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| Caloocan bishop Ambo David / photo from Inquirer |
Halfway to this six year term
presidency, President Rodrigo Roa Duterte still does not see eye to eye with
the Catholic Church.
For the past three years both Duterte
and members of the clergy has been at it, and everytime they do it is as sure
as the sun rises in the east-it will be on the headlines.
Duterte vs David
Just recently the President in one of
his official speaking engagements alleges that a certain “Bishop David” appropriates
donated church money for his family’s personal use.
Of course, as it should be because of
human nature the Catholic Bishop Conference of the Philippines – Caloocan
Bishop Ambo David denies any theft and also made a jab at the demeanor of the
President, calling Duterte as “Sick” and asked the faithful to pray for the
chief executive.
Undoubtedly the President command a
70% plus public trust ratings so the public support would always be there, but
Catholic Church in the country commands a much higher 90% public trust rating
the highest among institutions in the country.
Just looking on the numbers, both
parties jabbing at each other is a waste of time where both can achieve a lot
if they would recognize their differences and admit the areas where they can work
together- for a better Philippines.
Help each other
Veteran Manila
Times columnist Mr. Ricardo Saludo hit the spot in his column today titled “The Duterte-Church tirades are so totally ‘bobo’" when
he said that both Duterte and the prelates can stop their media hugging
headliners and put the welfare of the Filipino as a platform for both to help
each other.*
For sure, a good number may like seeing Duterte hitting the
Church just as religious leaders criticize the State. But most Filipinos
probably prefer that the two institutions and their heads work together for
national advancement.
It is undeniably the Philippines is a
Catholic country as much as the President is not a practicing catholic ( he was
raised and Catholic educated), both most extend their hand of friendship and
find a common ground of interest – having the much needed peace in the country can
never be achieved if both would still throw invective at each other.
It is Church-State initiatives like those that most Filipinos
want to see, not unkind invectives thrown between the President and the
prelates.
So might Jesus Christ. After all, despite the excesses of
emperors, He still preached: “Render to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God
what is God’s.”
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| President Rodrigo Duterte / photo from Philstar |
Source: Manila Times
