(December 20, 2014 Update Below)
For their Christmas party this year, Christ’s Commission Fellowship Executive Pastor Ricky Sarthou dressed up in traditional Arabic garments. The twist, however, is that strapped to his chest was a mock explosive device.
The Executive Pastor of one of the country’s largest Christian churches chose the outfit for their Church’s party’s theme, “Heroes and Villains.” The photo shown here is a screen-capture of a now-deleted post on Instagram by Ickhoy de Leon, another CCF Pastor. Along with a mock improvised explosive device, Pastor Sarthou can be seen in the photo wearing the traditional Arabic headdress called a keffiyeh.
While the intentions for dressing up in the costume may have been innocent, what message does it send for a high-ranking official in a Christian church to portray a violent stereotype of another religion?
Update (December 20, 2014): On the comments section of this article, a person claiming to relay the words of pastors from the CCF said the following.
“From Pastors Fenix of CCF: Good day everyone, since the post of Filipino Freethinkers has gone viral I would like to encourage everyone to be loving, prayerful & sober–keeping our emotions in check. ptr Ricky has sent a letter of apology to the CCF leadership & staff for going to the party as BIN LADEN. Ickhoy has also sent his letter of apology for posting the original pic on his instagram. I would like encourage everyone not to react or rebutt esp on social media bec that is what FF wants. Have a blessed Christmas.”
What’s new? CCF is full of hypocrisy and scandal.
wala namang masama magsuot ng ganyan costume lang naman wag molang yan dadalhin sa airport hahaha tao lang naman yan nagkakamali ika nga sa mata ng iba,ang masakit lang pag nangangaral nayang mga yan akala mo kung sinong banal na di makabasag pinggan ,yung pinapangaral nila sila mismo ang lumalabag .
Wow! You’re feasting on a pastor who dressed up like Osama Bin Laden (a specific person who just happened to be an Arab) in (private) party. When some of you mockingly dressed as catholic bishops in one of your pro-RHA Bill rallies (public). I’m going to spit back to you what one of you commented, “PRACTICE WHAT YOU PREACH BROTHERS”. you freethinking hypicrites.
*hypocrites
I agree with this comment. How can you write this article and criticize this pastor when you also mock the important figures of another religion (Catholics)?
so the freethinkers are not “thinking freely” or just not “thinking” when they do that.