Duterte tells people to build own chapel to pray, stop going to church

President Rodrigo Duterte. INQUIRER file photo

President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday asked parishioners to just build their own chapel in their houses and stop going to church.

In yet another attack at the Catholic church, Duterte claimed Church teachings are already “archaic.”

“How people from 3, 000 years ago predict or project what is happening today? You build a chapel on your own house and pray there, you don’t have to go to church to pray for these idiots,” Duterte said in his speech during the groundbreaking of the Davao City Bulk Water Supply Project.

The President also accused bishops of asking for government property and that some of them have lovers.

“Kayo ang demonic… Ibang obispo naman (expletive) niya. May mga kabit dyan sa NHA (National Housing Authority) nakatira. (Expletive) kayo. Tapos madman (ako)? Paano ako mag madman may diyos ako,” he said.

On Thursday, Duterte accused a prelate, a certain Bishop David whom he didn’t fully identify, of stealing Church offerings for the benefit of his family.

READ: Duterte: Bishop ‘David’ stealing church offerings

Caloocan Bishop Pablo Virgilio David reacted for being the only “Bishop David” and said that his parents never taught him to steal.

The prelate then took a swipe at the President, saying: “People who are sick sometimes do not know what they are talking about, so we should just bear with them.”

READ: Bishop on Duterte allegation: Let’s bear with people who are sick

The President has been known to mock prelates and the teachings of the Church.

Earlier, he drew widespread criticisms for calling God “stupid,” and for mocking San Isidro Labrador, the patron saint of farmers, as well as the Catholic practice of “assigning” a patron saint to every parish. /kga