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Church group says Duterte ‘crossed the line’ with remark vs. God


 

With his public remark calling God "stupid" and criticizing the story of creation in the Bible, President Rodrigo Duterte has "crossed the line," the national director of the Philippine Council of Evangelical Churches (PCEC) said Monday.

In an interview on Balitanghali, Bishop Noel Alba Pantoja said they are "immensely offended" by Duterte's remark made during the National Information Communications Technology Summit in Davao City last Friday.

"We find it completely inappropriate for our nation's president to curse God and the Christian faith," he said.

"We denounce insulting other person's religion," Pantoja added. "Sadly ito ay nanggaling sa bibig ng ating ama, ng ating minamahal na Pangulo ng bansa. He has crossed the line."

Pantoja said Duterte can criticize priests and other religious leaders, but not God.

"Puwedeng i-criticize niya ang mga pari, ang mga pastor. Pero the God we worship, kung ang ating Pangulo ay i-curse ang God na pinananaligan natin, that is crossing the line," he said.

On Friday, Duterte criticized the creation story in the Bible that says the snake tempted Eve to eat the forbidden apple, then she in turn gave it to Adam. He said he could not comprehend why God would create something perfect, but later destroy it.

Duterte's remarks drew criticisms, but presidential spokesman Harry Roque said the Chief Executive is entitled to his own spirituality.

Amid this, Pantoja pointed out that the 1987 Constitution "recognizes the Filipinos' reliance on the aid of Almighty God."

"Kung ito man ay personal na pananaw ng Pangulo pero ang preamble ng 1987 Constitution recognizes the Filipino people's reliance on the aid of Almighty God, kung ang Presidente natin ay iniinsulto ang Diyos ang majority ng Filipino people, meron ding kaugnay ito sa democratic principles ng ating bansa," he said.

Pantoja appealed to Duterte to "refrain from issuing statements" insulting God and the Church. He said they would release a formal statement soon.

"Maglalabas kami ng paliwanag kasi maraming mga Kristiyano na na-confuse dito sa ating pananalita ng ating Pangulo. We would like to appeal sa Presidente to refrain from issuing such statements na insult sa Church at sa ating Panginoong Diyos," he said.

He also urged Duterte to hold a dialogue with religious leaders so that both sides can voice their own sentiments on the issue.

"Ang isang request natin, magpatawag siya ng dialogue with religious leaders upang magkaroon ng paliwanagan sa bagay na ito," Pantoja said.

Duterte has repeatedly lambasted the Catholic Church, calling it "full of shit," as church leaders also maintained their strong opposition against some of his policies such as the violent war against illegal drugs. —KBK, GMA News

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