The CBCP made the advisory after receiving reports that a group calling itself “Order of Apostolican Missionaries” has been asking for donations around the city claiming to have a mission house in the city of Malaybalay and a formation house in Cagayan de Oro.
The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) recently shared a letter from the southern Philippine archdiocese of Cagayan de Oro, warning against a supposed “Catholic” group soliciting funds from the public.
In the circular, Archbishop Jose Cabantan clarified that the “Order of Apostolican Missionaries” is not associated with the Roman Catholic Church and may not actually exist.
“It may have carried the name ‘catholic’ but it is not connected with us,” Cabantan wrote.
The archbishop made the advisory after receiving reports that the group has been asking for donations around the city claiming to have a mission house in the city of Malaybalay and a formation house in Cagayan de Oro.
However, the Malaybalay diocese does not recognize the group and said it “does not exist” in the country’s Catholic directory.
Cabantan asks the public to report similar groups or incidents to their office.
On Sunday (February 20), the Catholic Diocese of Naval also publicized a warning against a certain “Bishop Marvyn Maceda, Bishop of San Jose de Antique”.
According to the post, the individual is soliciting for the purchase of a chalice to be used in ordination.
“There is no such ordination and this is a scam,” the diocese warned.
In 2020, the CBCP also raised a warning against scams using the names of bishops to solicit money through text messages supposedly to finance the repair of churches or to purchase sacred vessels allegedly stolen.
“We urge everyone to be vigilant and to take much precaution by double-checking with the bishop concerned or his office/chancery if such request happens,” said Fr. Marvin Mejia, CBCP Secretary-General.
Summary: Donors be warned: certain groups and individuals are scamming people under “Catholic” names.
Tags: #scams, #CatholicChurch, #CatholicBishopsConferenceofthePhilippines