Bishop: Seeking forgiveness without repentance is hypocrisy

Asking for forgiveness without trying to turn a new leaf is hypocrisy.

A Catholic bishop is unconvinced with the apology of Philippine National Police chief Director General Ronald dela Rosa over the spate of killings in the government’s bloody war against illegal drugs.

Manila auxiliary Bishop Broderick Pabillo stressed that an apology is not enough without genuine repentance on the part of the one making the apology.

“Asking for forgiveness without changing, that is hypocrisy. You ask for forgiveness then you continue killing… If there’s change, there’s no sorry in there. That’s just a word,” he said.

Pabillo, the chair of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines’ Episcopal Commission on the Laity, made the comments in an interview over Church-run Radio Veritas.

It was in apparent reference to Dela Rosa’s apology on Monday over the spate of killings in the past six months as the Duterte administration carried out its war against illegal drugs.

Almost 6,000 suspected criminals, mostly drug pushers, have been killed since July.

Pabillo pointed out that seeking forgiveness won’t be enough, especially for the families who lost their loved ones in the bloody war.TVJ