After Duterte's 'stupid God' remark, CBCP says open to dialogue | ABS-CBN

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After Duterte's 'stupid God' remark, CBCP says open to dialogue

After Duterte's 'stupid God' remark, CBCP says open to dialogue

Erik Tenedero,

ABS-CBN News

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President Rodrigo Roa Duterte, in his speech during the National Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Summit 2018 at the SMX Convention Center in Lanang, Davao City on June 22, 2018, reiterates that his campaign in eliminating corruption in government remains unrelenting. Also in the photo are Information and Communications Technology Undersecretary Eliseo Rio Jr. and Sec. Bong Go of the Office of the Special Assistant to the President. Robinson Ninal, Malacanang Photo

MANILA - The Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) is open to a dialogue with President Rodrigo Duterte amid the latter's latest tirades against the Catholic Church.

This, after Malacañang announced that the president has formed a committee to hold a dialogue with Church leaders.

In an interview with Radio Veritas, CBCP President Davao Archbishop Romulo Valles said the move was a welcome development and that dialogue is key to better understanding.

"That is most welcome development. To dialogue, to listen to one another, is always good," the prelate said.

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Meanwhile, Former CBCP president and Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma said the president's recent attacks against the Church could be part of the bishops' agenda in their upcoming meeting in July.

The archbishop added that they must carefully study how to respond to the president's tirades, which targeted not only the clergy, but even God.

"Sa isang dako, all of us dapat naman magtanong to what extent yung sinasabi niya. Dapat katulong 'yung reflection. Hindi naman ma-deny na mayroon din tayong kahinaan. Ang Simbahan ay mayroon din mga nagagawa na sabihin nga natin na medyo lihis din sa ating tawag sa ating tungkulin," Palma said.

[On the other hand, we should also ask ourselves regarding what the president have been saying. We must also reflect. We cannot deny that we have our own weaknesses. The Church also did things that are against our call of duty.]

Duterte on Monday defended his controversial remark calling God “stupid”, saying it is “true.”

Duterte has drawn flak after saying he found fault in the creation story in the Bible and questioned God's logic, saying He is "stupid."

The President questioned why the Catholic God created “something perfect” only to “destroy” it later with the original sin committed by Adam and Eve.

“Totoo naman (that’s true),” Duterte said of his controversial comment in his speech during the oath-taking of newly elected Northern Mindanao barangay captains in Cagayan de Oro.

The President, who was born and raised as a Catholic, claimed that he was not referring to his own god when he labelled God as stupid.

CLASH WITH CHURCH

For his part, Manila Auxilliary Bishop Broderick Pabillo expressed his doubts on the president's sincerity in calling for a dialogue.

"Palusot lang iyan para ma-diffuse ang criticism sa kanya," the bishop said.

[It's just his way of diffusing the criticisms against him.]

The former Davao City mayor has accused the Church of being the most hypocritical institution.

Meanwhile, several members of the clergy, including Villegas, have denounced the administration's bloody war against illegal drugs. The Duterte administration insisted that it does not condone killings.

But recently, the administration was once again criticized by members of the Church after the death of three Catholic priests in a span of six months.

Malacañang has denied that the president is persecuting priests.

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