This Colombian online preacher has been slammed after he asked devotees to keep donating to his church online during the coronavirus crisis.
Colombian priest Miguel Arrazola, who is reportedly the leader of the church ‘Rios de Vida’ (‘Rivers of Life’) in the Colombian city of Cartagena in the province of Bolivar in the north-eastern part of the city, asked his devotees to continue making donations despite the COVID-19 pandemic.
He sent a message to his devotees on social media saying: “Let’s keep giving our tithes and offerings. Always offer to the Lord.
“You can also find instructions with six or seven different ways to give through chain stores or our bank’s app.”
The social media call has triggered criticism among netizens who complained about the priest worrying about money before the wellbeing of his community during the spread of COVID-19.
Gustavo Bolivar, the leader of the progressive movement ‘Colombia Humana’, criticised Arrazola saying: “There are priests, not all of them, who use their names to swindle and I won’t allow it. Sorry if I damage your business.”
Netizen ‘jcgalvisc’ also wrote: “The Christian church takes people’s salaries by convincing them that is how they will get to heaven.”
Arrazola has seemingly tried to stop the discussion by sharing a list of all the funds that his church has given to charity on social media.
The priest wrote: “They asked us what we do, here you are. How you feel with what you do is not our problem, it is yours with God.”
To find out more about the author, editor or agency that supplied this story – please click below.
Story By: Jonathan Macias, Sub-Editor: Joseph Golder, Agency: Newsflash
The Ananova page is created by and dedicated to professional, independent freelance journalists. It is a place for us to showcase our work. When our news is sold to our media partners, we will include the link here.
