Duterte at it again, says world is better off sans priests

MANILA, Philippines – President Rodrigo Duterte issued yet another sweeping tirade against the Catholic Church, saying that the world would be better off without priests who commit lewd acts.

“To the priests who raped children and fondled balls, you sons of b****** I will really kill you. Bakit ako matakot? If you all get killed tonight, that would be better. Then we will have a better world,” Duterte said Sunday night during the campaign rally of PDP-Laban in Cagayan de Oro City. Duterte also condemned the Catholic Church’s alleged interference in the affairs of the state, which he claimed was prevalent even in other countries.

“All governments in the world, for as long as the Catholic Church interferes with governance, are chaotic. Whether it’s in Chile, South America. As long as there are priests. That has been the case since the olden times,” he added.

The President, who frequently draws flak for publicly mocking members and teachings of the Catholic Church, again lashed out at a priest who wished him ill.

“The priest who held a mass there said, ‘Mamatay po sana si Duterte.’ What kind of religion is that? Roman Catholic Church. You are a god d*** s***. What kind of religion would pray for the death of another person?” he said.

The Catholic Church has earned the President’s ire for criticizing his brutal war on drugs and his tough stance against criminality.

He even asked bystanders to rob and kill bishops in another speaking engagement.

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More than a month later, however, Duterte retracted and asked the public not to take seriously his remarks to kill and steal from bishops and priests.

READ: About-face: Duterte now says ‘Don’t kill bishops, priests’