Duterte’s ‘Sorry God’ a step in the right direction, CBCP exec says

President Rodrigo Duterte's apology to God was a step in the right direction after more than a week after he referred to a stupid God and questioned Christian doctrine, an official of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) said on Wednesday.

"Unang una doon sa pagsososrry niya, perhaps that is an initial step in the right direction," said Fr. Jerome Secillano, executive secretary at CBCP Permanent Committee on Public Affairs during an interview in Balitanghali.

On Tuesday night, while meeting with Jesus Is Lord (JIL) founder Brother Eddie Villanueva, Duterte apologized to God following his harsh remarks against the Catholic Church and its teachings.

The apology came a day after he continued to challenge the teachings of Christianity even after he pledged to a ranking Catholic prelate not to make statements about the Church.

Secillano said he would rather focus on the positive act that Duterte did, rather than answer his criticisms against the Church.

He said that his statements may be misinterpreted and the word war between Duterte and members of the Church would never end.

"Wag na muna nating puntuhan yan, ang important magfocus tayo sa positibong ginawa niya. Kasi halimbawa magsalita na naman kami, punthuan na naman namin tungkol sa sinabi niya tungkol sa impiyerno, baka naman ma-misinterpret, magreact na naman, at di matapos ang palitan namin ng mga comments," he said.

Secillano also said that the Church's move to accept the invitation to have a dialogue with Duterte shows that they don't want any tension between them.

"Number one, tinanggap naman ng simbahan yung kanilang hiling na makipagusap, na makipag-dialogo. Ito ay pagpapakita ng simbahan na ayaw naman din nila ng gulo," he said.

"Pangalawa, ipinapakita dito ng simbahan din yung pakumbabaan no. Kaya nakikipagdayalogo, sige lapitan natin ang isa't isa, pakinggan natin ang isa't isa, baka naman sa pakikinig natin sa isa't isa ay meron tayiong mapulot. At sa mapupulot natin na medyo commonsa ating dalawa, dun tayo magumpsia," he added.

He pointed out that the Church and State have the same objective, which is to help the Filipino people.

The only way they differ is with their strategies.

"Parehas ang objective ng simbahan at mamamayan. Tulungan ang mga Pilipino. Sabi ko, nagkakaproblema lang tayo sa stratehiya, sa pamamaraan," he said.

Sensitive topics that they do not agree on include human rights, and the administration's war on drugs, he added.

On Monday, Duterte had a private meeting with CBCP president Davao Archbishop Romulo Valles in an attempt to address the tension between the administration and the Church. —Jessica Bartolome/NB, GMA News