杏MAP导航

By Robin Gomes

The Apostolic Nunciature in the Philippine capital Manila has alerted the country鈥檚 bishops against a certain Cristian Eduardo Tietze who is falsely claiming to be close to 杏MAP导航 Francis and Vatican officials. Tietze introduces himself as president of the 鈥淧eace for Life Foundation鈥�.

In a May-22 circular letter to bishops and diocesan administrators, Father Marvin Mejia, the Secretary General of the Catholic Bishops鈥� Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), said that Monsignor Julien Kaboré, chargé d鈥檃ffaires of the Apostolic Nunciature in Manila, has written to CBCP President, Archbishop Romulo Valles of Davao, warning dioceses and religious communities against Tietze.

Father Mejia warned that the person is 鈥渃laiming to be close to the Holy Father and to the Holy See鈥�.

鈥淗aving learned about this questionable person鈥�, Father Mejia wrote, the Vatican Secretariat of State 鈥渆ncourages all concerned to use maximum prudence in dealing with persons and groups when mention is made of the name of the pope and other curia officials鈥�.

Several Philippine church leaders have warned the public in the past against a scheme that uses the name of bishops to solicit money from people and church institutions.

In recent weeks, reports surfaced of scammers targeting Catholics amid the Covid-19 pandemic.

The Catholic Church of the Philippines has asked the faithful not to send cash donations without verifying with their diocesan chanceries.

Bishop Pablo Virgilio David of Kalookan, Bishop Alberto Uy of Tagbilaran, and Cardinal Orlando Quevedo, Archbishop Emeritus of Cotabato have reportedly alerted the faithful regarding the scam.