Church asks Pacquiao to be 'bible ambassador'

[Dale_M]

The influential Catholic church in the Philippines said Monday it had asked boxing superstar Manny Pacquiao to follow in the footsteps of NFL hero Tim Tebow and become a “bible ambassador”.

Bishop Pablo Virgilio David, who presides over the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines’ (CBCP) bible ministry, said church leaders had approached Pacquiao with the idea, but received no feedback from the 32-year-old fighter.

news.yahoo.com/church-asks-pacquiao-bible-ambassador-184219608.html;_ylt=AvXEz6Ox5f4v_KsFouXCteo7Xs8F;_ylu=X3oDMTQ0MWUwZ2k0BG1pdANUb3BTdG9yeSBVU1NGIFJlbGlnaW9uU1NGBHBrZwMwNTE1ZmUyOC02MTNjLTM5N2UtYWMwMS00N2ZhNjRmNDExZDIEcG9zAzEwBHNlYwN0b3Bfc3RvcnkEdmVyAzY4ZWVmMDMwLTRiNzItMTFlMS1iYTJiLTc3NjgwZDk1MDJiMA–;_ylg=X3oDMTF2Y2VzZTFkBGludGwDdXMEbGFuZwNlbi11cwRwc3RhaWQDBHBzdGNhdAN1c3xyZWxpZ2lvbgRwdANzZWN0aW9ucwR0ZXN0Aw–;_ylv=3

It might be good to use Pacquiao’s star power to this end. However, wasn’t there talk of him converting to an evangelical church?

I worry that this public request could backfire on the Catholic Church if he not only declines, but then leaves for a rival.

 

[ringil]

I like Pacquiao a lot. I don’t really pay attention to Tebow as he is an Evangelical Protestant.

 

[ConstantineTG]

I like Pacquiao a lot. I don’t really pay attention to Tebow as he is an Evangelical Protestant.

Tebow is a Baptist.

Pacquiao, sadly, is also now under the influence of a couple of Evangelical preachers. He is said to be “Born Again”.

 

[ringil]

Tebow is a Baptist.

Pacquiao, sadly, is also now under the influence of a couple of Evangelical preachers. He is said to be “Born Again”.

Doesn’t sound good. . . . . I wish Evangelicals would keep their mitts off of Catholics.

 

[ConstantineTG]

I don’t know why this surprised anyone. I forgot which fight, but it was from a year or two ago when there was this Protestant pastor who “prayed over” Pacquiao before a fight. Although I did give Manny the benefit of the doubt back then, he’s extremely popular in the Philippines and if a Protestant pastor asked him if he can do this I would think he would say yes. But indeed is did sound an alarm bell with me that he was slowly slipping away from the Catholic faith.

 

[onlybygrace]

As far as I know, Manny is pure Catholic, with the rosary and all at his neck before fights.

 

[Santi2]

I don’t know why this surprised anyone. I forgot which fight, but it was from a year or two ago when there was this Protestant pastor who “prayed over” Pacquiao before a fight. Although I did give Manny the benefit of the doubt back then, he’s extremely popular in the Philippines and if a Protestant pastor asked him if he can do this I would think he would say yes. But indeed is did sound an alarm bell with me that he was slowly slipping away from the Catholic faith.

Odd. Especially after having been named as one of Ten Amazing Young Catholics last year.

6. Manny Pacquiao

Boxing idol and politician Manny Pacquiao of the Philippines is leading many boxing fans to the Catholic faith by his example.

Manny is 32 but has been a pro boxer since the age of 16. The eight-division world champion who has won 10 world titles is a committed Catholic who frequently acknowledges that his sporting achievements are blessings from God.

Before each boxing match he kneels in prayer, asking for the grace that he needs to win the fight. After each bout, he organises a Mass of thanksgiving, thanking God that neither he nor his opponent have been harmed.

Manny grew up in grinding poverty and his pious mother thought he would become a priest. He chose to get married and have a family. When he is not in the ring he devotes himself to helping the poor in his home country.

In his own neighbourhood he has given financial help to hundreds of local children so that they could make it through school. Manny was elected as a member of the Filipino parliament in 2010 and has fought against the controversial Reproductive Health Bill, which if introduced would mean that health practitioners in the Philippines would encourage the use of condoms and contraceptives. He supports the Church hierarchy in its opposition to contraception and has also opposed a bill to legalise divorce.

Manny has been pilloried by his more liberal political colleagues, but he maintains that marriage is an institution that should not be violated by lawmakers and that better marriage preparation must be provided instead.

catholicherald.co.uk/features/2011/08/25/meet-ten-amazing-young-catholics/

 

[ringil]

Well if Manny keeps this up I’ve lost a great deal of respect for him.

Maybe he needs a call from his Bishop.

 

[Dale_M]

Well if Manny keeps this up I’ve lost a great deal of respect for him.

Maybe he needs a call from his Bishop.

The offer for him to become a “Bible Ambassador” may be an attempt to increase his commitment to the Catholic Church.

 

[ringil]

The offer for him to become a “Bible Ambassador” may be an attempt to increase his commitment to the Catholic Church.

Lets, hope. He’s a good guy and a good role model, though if I had a son, I wouldn’t let him box due to risk of head injury.

But still, Manny seems like a great guy and it would be a shame to lose him.

You know it’s funny. I can take it if a Catholic joins the Orthodox but to think of a Catholic leaving for Protestantism just makes me so .

 

[Gorillaman]

How could he forget wat got him there!? Let me explain something to you…I’ve stepped in the ring several times…and man, to bless yourself really helps…to pray a decade while waitin really helps…the catholic church is perfect for fighters…no surprise to me that this is happening now that his fighting career is winding down…come on PAC man…pay attention to all of it…your spirituality AND your biology, your mind AND your heart…

 

[archangel04]

How could he forget wat got him there!? Let me explain something to you…I’ve stepped in the ring several times…and man, to bless yourself really helps…to pray a decade while waitin really helps…the catholic church is perfect for fighters…no surprise to me that this is happening now that his fighting career is winding down…come on PAC man…pay attention to all of it…your spirituality AND your biology, your mind AND your heart…

It’s perfect for fighters because many of her sons have been great fighters and warriors through out history. If the Church could preach more on spiritual combat many of her men would actually man up instead of being the guy who goes to church just because the wife makes him.

Pac-man is one of my favorite fighters. The guy has won many Mexican fans, which is very rare because Mexicans are very loyal to their fighter, if you don’t believe me, watch the old fight De la Hoya vs Chavez. I hope Pac-man sticks to the true church.

 

[TempleofTheSoul]

Everyone can relax. In tweets written by Eduardo Verastegui (one of the actors of For Greater Glory and plays the part of the Blessed Anacleto) he posted on twitter how Pacquiao has mass said before every fight. Mr. Verastegui even posted a pic of the priest celebrating the mass before a fight.

Even though the tweets are in Spanish… I will translate them.

In Spanish Verastegui says…

“Misa con el P. Marlon, Mandalay Arena antes de empezar la pelea del campeón del mundo, Many Pacquiao” (This is the one with the photo of the priest celebrating mass)

English translation… “Mass with Father Marlon, Mandalay Arena before the start of the fight of the champion of the world, Many Pacquiao.”

Another tweet… Spanish first…

“Many Pacquiao es católico y tiene la tradición de hacer misa antes y después de cada pelea, el campeón da gracias y pide por su contrincante”

English translation… " Many Pacquiao is Catholic and has the habit of having mass before and after each fight, the champion gives thanks and prays for his opponent."

If you want to follow Eduardo Verastegui’s tweets justs go to www.twitter.com/verastegui777

He often posts in Spanish behind the scenes info on for Greater Glory and himself is a devoted Catholic.

You can all say phew! now LOL

God bless

 

[Tonks40]

Everyone can relax. In tweets written by Eduardo Verastegui (one of the actors of For Greater Glory and plays the part of the Blessed Anacleto) he posted on twitter how Pacquiao has mass said before every fight. Mr. Verastegui even posted a pic of the priest celebrating the mass before a fight.

Even though the tweets are in Spanish… I will translate them.

In Spanish Verastegui says…

“Misa con el P. Marlon, Mandalay Arena antes de empezar la pelea del campeón del mundo, Many Pacquiao” (This is the one with the photo of the priest celebrating mass)

English translation… “Mass with Father Marlon, Mandalay Arena before the start of the fight of the champion of the world, Many Pacquiao.”

Another tweet… Spanish first…

“Many Pacquiao es católico y tiene la tradición de hacer misa antes y después de cada pelea, el campeón da gracias y pide por su contrincante”

English translation… " Many Pacquiao is Catholic and has the habit of having mass before and after each fight, the champion gives thanks and prays for his opponent."

If you want to follow Eduardo Verastegui’s tweets justs go to www.twitter.com/verastegui777

He often posts in Spanish behind the scenes info on for Greater Glory and himself is a devoted Catholic.

You can all say phew! now LOL

God bless

A friend of mine who hung out with the Pacquiao camp prior to this weekend’s fight has verified that this is the case, also, in regards to Mass. However, he has also verified that a prayer service that Pacquiao participated in was conducted by a non-denominational preacher a couple of days prior to the fight. Maybe he’s trying to be ecumenical?

 

[TempleofTheSoul]

A friend of mine who hung out with the Pacquiao camp prior to this weekend’s fight has verified that this is the case, also, in regards to Mass. However, he has also verified that a prayer service that Pacquiao participated in was conducted by a non-denominational preacher a couple of days prior to the fight. Maybe he’s trying to be ecumenical?

That could be the case. The Christian faith regardless of denomination is under heavy attack from all sides and solidarity as Christians on the basics will help us unite together when defending Christian values together.

I don’t think that Manny will jump ship any time soon to go to the Protestant side. That’s just my gut feeling about it. I could be wrong…but I doubt it.

God bless

 

[Gorillaman]

It’s perfect for fighters because many of her sons have been great fighters and warriors through out history. If the Church could preach more on spiritual combat many of her men would actually man up instead of being the guy who goes to church just because the wife makes him.

Pac-man is one of my favorite fighters. The guy has won many Mexican fans, which is very rare because Mexicans are very loyal to their fighter, if you don’t believe me, watch the old fight De la Hoya vs Chavez. I hope Pac-man sticks to the true church.

I’m one of those Mexican fans! Except when he’s fighting a Mexicano…haha! But you get EXACTLY what I’m talking about with the rituals and how the mother mary and blessing yourself helps you get over those nerves…last fight I went straight to the church before it all happened Hesse happy to bless me. I won haha.