CBCP official urges Filipinos to pray for Duterte

November 3, 2018

A high-ranking official of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) called on the faithful Saturday to offer their prayers for President Rodrigo Duterte, whom he described as a “very sick man”.

In a Facebook post, Caloocan Bishop Pablo David, who is CBCP vice president, reminded Catholics how they should deal with “sick people”.

“Please remember, Jesus taught us to be merciful when dealing with sick people. I think it should obvious to people by now that our country is being led by a very sick man,” said David.

“We pray for him. We pray for our country,” he furthered.

Speaking at a briefing on the effects of Typhoon "Rosita" in Isabela, Duterte questioned the Catholic practice of observing All Saints’ Day when people don’t even know the saints, whom he described as  stupid and drunkards.

Duterte said Filipinos should get his picture and put it on the altar since he is “Santo Rodrigo”.

Pablo said he does not find anything unusual in holy people getting mocked.

Among them, he said, are St. John the Baptist, the Apostles, and even Jesus himself.

“There’s nothing new about our saints being called ‘fools and drunkards’,” the bishop said.

“To be a Christian is to be ready to be branded as a ‘fool for Christ’,” added David. DMS