Attacks vs Catholic Church, Duterte’s way of initiating ‘intellectual discussion’ – Palace
Credit to Author: The Manila Times| Date: Wed, 02 Jan 2019 11:24:11 +0000
THE CATHOLIC Church should not take offense from President Rodrigo’s statements against the institution but should instead “welcome” them since this was the Chief Executive’s way of initiating “intellectual discussion,” Malacanang said on Wednesday.
Duterte spokesman Salvador Panelo said that Duterte’s pronouncements were his “way of shaking long held religious tenets and beliefs that instead of moulding them into being righteous individuals make them cling to religion as an opium.”
“In so doing, the President puts to a test the validity of the religious rituals bordering to fanaticism as against the practice of genuine spirituality as taught by the different personifications of one God,” Panelo said.
The spokesman said that such statements by Duterte were a “process to strengthen further their faith or enlighten those who seek the truth of what they have embraced.”
He added that the Presidents intention was to “initiate an intellectual discussion for the faithfuls’ enlightenment and spiritual awakening which could lead them to thread the path of uprightness so necessary in the moral regeneration of a nation so abundant with religiosity but wanting in spirituality.”
He also said that the President would push the envelope of freedom of expression through his outlandish statements.
“In fulfilling his constitutional duty to serve and to protect the people, the President endeavors to be creative, using means that may be unnerving to the conservatives unused to his ways of governance but effective in putting across message he wants to convey to the majority of the people,” Panelo said.
Panelo also said that he did not see any decrease in supporters of the President as shown by survey results.
Duterte has dished out strong words against the Catholic Church even before he took his oath as President.
He cursed Pope Francis because of the heavy traffic his visit caused in 2015.
The President also called God “stupid” and unleashed tirades against bishops and priests.
The government and the Catholic Church tried to call a truce, with Duterte creating a task force where both sides could hold a dialogue but which was shortlived. RALPH VILLANUEVA
The post Attacks vs Catholic Church, Duterte’s way of initiating ‘intellectual discussion’ – Palace appeared first on The Manila Times Online.