VIRGINIA BEACH, VA – In another legal victory for the Iglesia Ni Cristo (Church of Christ), this time in Virginia Beach, Virginia USA, a United States judge ruled in favor of the INC, denying a petition filed by an expelled church member who wanted the weekly offerings she made previously as an INC member to be returned to her.
US Judge Salvatore R. Iaquinto ruled in favor of the defendant, Minister of the Gospel, Brother Steven Inocencio.
The case was brought by Lilibeth Rose, a former member of the INC in the Virginia Beach local congregation. Her testimony claimed, erroneously, that weekly offering “deposits” she made while still a member should now be returned to her since the expulsion precludes her from continuing in the weekly offering towards what members of the INC refer to as the “Annual Thanksgiving Offering”. Minister Steven Inocencio explained that in “1 Corinthians 16:2 it instructs that each Sunday we set aside some money in propotion to what we have earned so that we may have something to offer to God. The giving of our offerings are all based upon the written words of God in the Bible.”
Judge Iaquinto, a religious man himself, reminded Lilibeth Rose of the concept regarding any Church offerings that “any donation is to honor God.” This was also what she would have devoutly agreed to when still a member of the Church of Christ.
But observers said she had been radicalized by the online discussions of former members of the Church of Christ, and had now now flip-flopped in her views regarding church offerings.
In public conversations and other announcements made by the “Restore the Church” (RTC) movement’s spokesperson Lito De Luna Fruto, he appealed to members of the movement “Restore the Church” and to even INC members to stop making offerings to the INC.
He also instructed his followers to “file a class-action lawsuit against your minister, DM [District Minister] and Finance for swindling.”
But De Luna Fruto and their RTC movement failed to gather enough plaintiffs to file a civil-action lawsuit apparently, as only Lilibeth Rose was the single plaintiff in this case. Another former member of the Church of Christ, going by the name Abby Perkins in online discussions, also claimed that Rose’s case could lead to RICO (Racketeering, Influenced and Corrupt Organizations), FACTA (Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions) and wire fraud charges.
Judge Iaquinto further questioned Rose, asking her to prove, in any case, that offerings of members of the Church of Christ were ever returned. She could not. He continued to explain to her that “pledges given to church for charity” are not returned to the donor.
When asked if she would even accept the monetary equivalent of her offerings from the Resident Minister Brother Steven Inocencio she responded that no, she would not take the money from him. But seeing that Brother Steven Inocencio is exactly whom she filed the claim against, Judge Iaquinto justly responded with “it seems like you just want to get back at the Church.”
The observation of the US Judge also reflected other observations on the intentions of the RTC movement and its members, which was to cause mayhem.
Rose’s handlers among the RTC (Restore the Church) movement have also made no comment on social media regarding the dismissal of her case. Her social media plea, “Don’t ignore me,” originally meant as a scare tactic towards the Administration of the Church of Christ and those involved in this particular legal action, is now falling on deaf ears – as those in her own movement are simply ignoring her, her case, and her loss in the Virginia court system, viewed as an embarrassment, observers noted.
Bro. Steven Inocencio, the minister-defendant in the case said, “This victory, as with all of the recent legal victories of the Iglesia Ni Cristo, here in America as well as the Philippines, reminds us of Isaiah 41:9-10 wherein God’s promise to His Messenger continues until this day to the current Administration that God fulfills His promises – God will never abandon His nation.”
“As members of the Church of Christ make their final preparations for the 2015 Annual Thanksgiving Worship Services around the world – we prepare not only our hymns and services of thanks but also are Annual Thanksgiving Offering. Unlike Lilibeth Rose, there are millions of members around the world who have faithfully set aside their offerings, as instructed by the Bible, on a weekly basis with their heart full of gratitude and generosity. It is this offering and our praises that will be presented to God to thank Him for a truly successful year inside the Iglesia Ni Cristo, Church of Christ,” he continued. (Eagle News US Bureau)