There are a lot of things you need to know about this cult because someday, if you join this cult it will turn you to someone you are not. It will make you an unreasonable false accuser. Members of Iglesia ni Cristo are required to invite non-members to visit the nearest INC chapel. They usually don’t discuss doctrines with you but rather, they will let you go to their nearest local for you to hear their teachings. They want you to go to their chapel not only because of their teachings but also for you to see the beauty of their chapels, discipline and brotherhood but do not be deceive, the devil do not appear to you in red tall horn with fire but they will appear to you as everything you want. There are some things that you should know before you accept any invitation for their Bible Lesson and that is to study you Catholic Faith. One of the weaknesses of those Catholics or even devout Catholics who left the Catholic Church and joined INC is the lack of explanation behind the mysteries of the Catholic Faith. As a result, they will believe whatever the INC ministers about Catholicism and they are speechless and unable reason out because of their lack of knowledge about Catholic Faith. Some will unreasonably attack INC with lack of knowledge about the Catholic Faith, as a result a persecutor of INC becomes an INC member. You do not want to happen to yourself.

This is what will happen if you will accept an invitation from Iglesia ni Cristo.

“The Name Game”

You will sit and listen to the INC ministers reading the Bible from one verse to another and talks about salvation and the life of man and it’s ending is for you to know that the name of the Church that can save you written in the Bible is “church of Christ”(Acts 20:28 Lamsa only) and it is also the name of their church “Iglesia ni Cristo”, therefore you must join INC in order to be saved. Do not be deceived, what is written in the Bible is the church is necessary for salvation and whoever will enter it and obey the commandments of God will be saved. If you follow the line of thinking of INC ministers, you would drink the contents of a bottle labeled as “drinking water” without thinking if it’s water or not. There is only one church built by Christ and Christ promised that it will last forever. He said “I am always with you until the end of time” c.f (Matt 28:20). Only the Catholic Church is the church that exists from the 1st century until today. Therefore, the church which Christ built is the Catholic Church. It is also Traditional, St. Ignatius a student of St. John the Apostle named the church “Catholic Church”. The church built by Christ was mentioned by many names, the name “church of Christ” is only a descriptive name of the church built by Christ. If you read the Catechism of the Catholic Church, you’ll see that it was also used to refer the Catholic Church

Catechism of the Catholic Church 811 "This is the sole Church of Christ, which in the Creed we profess to be one, holy, catholic and apostolic…"

Iglesia ni Kristo in the Philippines is only built in 1914 by Felix Manalo. It is so unreasonable to join a church because you can find its name in the Bible especially it can be read in Lamsa Version. Do not join INC just because you think that you do not belong to the “Church of Christ”, you are already in the Church of Christ, the original one the Catholic Church which was protected by God for almost 2000 years.

“The Apostasy”

The name game is not enough to convince you so probably you will raise the questions,

“What happen to the church which Christ built”?

“Why the Catholic Church is not the true church’?

The INC ministers will quote some Bible verses that speak about apostasy where members of the church will abandon the true faith and some were killed to prove that the church which Christ built was gone after the end of the 1st century. However, it only speaks about the individual members of the church not the church itself, that’s what apostasy means. Whenever a person abandons his faith, he is an apostate and committed apostasy. They are trying to prove that apostasy is fulfilled by the Catholic Church because the Catholic Church invented many doctrines by the council. One thing that they failed to understand about the church build by Christ is it was likened as a mustard seed (Matt 13:31-32). The kingdom of God which is the church will grow and will undergo development. Its development can be seen in the book of Acts where they gather together and had a council to settle a doctrine ( see Acts 15), that’s why the development of the Church doctrine is also through a council. And it cannot teach wrong doctrines

Apostasy is the opposite of the promises of Christ:

Christ promised the he will be with his church until the end of time - Matthew 28:20

Christ promise that the gates of hell shall not prevail against it – Matt 16:18

Christ promise that he will send his Counselor to be with his church forever - John 14:16-18

Christ promised that the church will be guided into all truth - John 16:13

And according to Paul, the glory of the church will last to all generations forever and ever. - Ephesians 3:20-21

Apostasy is the weakness of all their teachings. If you can refute it, the rest of their teachings cannot stand especially about the doctrine about of Last Messenger.

“The Error of Bible Alone”

Iglesia ni Kristo believes that the Bible alone is the sole basis of faith. If it’s not written in the Bible, they will reject it. By nature we Catholics believe that the Bible is the word of God. There are some Catholics falsely believe that the teachings of God are all written in the Bible alone and this becomes an advantage for the INC ministers. Ministers will show Catholic teachings that are not found in the Bible such the term “Trinity” “Purgatory” and even the word “Catholic”. This is one thing that every Catholics should understand the Catholic Church do not use the Bible alone as the basis of faith, but also in Traditions (2 Thess. 2:15) and “Magisterium” which is also known as “teaching authorities” (Mat 16:18;Matt 18:18). The doctrinal terms may not found in the Bible but its definition is found there, therefore it is Biblical, Catholic means “universal, all nations” it is the idea of Christ about the Church. “make disciples of all nations” (Matt 28:19) ” The belief of Bible alone is not biblical and ironically, the term “Bible Alone” is nowhere found in the Bible. If they are consistent with their belief that they reject everything that is not written in the Bible, they should reject the doctrine about “Last Messenger”, such term is not found in the Bible.

“A personal interpretation”

INC ministers will appear in Americana suit while holding the Bible. This is a powerful way for you to believe that what they preach to you is the WORD OF GOD. But keep in mind that the Word of God was already preached by the Catholic Church long before the Bible was finished. When the author of the book of Revelations was still writing in 100AD, the Catholic Church is already on its 5th pope, St Evaristus. The Bible was collected, recognized, canonized and preached by the Catholic Church long before Felix Manalo was born. So whenever you hear an INC preach, what he preached is nothing but a personal and absurd interpretation of Felix Manalo of the Bible yet it is very convincing if you don’t read the Bible or you did not study about the Catholic Faith and its history. Like, protestant preachers, they believed that they only preach what is written in the Bible and they don’t use their own words but that is not true. Every preacher must have always an interpretation whether it’s from him or from the others.

‘’The Image Worship”

INC ministers accuse the Catholics for worshiping idols, and they want you to accuse the Catholics too and they do it through using Catholic Book. Two things are needed to know here:

a. Religious images of the Catholic Church are not idols. Idols means false gods and the INC ministers are aware that Catholic Church teaches only one God, the Holy Trinity and calling the images of the Catholic Church as idols is already an intellectual dishonesty, which means INC ministers are aware that they are lying.

b. Kneeling does not always mean worshiping; kneeling is also a sign to show honor, respect and sincerity. In fact, during ordination, ministers are kneeling in front of Manalo yet they deny they are not worshipping Manalo. With that, we can conclude that INC ministers are contradicting themselves from what they say with what they do.

There are a lot of Catholic book to know the teachings about the Catholics Church and it is unwise to study the truth about Catholicism from an anti-Catholic.

These are only few things to learn for before you visit an INC chapel. You may appreciate their financial management, you may appreciate their unity brother hood and discipline which they are so proud of but do not accept their Bible interpretation. “We should respect other people as persons made in the image of God, but this does not mean that we allow their false teachings to propagate. Charity demands that we correct errors and proclaim the truth. The salvation of souls is at stake. If a sheep falls in a ditch, we must lift it out. If a man falls into error, we must help him recognize his folly.. For a man is more valuable than a sheep”. –Dr. Quirino M. Sugon

If you are searching for more info about the Catholic Faith, just kindly visit the following site:

http://www.catholic.com/

http://www.thecatholictreasurechest.com/

http://www.apologete.com/

http://www.splendorofthechurch.com.ph/

Equip yourself with enough knowledge about Catholicism before you visit INC so that you might know that the church needs you. You need to learn about your Catholic Faith not only for yourself or to challenge debates, but for your Catholic Brothers and sisters so that they too may understand behind the mystery of the Catholic Faith. If you find it hard to understand the Catholic Teachings, keep on going and have faith because even the apostles too were having difficult times understanding Christ yet they still follow him.The term "cult" may a little bit hard for them but for 100 years INC referred as idolaters and pagans. God bless.

Your Brother in Christ,

Gab

by Riel Lopez (Catholic Lay Apologist)

"...kalokohan mo ang katoliko ay hindi sumusunod sa aral sa biblia." - Kaanib ng INC™

Another brainless comment from a member of the INC™ of Felix Manalo, taken from "Katie Holmes: Nagbalik-loob sa Iglesia ni Cristo"

Sakura (kung sino ka man),

Isang MALAKING KALOKOHAN ang naniniwala sa SABI-SABI. Ayon sa kasabihan, WALANG SARILING BAIT.

Ito bang sinabing mong "hindi sumusunod sa aral ng biblia Zzzzzzzzzz......" ay galing sa sarili mong pagkaunawa? O isang BAYARANG MINISTRO ang nagsabi nito sa iyo?

Huwag mong kalilimutan na itong BAYARANG MINISTRONG ito ang NAGSASABI sa inyong mga kaanib ng INC™ ni Manalo na "HUWAG MAGBASA NG BIBLIA" dahil SILA LAMANG (daw) ang "binigyan" ng Dios ng pang-unawa.

Kaya't kung isang BAYARANG MINISTRO lamang ang nagsabi nito, baka naman pwede, maging patas ka naman, buklatin mo ang Biblia mong galing sa mga Katoliko at Protestante (na sabi ng SUGO niyo ay mga kampon ni Satanas) at baka sakaling MABUKSAN pa ang iyong isipan.

"IDOL WORSHIP"

Hindi porke't libre ang katang*han ay inaraw-araw mo na!

Kailan ba naging IDOL si Maria, si Jose, si Juan, si Bartolome, si Mateo, si Santiago, si Lukas, si Agustin, si Domingo, si Francisco, si Lorenzo Ruiz, si Pedro Calungsod?

Kailan ba naging "dios" sina Maria, Jose, Juan, Bartolome, Mateo, Santiago, Lukas, Agustin, Domingo, Francisco, Lorenzo Ruiz, Pedro Calungsod?

At HINDI pala sila idol at di rin naman sila dios, BAKIT SILA DAPAT SAMBAHIN?

Ah... yung pagluhod nila at paghalik sa mga IMAHE? Yung pag-aalay nila ng bulaklak at pagtitirik ng kandila?

Yun ba ang ibig mong sabihin sa 'IDOL WORSHIP"?

Ibig mo bang sibihin ay HINDI sila dapat luhuran, alayan ng bulaklak, sindihan ng kandila, dasalan etc sapagkat SILA'Y MGA BATO LAMANG?

Di ba 'yon ang ibig sabihin ng "IDOL WORSHIP"? Yung lumuluhod, nag-aalay, nagtitirik, nagdarasal at nag-aalay ng bulaklak sa ISANG BATO o ISANG MUOG di ba?

Nakikita mo ba ang larawan sa itaas?

Ito ang KA'ABA ng Mekka sa Saudi Arabia. Ito ang tawag nilang "BLACK STONE"!

Sa DAKONG ITO ng DAIGDIG, ang LAHAT ng mga MUSLIM ay nakatuon, nagpapatirapa, nag-aalay, nagdarasal-- sa ISANG ITIM NA BATO?

Pagano ba sila?

MATAPANG ba ang inyong mga BAYARANG MINISTRO na SABIHIN sa buong mundo na ang mga MUSLIM ay mga PAGANO? Matapang ba si EDUARDO V. MANALO (EVM) na ipangaral sa 2 billion Muslim sa buong mundo na ANG MGA SUMASAMBA SA BATO ay mga PAGANO?

Ewan ko lang kung kaya ng TAPANG niyo na sila'y BATIKUSIN niyong mga PAGANO? Baka bukas-makalawa ay may gugulong na ulo sa loob ng INC™ ni Manalo!

Takot kayong mamatay ano? Sigurado kong diyan pupulutin ang inyng mga ulo kung IPANGARAL niyo sa TV o magasin na ang mga MUSLIM ay mga PAGANO at nagdarasal at sumasamba sa isang "BLACK STONE."

Ito rin ang ginagawa ng mga HINDU sa India!

Pinapaliguan!

Binibihisan!

At inaalayan!

MGA BATO pero NILULUHURAN, INAALAYAN, DINADASALAN, SINASAMBA!

Mga PAGANO ba sila sa INYONG PAMANTAYAN?

MUOG, IMAHE, BATO LANG BA SILA?

Ang larawan sa itaas ay ang MUOG o BANTAYOG ni GAT JOSE RIZAL sa Luneta Park sa Maynila.

Ayon sa Wikipedia, ang muog ni Gat. Jose Rizal ay yari sa BRONZE at GRANITE, mga chemical na walang kinalaman kay Jose Rizal.

Nakikita niyo sa itaas, bagamat yari sa mga material na BRONZE at GRANITE po 'yan pero MAINGAT na BINABANTAYAN at INIINGATAN ito ng mga Philippine Marine Corps at Marine Security and Escort Group.

Sinasaluduhan (PAGPUPUNYAGI) ang BATO ni Presidente Noynoy Aquino.

Binibisita ay INAALAYAN ng BULAKLAK ang muog ng iba't ibang pinuno ng mga bansa!

Ngayon Iglesia Ni Cristo®, ano ba ang binibigyan nila ng PUGAY? Bato o ang imahe?

Di lang iisa, MAY REPLIKA pa ang muog ni Rizal sa Madrid, Spain!

Pagano rin ba sila?

Ang BATO este MUOG o BANTAYOG ni FELIX MANALO sa INC Central

Ang URI ba ng PAGGAWA sa MUOG ang INAALAYAN ng mga INC™ ni Manalo?

O ang IMAHE (representation ng muog) ang INAALAYAN?

Kung NAG-AALAY sila ng BULAKLAK sa isang BATO, hindi ba't PAGANO rin sila ayon sa PAMANTAYAN at SUKATAN ng mga INC™ ni Manalo?

Kung hindi naman, BAKIT napaka-KITID nilang INTINDIHIN kung ano na lamang ang PAGSINTA natin sa mga BAYANI ng KAKRISTIANUHAN?!!

Ang PAGSINTA ay PWEDE kay RIZAL, PWEDE kay FELIX MANALO, bakit naman HINDI PWEDE kay SANTA MARIA ina ni CRISTO HESUS (at iba pang mga banal)?

Mga IPOKRITO ang tawag namin doon!

CATHOLIC DOCTRINE CONTRADICTS THE BIBLE?

How sure are you when your INC™ Church of Manalo just celebrated their 100th Year Anniversary, built an ARENA (for their god INC) and NAMED a place to CIUDAD DE VICTORIA (City of Victors o LUNGSOD ng MANALO?!)

When the Bible was written and compiled by the Catholic Church in c.380 A.D. your INC™ Church of Manalo wasn't even there.  The Apostles never called themselves "Iglesia Ni Cristo Ako" phrase?!

None of the Apostles or early Christians EVER identified themselves as "INC Ako"!

DO NOT FORGET Mr./Ms. INC™ member, that BEFORE the BIBLE came to be, THE CATHOLIC CHURCH came FIRST!

And because of the CATHOLIC CHURCH that the WHOLE OF CHRISTIANITY have BIBLE!

So how could the OWNER of the BIBLE contradicts ITSELF? That's ABSURD!

I'd rather believe the MORE OBVIOUS... FELIX MANALO CONTRADICTED THE BIBLE!

When FELIX MANALO denied JESUS-- his being GOD who BECAME FLESH (Man - kasi di naman pwedeng "magkatawang-tao" ang isang TAO NA!), HE (Felix) IS the FULFILLMENT of the COMING DECEIVER and ANTI-CHRIST"