ADVERTISEMENT
"I will resign if anybody can prove that God exists" - President
Rodrigo Duterte and the Catholic Church which he says has a “creeping influence” on the people of his country have been on a collision course since he begun to attack God, doubting his existence.
ADVERTISEMENT
Rodrigo Duterte and the Catholic Church which he says has a “creeping influence” on the people of his country have been on a collision course since he begun to attack God, doubting his existence.
The 73-year-old President made his latest comments on Saturday at the inauguration of the Malayan colleges in Mindanao.
According to him, though he believes in God he is not convinced that the God of the Catholics who reportedly make up about 80% of the population of Philippines really exists “otherwise there would be no widespread injustice: hunger, killings, and all.”
ADVERTISEMENT
Following his recent description of God as “stupid”, the Catholic Bishops have called for fasting and prayers, ostensibly against Rodrigo Duterte, but he is simply not bothered.
He said: “When you criticise me, do not use the platform of God, that God will send you to hell, that God will never forgive you, hell is waiting for you. Do not do it. Do not take God — God’s name in vain. It’s fundamental. It’s almost basic. There is really a clear cut between religion and governance. You cannot use God to criticise me.”
Rodrigo Duterte was born and raised as a Catholic, but he said: “Something terrible happened when we were young… while confessing, we were fondled.”
Apparently, out of trauma, he decided that: “My God is my service to the people. Period,” claiming to believe more in fairness and justice than God.
ADVERTISEMENT
He ended by calling on his people “to become agents of hope and catalysts of progress”, saying “this will be helpful in ridding ourselves of the social ills that have shackled our growth and hindered our country from achieving its full potential.”
JOIN OUR PULSE COMMUNITY!
ADVERTISEMENT
Eyewitness? Submit your stories now via social or:
Email: eyewitness@pulse.com.gh