Senior citizens in Cebu decry Duterte’s remarks vs Church, God

CEBU CITY – A senior citizens group in Cebu has denounced President Rodrigo Duterte’s tirades against the Catholic Church and God, saying it offends religious feelings and emboldens his followers to go after priests and lay people.

Paul del Mundo, interim spokesperson of the Samahang Demokratiko at Kaakbay, called on Filipinos – regardless of religion – to rise up and defend their faith.

“An army of all religions directly or indirectly hit by Duterte’s virulent attack should march shoulder to shoulder and fly the banner of truth. In other countries, blasphemy is punishable by death. It is a crime under the Revised Penal Code known as offending religious feelings,” Del Mundo said in a statement.

“Christians, the cross is your only sword. Shun violence, Duterte’s weapon against poor and defenseless citizens,” he added.

Del Mundo said Mr. Duterte’s attacks against the Catholic Church in particular would encourage followers of the country’s top leader to kill more priests.

“The Catholic Church and other religions value life. Dictators don’t. They prefer death without trial. For Duterte’s regime, drug suspects, mostly poor, are called ‘lowlifes’. No, Mr. Duterte. We are all children of God. Every time, a death squad kills, you leave orphans and widows. Filipinos must uphold the rule of law, not the rule of gun,” he said.

A harsh critic of the Catholic Church, the President earned the ire of religious groups after he ranted about God, even calling Him “stupid.”

Facing an intense backlash over his scathing remarks against the Catholic Church, Mr. Duterte formed a committee to engage the Catholic Church and other religious groups in a dialogue.                        /kga