Tagum Archdiocese Issues Clarification on Unauthorized Donation Solicitors
The Archdiocese of Tagum has formally acknowledged communication from the Simbahang Catolico Pilipino-Missionaries while clarifying a recent public advisory regarding unauthorized donation solicitation activities. In a rectification statement, the Archdiocese emphasized that this independent group is not affiliated with the Roman Catholic Diocese of Tagum.
"They are not priests of the Catholic Church, nor are they claiming or pretending to be priests of the Church," the Archdiocese stated clearly. This clarification comes amid growing concerns about individuals misrepresenting themselves as religious personnel to solicit funds from the public.
Original Warning About Impersonators
Earlier this month, the Archdiocese had issued a warning to residents about individuals posing as priests, seminarians, and altar servers to solicit donations in public spaces. The Diocese has not authorized any priests, seminarians, altar servers, or church personnel to conduct solicitation or fundraising activities in public places such as terminals, streets, or other similar areas, the church declared in its March 8 statement.
Church officials reported receiving multiple accounts of people approaching stores, passengers, and bystanders at the Tagum Overland Transport Integrated Terminal around 4 p.m., requesting financial assistance while claiming religious affiliation.
Public Safety Recommendations
The Archdiocese has urged community members to exercise heightened caution and verify the legitimacy of anyone claiming to represent the Catholic Church. "We continue to encourage everyone to exercise prudence and discernment when approached for donations by individuals claiming religious affiliation," the church emphasized in its updated statement.
Legitimate fundraising or charitable activities within the Catholic Church are exclusively coordinated through official parish channels and formally announced by the Diocese. The Archdiocese has specifically advised:
- Refrain from giving donations to suspicious solicitors
- Report any concerning incidents to local authorities or the Archdiocese directly
- Help spread awareness of this advisory within the community
"We kindly ask everyone to help spread this advisory so that more members of the community may be informed and guided accordingly," the statement concluded.
Government Support and Independent Church Response
The City Government of Tagum has reinforced this warning through its official Facebook platform, calling on residents to remain vigilant and report any individuals falsely claiming to be Church personnel. This coordinated effort between religious and civic authorities underscores the seriousness of the situation.
In response to the Archdiocese's advisory, the Simbahang Catolico Pilipino-Missionaries—an independent Catholic Church—has strongly denied the accusations. The group commented directly on the Archdiocese's social media post, asserting they are not scammers and do not utilize the Roman Catholic Church's name in their activities.
The independent church expressed concern that the public advisory amounted to public shaming of a smaller religious organization. "We hope that you have a strong basis for calling us scammers; otherwise, you are only showing no respect for those of us who belong to the Independent Catholic Church," the group stated in a mixture of English and Cebuano.
Furthermore, the Simbahang Catolico Pilipino-Missionaries emphasized that independent churches throughout the Davao Region deserve proper recognition and respect within the broader religious community. This exchange highlights ongoing tensions between established diocesan structures and independent Catholic movements in the Philippines.
