The Philippine president Duterte has promised to mend fences with the Catholic Church. The president shocked many in Asia’s largest Catholic country last week by describing God as “stupid.” The next day, he said that he was not talking about his God and was instead insulting the God of his critics. “Mine has a lot Read more
Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte called God “stupid” because of the concept of “original sin” in the Bible’s creation story. Addressing a summit in Davao City last Friday, the president began by saying that he found it foolish for God to create something “perfect” and then allow the first humans, Adam and Eve, to ruin it Read more
Following the killing of a third priest in the Philippines, Archbishop of Lingayen-Dagupan, Socrates Villegas and other leaders of his archdiocese released a strongly-worded statement. They called on President Rodrigo Duterte “to stop the verbal persecution of the Catholic Church because such attacks can wittingly embolden more crimes against priests.” The church leaders have declared June Read more
Although the Catholic Church officially discourages clergy and religious from serving in public office, in many countries Catholic actors nevertheless play key roles in forging peace accords, guaranteeing access to safe water and other humanitarian aims, and lighting a fire under the international community to get involved. That activism builds on a grand history, from popes Read more