Duterte vows to expose Church abuses

President-elect Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday blasted anew the Catholic Church for being a hypocritical institution and said he could serve his office exposing and attacking abusive priests throughout his six-year term. Marc Jayson Cayabyab/INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

DAVAO CITY, Philippines—President-elect Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday blasted anew the Catholic Church for being a hypocritical institution and said he could serve his office exposing and attacking abusive priests throughout his six-year term.

During his press conference at the presidential guesthouse on Thursday night, Duterte not only hit corruption within the media but also the hypocrisy in the church led by priests who abuse children while pretending to be the models of morality.

READ: Duterte slams Church as hypocritical institution

Duterte mentioned the bishops who were given luxury cars as charity by the state lottery and abusive priests who molest seminarians or children even as they lead their confession.

“Luxury cars for charity, mga bishops isa pang mga p***** ina (bishops who are sons of b******). What a hypocrite society,” Duterte, fuming with rage, said in his press briefing.

Duterte lashed at the Church for urging the Catholics not to vote for him for being a womanizer even when some from their ranks molest children and have families outside their vow of celibacy.

“When you fondle us when we were young holding confession while holding our prick and asking us what are our sins, and while you’re fondling us while we are pouring out our sins, then you pretend to be the righteous institutions of this society, and then kung mag-atake kayo (you criticize [others])?” Duterte said.

He mentioned the priest who molested him when he was studying at Ateneo De Davao University and said the priest paid P25 million to the abused parties to keep them silent.

“The priest (who raped me) is in hell a long time ago, he paid P25 million to all the parties, and you still insist on hypocrisy?” Duterte said.

Duterte said he does not need the Catholic Church to maintain his hold in office and even vowed to expose the abuses in the Church throughout his six-year term.

“I can sit the whole six years of the presidency exposing you and attacking you. I can lose my life and honor anytime. I will not die if I don’t become president. So don’t f*** with me!” Duterte said.

Duterte had received flak during the campaign for cursing Pope Francis for snarling traffic during the latter’s apostolic and state visit in the country.

Duterte took a hard stance against the Catholic Church and called it a hypocritical institution after admitting that he was fondled by a Jesuit priest during confession when he was a freshman at the Ateneo De Davao University. RAM

READ: Duterte names Jesuit priest abuser