By NITZ ARANCON
Correspondent .
“FACE us.”
One of the top Roman Catholic leaders in Cagayan de Oro yesterday frowned over the creation of Malacañang’s three-man team that was tasked to bridge the widening gap between the Duterte administration and the religious sector.
Monsignor Perseus Cabunoc, vicar general of the local Roman Catholic archdiocese, said President Duterte should face the religious leaders and explain what he really meant when he called God stupid.
“Dili man ang iyang panel ang nagsulti sa ‘stupid God’ kondili siya (Duterte) man mismo. Mas maayo gyud unta nga ang Presidente mismo ma-oy makig-storya sa mga obispo ug ubang leader sa simbahan.” Cabunoc said.
The “stupid God” remark offended not only Catholics but other Christian groups as well.
Over ANC, Jesus is Lord Fellowship founder Bro. Eddie Villanueva said he felt “holy anger” when he heard Duterte’s mockery of God.
“My loyalty to anyone ends when my loyalty to my God begins,” said Villanueva, adding that “we would mobilize” and pray for the country and the President unless Duterte seeks God’s forgiveness.
Villanueva said Duterte’s refusal would be seen as “evidence” that he is “anti-God.”
Evangelical pastor Genesis Udang of the Blessed Hope Christian Church here said the Philippine Council of Evangelical Churches was disturbed over the remarks that it quickly sent word to Malacañang and appealed Duterte against calling God stupid again.
Udang could not say what the three-man team from Malacañang could accomplish, noting that it was God who was badmouthed.
“Depende na unya kana sa ila,” Udang said.
But he said the creation of the team was a “good sign” because it meant that Duterte was trying to reach out.
“That is a very good sign. At least, the President made an extra-effort to clarify sa iyang gisulti nga ‘stupid God,’” he said.
It was Duterte himself who formed the three-man team to initiate a dialogue, said Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque.
The three-man panel is composed of Roque, Edsa People Power commissioner Pastor Boy Saycon, and Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Ernesto Abella. Saycon and Abella are prominent religious figures.
Roque said Duterte gave the directive on Monday evening while they were flying to Davao from an engagement in Cagayan de Oro.
The decision came as several religious figures took notice of his remarks in his speech at the National ICT Summit in Davao City where Duterte said: “Adam ate it (the forbidden fruit) then malice was born. Who is this stupid God?”
Duterte said it did not make sense how God created “something perfect” and then “think of an event that would tempt and destroy the quality of your work.”
Roque said an engagement may prevent further souring of the relationship between both sides.
“Let’s allow the church and the government to define the agenda of the dialogue),” Roque told reporters. (with reports from pna)
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