Jump to content

Eli Soriano

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Wikiuserphil (talk | contribs) at 16:35, 18 June 2008 (rvv). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

Eliseo "Eli" Soriano
File:Eli soriano philweb-nov-2005.jpg
Soriano at the 8th Philippine web awards
Born (1947-04-04) April 4, 1947 (age 77)
Pasay City, Metro Manila, Philippines
Occupation(s)Televangelist; Businessman
Spouse(s)None; Bachelor
ParentTriunfo Soriano
Catalina Fernando
Websitehttp://www.broeli.com/bio.php

http://angdatingdaan.org/

http://esoriano.wordpress.com

Eliseo Fernando Soriano (born April 4, 1947), a controversial Filipino evangelist, is presiding minister of the Philippines-based Members Church of God International. He is known as Bro. Eli in the Congregation he leads, and through his radio and television programs Ang Dating Daan (The Old Path), Ask Soriano, Bible Guide and Truth in Focus. Soriano is known for criticizing various other religious groups for doctrines and practices he considers to be against biblical truths. Soriano and his followers claim him to be the Pantas (Wise man) according to Daniel 12:9-10 who would understand the bible in the last days. This is exhibited in his program "Itanong mo kay Soriano (Ask Soriano)" where he claims to be able to answer all kinds of Bible questions similar to the self-styled "Bible Answer Man", Hank Hanegraff.

Biography

Soriano was born to Triunfo Soriano and Catalina Fernando in Pasay City and is the seventh of eight children. He grew up in Pampanga. He was shy as a child and started school at the age of eight.

Soriano then dropped out of high school three months before graduation to devote his life to study the bible.[1] On April 7, 1964, three days after his 17th birthday, Eliseo was baptised in Seneguelasan, Bacoor, Cavite, and became an official member of the Iglesia ng Dios kay Kristo Hesus, Haligi at Suhay ng Katotohanan (Church of God in Christ Jesus, Pillar and Support of the Truth in English) founded by Nicholas Perez where his parents are also members.

In 1969, Nicolas Perez, who was then the church’s presiding minister, bestowed upon Soriano the title minister making him the only minister in the Iglesia ng Dios kay Kristo Hesus, Haligi at Suhay ng Katotohanan at that time. Rumor then was circulating that Soriano would become the successor of Perez. After the death of Nicholas Perez however in 1975, a woman by the name of Levita Gugulan was appointed as presiding minister of the group. Soriano initially accepted the appointment of Gugulan but subsequently denounced her leadership stating that women should not be leaders of the church according to the bible.[2] When Soriano voluntarily left the group, he was excommunicated by the group of Gugulan.

In 1977, Soriano registered a new group, called Iglesia ng Dios kay Kristo Hesus, Haligi at Saligan ng Katotohanan(Church of God in Christ Jesus, Pillar and Ground of Truth in English), which was later changed to Mga Kaanib sa Iglesia ng Dios kay Kristo Hesus, Haligi at Saligan ng Katotohanan sa Bansang Pilipinas, Inc. (Members Church of God in Christ Jesus, Pillar and Ground of Truth, Philippines, Inc in English).

Because of the similarity between the name used by Gugulan’s group and Soriano's group, the former filed a suit, which was resolved by the Supreme Court of the Philippines in 2001 in favor of Gugulan's group and Soriano's group was ordered to change its church's name not similar to Gugulan's.[3]Soriano changed his church name to Bayan ng Katotohanan (City of Truth Inc. in English) and later to Iglesia Ni YHWH at ni YHWSA HMSYH Inc.(Church of YHWH and YHWSA HMSYH Inc. in English). In 2004 Soriano registered and used the name Members Church of God International.

Soriano started his first radio broadcast in 1980 and TV program Ang Dating Daan in 1983.


Charities

For almost two decades Soriano has maintained the ADD Foundation key charities for the widowed, disabled, neglected and fatherless. He established a charitable organization named "Bro. Eli and Bro. Daniel Foundation" to help the poor people in his country. [4]

Senate candidacy and subsequent disqualification

Soriano was declared a nuisance candidate and disqualified by the En Banc Comelec (Commission On Elections) on January 17, 2004 when he stood for a position of senator.[5] Soriano was running as an independent candidate.[6]

Rape case

Soriano was placed on the Bureau of Immigration watchlist on November 11, 2005) on charges of rape [7] filed by Daniel Veridiano, a former Communications and IT department head of Ang Dating Daan who later joined Iglesia ni Cristo. Macabebe Regional Trial Court Judge Manuel Siyangco issued the warrant of arrest. The charge was dismissed but was later refiled in a higher court by the country’s Department of Justice Secretary, Raul Gonzales, who is not in anyway involved with the case.[8] Soriano has denied the rape allegation, saying Veridiano was retaliating after he was expelled from Ang Dating Daan in August 2005 after complaints of misappropriation of church funds and that Veridiano sexually molested 14 staff members.[9]On May 3, 2006, in a 5-page resolution, Pampanga acting provincial prosecutor Jaime Umpa recommended the filing of rape case against Ang Dating Daan leader Eliseo Soriano and allowed him to post a P400,000 bail bond (P200,000 for each count).[10]

Criticisms

Soriano's manner of preaching is a target of criticism. He swears and is fond of criticizing his religious opponents that he call false prophets in his programs.

In 2005, MTRCB banned Soriano's programs because of statements made by Soriano against the Iglesia ni Cristo, the Arroyo government, and the MTRCB. He was prohibited from uttering libelous and defamatory statements against INC. Soriano had used terms like iglesiang pumapatay ng kapwa tao (church who murders) and iglesia ni Manalo (church of Manalo) to malign the INC in his programs.[11] Soriano protested the ban claiming the MTRCB had violated his freedom of religion and speech. The Commission on Human Rights ruled that MTRCB overstepped its authority by banning Soriano's TV programs in 2005.

As a result of Soriano's frequent attacks on the Iglesia ni Cristo, INC launched a TV program, Ang Tamang Daan, to counter Soriano's criticism of INC's teachings and practices and to expose what they say are Soriano's false teachings and contradictions on the show. To insult and malign Soriano, The INC hosts would often refer to him as manloloko (deceiver), dayukdok (ravenous), mandarambong (plunderer), mangongotong (extortioner), manghohostage (hostage taker) and the like. This has sparked a feud between Soriano and the Iglesia ni Cristo.

In 2005, Soriano sought the court to issue an injunction against the Iglesia ni Cristo for showing video and audio clips of him allegedly disparaging Muslims, Muhammad and Islam on their program to incite the Muslims to attack Soriano's church headquarter. Soriano maintained that the clips had been fabricated. Soriano is said to have called Muhammad crazy and the Muslims antichrists, demonic, beheaders and killers in the said clips. According to Soriano, a grenade was thrown on November 21, 2003, at their Church coordinating center which, luckily, did not detonate. The Court of Appeals however, dismissed the case for lack of jurisdiction.[12]

As a consequence, Two Muslim groups sued Soriano for libel seeking an amount of P1.25 billion in damages. Soriano explained that his discussion about Islam was honest and didn't intend to insult their faith.

In an attempt to end the conflict between the two groups, Soriano challenged the INC executive minister to a one-on-one debate on TV on March 27, 2005 to once and for all end the dispute between the two groups and prove who is telling the truth. The Iglesia ni Cristo hosts responded to Soriano's challenge on their program by asking him to debate first with Pope John Paul II who was bedridden at that time and died a few days later.

In 2003, Soriano was targeted in a smear campaign in a series of comics which depicted him negatively. The author and publisher were never identified but the Ang Dating Daan program accused the INC of making the comics. As a result, the INC hosts sued Soriano for libel in 2003. In October 2007, The Court of Appeals dismissed Soriano's appeal to stop the trial of libel suit filed by INC ministers.[13]

References

  1. ^ Eli Soriano Biography
  2. ^ Does a Woman have the Right to Preach in the Church of God?
  3. ^ G.R. No. 137592
  4. ^ Soriano and Razon Foundation
  5. ^ Comelec Res. 6558
  6. ^ Ghosts of 2004 Elections: Eliseo Soriano, a Nuisance Candidate
  7. ^ ABS-CBN Interactive, Soriano placed on Watchlist
  8. ^ Robert Clarita's blog comment
  9. ^ Daniel Veridiano Confession
  10. ^ manilastandardtoday.com, ‘Dating Daan’ leader charged with sodomy
  11. ^ INC against free press?
  12. ^ Supreme Court dismisses case
  13. ^ Appeal Court denies Soriano’s plea to stop libel case

Critical

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Eli_Soriano&oldid=220170313"