Despite vowing to quit criticizing the Catholic faith, President Rodrigo Duterte is at it again, as he slammed anew the Church and expressed in jest his plan to create his own religion.
Speaking before politicians and businessmen in Malacañang yesterday, August 14, Duterte asked if there were church leaders in the audience because he wanted to “kick their asses.”
“Is there any bishop here? I want to kick your ass and the priest,” Duterte said, eliciting laughter from the audience.
He went on and called again the Catholic Church as the “most hypocritical institution in the Philippines,” attributing the remark from his Cabinet Secretary, former priest Leoncio Evasco Jr.
The President also declared that he has distanced himself from being a Catholic because he believes God is not a Father as opposed to the Catholic belief.
He then joked about putting up his own “Iglesia ni Rodrigo,” a religion which is according to him “does not limit anything” and “does not believe in hell.”
Duterte added: “When you die you are just a piece of carcass and that’s it. There’s no more hell. Burning in hell? You cannot burn a soul.”
(DAILY NEWS ROUND UP FOR 08/ 15 /18)