‘Those who are disgusted with Church are trolls’ — Alejano
Magdalo Rep. Gary Alejano. INQUIRER.net file photo / Ryan Leagogo
JARO, Iloilo — Magdalo Rep. Gary Alejano took a swipe at President Rodrigo Duterte for his scathing remarks on the clergy.
This while he defended the Catholic Church, saying people should not zero in on shortcomings of priests but focus their faith on God.
“Hindi ka pumupunta sa simabahan dahil sa pari, pumupunta ka do’n para sa Diyos. Instrumento lamang ang mga pari. Kasi kung tumitingin tayo sa mga pari, ibig sabihin ay napaka-babaw ng ating pananampalataya sa Diyos,” Alejano said.
“Alam niyo ‘yong mga naiinis (sa simbahan), troll ‘yon, sa tingin ko lang. Dapat kung tayo’y nananampalataya sa Diyos, alam natin na ang pari ay hindi perpekto,” he added.
Alejano, along with other senatorial opposition candidates under “Otso Diretso,” met with Jaro Archbishop Jose Romeo Lazo on Friday, following several town hall meetings in Capiz on Thursday.
Emerging from the meeting, Alejano was asked if an endorsement of the Church could negatively affect their candidacy in the wake of Duterte’s tirades on the Catholic faith.
“So sa tingin ko naman, ang mga Pilipino ay naiintindihan ‘yan. At kung tayo ay nagpapadala sa mga pagmumura, paninira ay hindi tayo Kristyano. Ang Kristyano ay dapat tumatayo sa alam nilang tama,” Alejano answered.
Duterte has recently ramped up his criticisms against the Church, even challenging the clergy that if they refute revelations in the book “Altar of Secrets” he would be willing to nail himself on the cross during Holy Week.
He also urged bystanders to “feel free” to rob and kill moneyed bishops. For Duterte, bishops have no use in the society.
Alejano said that amid Duterte’s attacks on the Church, Lazo never asked them for assistance during their meeting. He then belittled Duterte challenge to the clergy, saying it cannot topple the Church, which has been in existence for over 2,000 years.
“Matibay naman ang simbahan. Sabi ni Bishop Lazo na hindi kailangang patulan ang Presidente sa kanyang mga sinasabi dahil sila ay naniniwala naman na dumaan ang simbahan dyan sa mga ganung klase atake before hanggang ngayon,” the lawmaker said.
“Eh nag-survive pa rin ang simbahan, so hindi po sila nababahala,” he added. /kga
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