Duterte curses the Pope, Bishop ‘grieves in great shame’

Archbishop Socrates Villegas, president of the Catholic Bishop Conference of the Philippines.
(Photo from Facebook)

MANILA—Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Socrates Villegas, president of the Catholic Bishop Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) has released a statement today, in response to Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte’s foul statement against the Pope.

Duterte, during his proclamation as PDP-Laban’s presidential bet yesterday, cursed at the Pope when he recalled being stuck in heavy traffic during the Pope’s visit to the Philippines.

“Gusto kong tawagan, ‘Pope p******, umuwi ka na,” he exclaimed.

Archbishop Villegas called on Duterte’s ‘corruption’.

“Vulgarity is corruption. When we find vulgarity funny, we have really become beastly and barbaric as a people. When a revered and loved and admired man like Pope Francis is cursed by a political candidate and the audience laugh, I can only bow my head and grieve in great shame. My countrymen has gone to the dregs,” Villegas said.

The Archbishop said that the country needs a leader who leads by example. He also stressed that corruption is the “great scourge of Philippine politics.”

“The usual face of corruption that we recognize easily is stealing from public funds. Corruption, like a monster, is a devil with many faces,” he said.

“Killing people is corruption. Killing is a crime and a sin whether it is done by criminals or public officials no matter what the intention. Adultery is corruption. It makes married love cheap and uses people for pleasure. Adultery corrupts the family; it destroys children and victimizes the weak. Vulgarity is corruption,” the Archbishop added.

“Is this the leadership by example that Mayor Duterte excites in us? Is this the leadership by example that makes a public official deserving of the title ‘Honorable’?” Villegas asked.