Catholic bishops criticize Duterte on his latest attack on prelates

December 6, 2018

Officials of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) on Thursday lashed back at President Duterte after his latest attacks against Church leaders.

In separate statements, Commission on the Laity chairman Bishop Broderick Pabillo, Commission on Migrants and Itinerant People Chairman Bishop Ruperto Santos, and Commission on Mission chairman Bishop Arturo Bastes criticized Duterte for calling on the people to kill their prelates.

“I hope he is joking or he is really out of his mind. Any leader who asks others be killed, not even bishops, is no leader at all. He is instigating people to go against the law. Is this not a work of an destabilizer  against the social order?” said Pabillo.

“This is a very heartless statement, very harmful to all. Not only attacking the Church but dividing our country and showing that there is only hatred in his heart. His statement disgraced himself and disappointment to all God fearing citizens of our country,” said Santos.

“This is worrisome coming from a psychotic mind! He is sick and a megalomaniac. This should no longer be taken as joke! He is really a murderous mad man!” said Bastes.

CBCP Vice President Bishop Pablo David said Duterte’s call is no longer new considering the Church’s history.

“We have already faced quite a lot of persecutions in the past two thousand years of Church history. We always respond the way Jesus would,” said the Kalookan bishop.

David, who has been the centerpiece of Duterte’s latest tirades against prelates, quoted a Bible passage as to how the Church responds to threats.

“Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. To the person who strikes you on one cheek, offer the other one as well,” David quoted Luke 6:27-36. DMS