ICC Note: In the two years since President Duterte has come to office, three Catholic priests were killed, missionaries blacklisted and deported, and church workers arrested. He also made controversial statements against God and theology that sparked anger all over the country. For seeking social justice for the poor, many Christians find themselves to be government’s enemies.

08/06/2018 Philippines (La Croix) – In a meeting between Archbishop Romulo Valles of Davao and President Rodrigo Duterte last month, the head of the Philippine bishops’ conference raised concerns over several issues with the president.

Earlier, Duterte had called God “stupid” and laughed off some fundamental church teachings, including the concept of original sin.

Several political observers said the president miscalculated his tirades against God. The president could attack the country’s clergy but should not have attacked God.

The country’s Catholic bishops maintained that a “pastoral exhortation” they issued following Duterte’s rants was not an indictment of the president’s administration.

It was a call on Catholics to remain steadfast in what the prelates described was the “collective vocation and mission to actively work for peace.”

The exhortation cited priests being murdered for being witnesses to Christ as well as modern-day prophets as “being silenced by the treacherous bullets of assassins.”

During the two years that Duterte has been president, three Catholic priests have been killed.

In their statement, the bishops recognized divisions among members of the flock, especially when some condone the wave of killings and laugh when the president blasphemes.

The bishops enumerated the sufferings of the poor even as they reiterated their support for “democratically-elected” officials.

The prelates said they look forward to partnering with government on programs that will benefit the people.

Bishop Pablo Virgilio David of Kalookan, in whose diocese hundreds of suspected drug offenders have been killed, said he wishes the government would be a partner in the pursuit of social justice.

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For interviews with Gina Goh, ICC’s Regional Manager, please contact Olivia Miller, Communications Coordinator: [email protected].