Anti-Mendicancy Law: Missionaries ask for exemption

CEBU, Philippines – Missionaries of the Pentecostal Missionary Church of Christ asked the Cebu City Council (PMCC) to exempt them from some provisions of the city's Anti-Mendicancy Ordinance after they were allegedly prohibited recently from taking gifts from people and from teaching the Gospel.

In their letter to councilor Councilor Rodrigo Abellanosa, chairman of the committee on social services, PMCC President Bro. Steven Lee also asked for the amendment of City Ordinance (CO) 1631 specifically the definition of a 'mendicant' to prevent confusion.

"After having been able to scan over the provisions of CO 1631, I have found out that categorically, we may fall into those classified as mendicants. However, the categories are so vast that they don't include the purpose of preaching and love offering receiving," Lee said.

CO 1631 defines a 'mendicant' as individuals depending on alms for a living or pertaining to a beggar or a member of a religious order forbidden to own property and who must beg for a living.

Lee said that the 'alms' that they take are not ordinary alms but these are what people offer to God. He added that they are not beggars, as some of them are professionals in different fields.

"We clearly say that we do not own anything but we have donated those which we have left to the church and receive our living from our brethren and secondly, from other people," Lee said.

Lee and his fellow missionaries complained that the ordinance have placed them in a compromised situation. The PMCC wants the council to amend the ordinance and allow them to put an offering box of the right size so that people who want to express sympathy may be able to help.

"Therefore, we ask to allow us to continue this life-bound work we are into- the preaching of the Gospel along street corners. Lately, we had been prohibited from taking gifts from people and to preach the gospel. We believe and stand firm that what we have been doing are scriptural, thus we cannot denounce such teaching. We wish to continue to enjoy our freedom of religion and all religious activities alike," Lee said. (FREEMAN)