Religious Dynasty in the Philippines

With the Catholic Church's doctrine of Clerical celibacy, Philippines was saved from the Religious Dynasty of the Catholic Church. But Philippines were not spared from the Manalo family of Iglesia Ni Cristo. Iglesia Ni Cristo was founded by Felix Manalo during the 1940's. Felix Manalo died and handed down the INC administration to his son, Eraño Manalo. This year, Eraño Manalo died and it is widely believed that Eduardo V. Manalo is expected to take over the INC administration. This is a clear evidence of reasoning that the Manalo family obviously handles the Iglesia Ni Cristo (INC) church. [I have learned from a catholic blogsite that the INC church is registered by Felix Manalo as a Corporation Sole.]

The INC administration is being inherited by a Manalo offspring from their ascendant. I am not going to discuss any biblical topic about the religious dynasty inside the INC (since I don't consider myself a religious debater) but I cannot fail to notice that the INC members truly behold very dearly the Manalo Family. Any disrespectful comments to any member of the Manalo family may result pressure/harassment by the INC members. INC members even considers Felix Manalo as angel which is part of their main doctrine.

(1) A dynasty is a succession of people belonging to the same family, who, through various means and forms maintain power, influence or authority over the course of generations (2) dynasty (Noun) A sequence of powerful leaders in the same family

Is religious dynasty wrong? - Ask the Catholic Church Is religious dynasty right? Ask Iglesia Ni Cristo The advantage of religious dynasty (politically and financially) to a specific family is unimaginable. A president even declared a holiday on the day of internment of Eraño Manalo. This is totally a political favor given to the politically powerful Manalo family, an obvious favor given to a specific religious group over the other religious denomination. Renaming streets after a family member of the Manalo family is another obvious result of the power of the religious dynasty of Manalo family. I wonder if Eduardo Manalo dies, Who will be the next lucky Manalo family member that will inherit the Iglesia Ni Cristo administration? Who will be the next Manalo family member that will inherit their family jewels and legacy?

If any Iglesia Ni Cristo members would even dare in raising questions about this blog, I have my own set of questions to you that needs to be answered:

1. Aside from the Manalo family members, who are the other possible candidates for being Iglesia Ni Cristo head?
2. If being a possible Iglesia Ni Cristo head is chosen after a vote, what are the qualifications as being a candidate?
   
3. Should a Manalo family member always be included in the list of candidates to be Iglesia Ni Cristo head?
4. Why does the ordinary Iglesia Ni Cristo members are not included in the selection and voting process?
5. Don't you think that Iglesia Ni Cristo members are getting 'TOO fanatical' about the Manalo family members?
6. So the voters are the one promoting religious dynasty and not the Manalo family itself?
7. Out of Delicadeza, don't you think Eduardo Manalo should inhibit himself to stop the religious dynasty inside Iglesia Ni Cristo?
8. Do you think that the Iglesia Ni Cristo would crumble down like a sandcastle if a non-Manalo family member will be elected as the Iglesia Ni Cristo head?
9. Always a Manalo family member is the most qualified to be elected?
10. A rhetorical question; Is having a religious/cult group headed by a single family a good thing or a bad thing?

On Bro. Eraño G. Manalo,

“On the of January, 1953, Bro. Felix Manalo called a meeting of INC District Ministers (Then also called Division Ministers). Bro. Eraño then the Church General treasurer, was elected Bro. Felix eventual successor to the office of Executive Minister…”

“ By Providential will he was elected by Church elders in 1953 to succeed Bro. Felix Y. Manalo as the Church of Christ (Iglesia Ni Cristo) Executive Minister in the event of the demise of God’s messenger…” — Pasugo Sep 2009 Issue

"...As to CHOOSING OF THE CHURCH ADMINISTRATOR, succession was done THROUGH AN ELECTION attended by the Church ministers in the house of worship in Riverside, San Juan, Metro Manila (formerly Rizal) on 28th of January 1953. Three names were cast, to wit: Bro. Eraño G. Manalo, Isaias Samson Sr. and Isaias Reyes. The congregation of ministers overwhelmingly supported Bro. Eraño Manalo in carrying on the administration of the church after Bro. Felix Manalo..." — Pasugo March-April 1992 issue

OTHER PROOF/S:

"In 1953, ten years before his father's death, Eraño Manalo was elected successor to his father as Executive Minister..."

"...He passed the leadership of the church to his son, Eraño de Guzman Manalo who was elected unanimously by the council of elders..." — Wikipedia, NowPublic.com, Malaya.com and most of sites/blogs

"...his son Eraño G. Manalo was elected to the top post of the Iglesia ni. Cristo by its Council of Ministers only two weeks after the Sugo's death... " — R. Reed

With an INC Member's own research, he unwittingly shot their own foot by providing us clear evidences how religious dynasty works inside the Iglesia Ni Cristo. FELIX MANALO called a meeting on January 28 1953 to elect the successor for him. FELIX MANALO presided an election meeting that lead to his son's victory for the succession of INC leadership. (It's like GLORIA ARROYO putting herself as a COMELEC COMMISSIONER to ensure the electoral victory of her son in Congress. Felix Manalo passed the INC leadership to his son after an election which Felix Manalo presided. NEPOTISM? There was an election, yes. But how credible was it? Having an election does not easily mean that Iglesia Ni Cristo does not practice Religious Dynasty. In Maguindanao, there's always an election. And the Ampatuan always dominates the election results. Do you also mean that political dynasty does not exist in Maguindanao because there's always an election? No Religious Dynasty in Iglesia Ni Cristo because there's always an election? No Political Dynasty in Maguindanao because there's always an election?

On Bro. Eduardo V. Manalo,

“The Church Of Christ is so blessed because even though God called Bro. Eraño Manalo to his much-needed reast, he heas placed a successor upon whom he bestowed with an impressive capability to lead and administer it: Bro. Eduardo V. Manalo, the present Executive Minister of the INC. Well respected, well known, and well loved by the whole church, he is now our overall Executive Administrator . Under the tutelage of his father, he had long been prepared for this task, having been unanimously elected in 1994 by the assembly of district ministers to be Deputy Executive Minister and hence successor in case of such an eventuality…” — Pasugo Sep 2009 issue

OTHER PROOF/S:
"...As of 1994[update] his son Eduardo is INC's Deputy Executive..." — nikkonacion.livejournal.com