Leading bishops of the Catholic Church criticized President Rodrigo Duterte for calling God stupid, as they issued rare statements that singled out the chief executive who now faces rising public outrage. How can he be a President for all Filipinos if he does not have respect for the Catholic faithful? Asled Caloocan Bishop Pablo Virgilio David in a Facebook post on Monday, June 25. Like David, Lingayen-Dagupan His Grace Archbishop Socrates Villegas also issued a stinging message criticizing Duterte on June 25.
As reported by rappler.com, His Excellency Bishop David remarked that “Most of his(President) supporters are Catholics, right? Catholics will respect him even if he does not agree with the Catholic faith. But disagreement is not a license to insult. Catholics respect the duties of the President, and his mandate as President. I hope he also respects Catholics even if he does not agree with the doctrines of Catholics.” In his message, His Grace Archbishop Villegas urged the youth of the Archdiocese of Lingayen-Dagupan to “be firm in the faith” in the face of Duterte’s tirades. Archbishop Villegas said, “Through social media, you have been sadly exposed to the cursing, threats and shaming by the President of our country. Choose to love him nevertheless, but stay in the truth of our faith. Be firm in faith.”
His Grace Bishop David issued this statement after Duterte on Friday, June 22, called God stupid and mocked the Bible’s creation story. Referring to the forbidden fruit eaten by Adam in the Bible, Duterte said, “That son of a bitch is really stupid if that is the case.”
Source: www.rappler.com
