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Duterte hits Church anew, slams veneration of saints practice


President Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday attacked the Catholic Church anew and criticized its practice of veneration of saints, noting that he is contemplating about joining another Christian sect.

Speaking before a gathering of businessmen, diplomats, and politicians in Malacañang, Duterte said that he has his own concept of God and asked if there was a bishop in the audience.

“Is there any bishop here? I want to kick your ass and the priest,” Duterte said, drawing laughter from the audience.

He reiterated that the Catholic Church is the “most hypocritical institution in the Philippines” before attributing such statement from Cabinet Secretary Leoncio “Jun” Evasco Jr., who is a former priest.

Duterte then repeated his claim of sexual abuse in the hands of an American priest when he was a young student, questioned the giving of cash donations during masses, and criticized the veneration of saints especially during town fiestas.

“Who is this guy San Isidro that every town fiesta we kill our cows, carabaos? Just to spend because it is the fiesta of San Isidro. San Pablo who were they?” he said.

Duterte also declared that he is no longer Catholic and quipped anew about establishing a new religious group Iglesia ni Rodrigo.

“My religion does not limit anything. All you can do is...Do not believe in hell. When you die you are just a piece of carcass and that's it. There's no more hell. Burning in hell? You cannot burn a soul,” the President said.

Catholics honor the saints in various ways and for various reasons for the saints' high degree of sanctity or holiness and for the favors they made for the believers. 

Duterte earlier created a four-man panel that would dialogue with the Catholic Church and other religious groups following his scathing remarks about God, creation story in the Bible, and the concept of original sin.

On July 9, Duterte met with his friend and Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines president Davao Archbishop Romulo Valles during which he agreed to stop his rhetoric against the Church.

Duterte appeared to have broken his promise, as he reiterated in a speech in Clark, Pampanga on July 10 that his critics should not use God in their attacks against his administration.

The President repeated his vow to resign if anyone could prove the existence of God with a selfie. He also expressed doubts on the concept of heaven and hell.

He later clarified that his remarks had nothing to do with his agreement with Valles and the moratorium would not stop him from speaking the "truth."

After the event, Duterte had a two-and-half hour meeting with evangelist Brother Eddie Villanueva in Malacañang during which he apologized to his “all-forgiving God." —LBG, GMA News

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