INC minister resigns

MANILA, Philippines - A minister of the Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) in the United States resigned from his post over the disunity now plaguing the religious sect.

A YouTube video that came out the past weekend showed INC minister Louie Cayabyab of Fremont, California, explaining to his congregation that he could not force himself to read circulars expelling members of the church.

“The first circular is about the expulsion, from the church, of the wife and children of Bro. Eraño G. Manalo. And another circular is the expulsion, from the church of Bro. Isaias T. Samson Jr., editor-in-chief of Pasugo. I decided, brethren, that I won’t read those circulars. You might be asking, ‘why?’ Because in my heart, in my heart of hearts, I can’t take it. It is just so difficult to betray one’s heart,” Cayabyab said.

The INC expelled Cristina “Tenny” Villanueva Manalo and Felix Nathaniel “Angel” Manalo, the mother and brother of current executive minister Eduardo V. Manalo, for allegedly sowing division in the fourth largest religious group in the country.

Tenny and Angel appeared in a YouTube video Wednesday night and said that their lives were in danger. Also expelled were Angel’s siblings Marco Eraño and Lolita “Lottie” Manalo Hemedez.

Cayabyab said he knew the consequences of relinquishing his post and refusing the circulars about the expulsion of church members.

Cayabyab was previously assigned to the INC chapters in Washington, Temple Hills, Maryland, Northern Virginia, Virginia, Baltimore, Maryland, Elizabeth, New Jersey, Central New Jersey, Staten Island, New York, Virginia Beach, Virginia, and Livermore, Northern California.