Sara Duterte asks church to guide youth vs. drugs, violence, rebellion

Vice President Sara Duterte on Wednesday called on the church to help guide the Filipino youth in nation-building, away from lures of substance abuse, violent extremism, and rebellion.

In her speech during the Jesus is Lord Pastor’s Congress, Duterte said that the church had a significant role in shaping the people’s future, particularly the minds of the youth.

“Our youth are vulnerable and easily impressionable and I call upon the church to help us guide our young Filipinos into the right path,” the concurrent secretary of education said.

“The lures of substance abuse, violent extremism, and rebellion keep pulling away our country’s future. I believe this is where the church can support nation-building,” she added.

Duterte pointed out the church's role in communities, considering that youth’s mental and psychological health were now “held hostage by various social media influences, and peer and social pressure.”

“Combined with the recent physical isolation because of COVID-19, they confuse the mind and push our youth to lose confidence in their ability to navigate life,” Duterte said.

“Without professional help and spiritual guidance, some have been driven to self-harm and harm others,” she added.

Duterte said the government was the church’s partners in advocacies and ministries for the Filipino people, particularly in nation-building.

“The call to build a strong nation is an open invitation. It is for us all. After all, we speak in universal truths of kindness, compassion, love, joy, and peace for all,” Duterte said. —NB, GMA News