[The Wide Shot] Making sense of Iglesia ni Cristo’s rally for peace

The nationwide Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) peace rally on Monday, January 13, brings me again to my first month as a Rappler reporter almost 13 years in the past.

On February 28, 2012, I was assigned to cowl the INC’s Grand Evangelical Mission and Bible Exposition on the Quirino Grandstand in Manila, an iconic venue for presidential inaugurations and different large gatherings within the nation’s capital. 

The INC denied there was something political in regards to the occasion, nevertheless it occurred in the midst of the impeachment trial of then-chief justice Renato Corona, who was accused of failing to reveal as much as $3.8 million in belongings. The trial started on January 16, 2012, and ended together with his conviction and removing from workplace on Could 29, 2012. 

Corona’s lead counsel was the late Serafin Cuevas, a distinguished member of the INC. Different church members additionally supported Corona, who was a Roman Catholic.

Corona’s impeachment was one of many first massive energy strikes by then-president Benigno Aquino III, and to oppose the Corona trial was to oppose the chief govt.

The impeachment trial occurred at a time when Aquino, whom the INC had endorsed within the 2010 presidential election, was falling out of grace amongst INC members.

Whereas Aquino pushed for the prosecution of Cuevas’ shopper Corona, he additionally sacked Nationwide Bureau of Investigation chief Magtanggol Gatdula over an alleged kidnapping and extortion try. Gatdula is a recognized member of the INC. 

Aquino, at the moment, was perceived to have distanced himself from non secular leaders, even these from the Catholic Church who had lengthy been associates with the Aquino household, particularly his mom.

The INC, nevertheless, was cautious to not immediately assault Aquino within the 2012 occasion. 

The occasion “had no specific political references however included speeches citing disobedience to or non-allegiance with INC, in addition to real management,” I wrote again then. 

I nonetheless keep in mind how eagerly I anticipated political fireworks within the occasion, just for my consideration to float away, Bible quote after Bible quote. 

Hungry and thirsty because the occasion ran from 5 to six:30 pm on a Tuesday, I used to be standing on a monobloc chair in a grassy space, holding up my tripod the place my iPhone 4 was mounted. Then I heard a quote and realized it was maybe a message to the President. 

“Ang gusto ng Diyos, nakasulat sa Bibliya: matipon ang tao at pailalim sa isang Pangulo – ang ating Panginoong Hesukristo,” an INC preacher declared. (That is what God needs, in line with the Bible: to collect all folks and place them beneath one Head  – our Lord Jesus Christ.)

Regardless of the INC’s declare it was apolitical, we ended up reporting the occasion of round 100,000 folks at Quirino Grandstand for what it was: a covert present of assist of Corona and a flex of political muscle mass by this Christian church. 

Why?

First, we have to perceive that there are few coincidences in politics — and the identical is true relating to faith, which thrives on the ability of symbols. 

Second, we have to acknowledge that the INC — a small minority of two.8 million members as in contrast with the 85.65 members of the Catholic Church — attracts a lot of its power from politics. 

It’s, in some ways, extra political than the Catholic Church, as a result of they vote as a bloc each election. Politicians give them favors in return, akin to plum positions for INC members. It’s one of many causes why INC has grown into a non secular powerhouse, a far cry from its earlier years when this century-old church was derided as a cult.

So when the INC phases an enormous gathering whereas the nation faces political unrest, the church is sending a message. 

However hardly ever does the INC immediately tackle politicians or present in these rallies that they’re taking sides. It’s, as a rule, couched in a motherhood assertion like “peace.” Or hidden in a play of phrases, the way in which it’s performed by those that examine scripture.

Don’t listen an excessive amount of to the phrases. Relatively, have a look at the throngs of individuals.

Professional-Marcos or pro-Duterte?

The INC’s Nationwide Rally for Peace on January 13 is déjà vu for me, as a result of it is usually taking place on the Quirino Grandstand and is linked to impeachment.

Within the case of this rally, the church shouldn’t be protesting towards President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. or Vice President Sara Duterte, each of whom they supported within the 2022 elections. Relatively, it claims it “helps” Marcos in, uhm, opposing the impeachment of his former ally Duterte. 

However the impeachment complaints towards Duterte are pushed by Marcos allies. So is the INC pro-Marcos or pro-Duterte? Your guess is nearly as good as mine.

However why can’t they be pointblank about supporting Duterte?

The INC, hedging its bets to safeguard its future, finds the necessity to challenge a nonpartisan picture within the Marcos-Duterte feud.

The INC is thought for shifting alliances wherever it’s extra handy.

Keep in mind how, in 2010, the INC first endorsed Manuel Villar Jr. for president, then switched to Aquino a couple of days earlier than elections when the latter was already main presidential surveys?

In 2014, even when Aquino was already getting on their nerves, they nonetheless invited him to the church’s pre-centennial occasion inaugurating the Philippine Enviornment in Bocaue, Bulacan. 

(Ah, however true to type, Aquino couldn’t assist however hit crucial “fellow Christians” through the INC occasion, a veiled reference that absolutely included INC members. It’s the identical president, in spite of everything, who slammed former vp Noli de Castro through the twenty fifth anniversary occasion of TV Patrol.)

Whereas the INC has all the time hesitated to call names of their rallies, I keep in mind one exception: the five-day INC rally from August 27 to 31, 2015, that was first held outdoors the Division of Justice then moved to EDSA nook Shaw Boulevard.

The 2015 rally was towards alleged political persecution beneath then-justice secretary Leila de Lima. I keep in mind their chants towards De Lima at EDSA: “Why, why, why, De Lima?” They even sang a “Joyful Birthday” track for De Lima, whose birthday was the primary day of the rally, in a mocking tone. 

I consider that was an exception as a result of the INC was in the midst of an existential disaster again then, with a Manalo household feud exposing divisions throughout the church. There was no room for “impartiality” when the church’s survival was at stake. 

I keep in mind masking this five-day rally each day, even previous midnight. 

I used to be with different journalists who had not witnessed something like this since EDSA 3, a mobilization in Could 2001 that concerned INC members and sought to topple the federal government of Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

(The post-script was, De Lima ran for senator and gained within the 2016 elections. So one wonders, for the reason that INC campaigned exhausting towards her, is the INC vote for actual, or is it a fantasy? Consultants have lengthy noticed that the INC endorses bets who’re already entrance runners, and solely round three-fourths of members heed their leaders’ recommendation. However that’s one other story.)

Aside from the 2015 rally, the INC has all the time made its political presence felt not by means of direct speech, however by means of heat our bodies. 

Of their peace rally on January 13, the message is obvious: they’re prepared to return out for Sara Duterte… till the subsequent shift in political winds. – Rappler.com

The Huge Shot is a Sunday column on faith and public life. When you have prompt matters or suggestions, tell us within the religion chat room of the Rappler Communities app.