The presumptive Philippine president-elect has blasted the country’s dominant Roman Catholic church as “the most hypocritical institution” and accused some of its bishops of corruption for allegedly asking favors from politicians, including him. During the campaign, Duterte said he warned Catholics they may go to hell if they voted for him because bishops have criticised him as immoral partly for advocating the killing of criminals.
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“The most hypocritical institution is the Catholic church”.
“Look, were you able to stop me?”
Share with Us – We’d love to hear eyewitness accounts, the history behind an article, and smart, constructive criticism. Without elaborating, he recounted an incident in which church officials “forced” him to use his position as mayor to help them gain land in a residential estate.
A week ago Duterte said killers should get death sentences and those who committed murder and rape together should be hanged.
“Aren’t you ashamed of yourselves, you sons of bitches?”
Last Monday, Duterte met Ziao Jianhua, China’s ambassador to the Philippines, and openly asked that small fishermen be allowed to navigate the disputed reaches. “You have been castigating me, criticizing me”, he said at a press conference on Sunday in his first post-election tirade against Church leaders.
A spokesman for the Catholic Church in the Philippines did not immediately respond to a request for comment. “A lot of ordinary people say it is about time you have to engage (challenge) the Church and its hypocrisy”, Contreras said, adding this was the first time an incoming president had challenged the nation’s religious elite so forcefully.
At the same time, it suggested that Duterte “can also take the option of ordering the release of key peace consultants of the (National Democratic Front of the Philippines) prior to formal resumption of talks, especially those who will be playing a critical role in preparations and actual negotiations”.
“Paying ransom for Canadians would endanger the lives of every single one of the millions of Canadians who live work and travel around the world every single year”, Trudeau said earlier this month.
Duterte caused outrage in the church hierarchy in December after a rambling and obscenity-filled speech cursing Pope Francis. “My countrymen have gone to the dregs”. He wrote, “Judge for yourself if this is the right choice”.
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The report said Duterte described his nine-minute conversation with Trudeau as a “civil” one. He has also espoused the legalisation of divorce and the distribution of contraception, but his remarks do not seem to have deterred Catholic voters.
