Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte stated that there is no need to celebrate 500 years of Christianity in the Catholic majority country in 2021. Speaking at a groundbreaking ceremony in the City of Naga, Cebu, Duterte linked the arrival of Christianity to colonialism. “Why would I celebrate the arrival of the Spanish here? Why would I?” Read more
Posts Tagged ‘President Duterte’
Philippine President Duterte: No Need to Celebrate Arrival of Christianity
Thursday, September 12th, 2019Duterte again attacks Catholic church
Thursday, July 12th, 2018
A day after he agreed to stop attacking the Catholic Church Philippine president Duterte is at it again. He appears to have taken offence at Australian missionary nun Patricia Fox. She has joined an investigation into alleged human rights abuses in Mindanao. Duterte attacked critics who “come here under the cloak of whatever religion and Read more
Shoot female rebels in genitals says Duterte
Monday, February 19th, 2018
Philippine President, Rodrigo Duterte, wants his army to shoot female communist rebels in their genitals. He says that would punish them for fighting the government Human rights watchdogs and women’s groups have criticised his attitude. Human Rights Watch says this is the latest in a series of “misogynist, derogatory and demeaning statements he has made Read more
Archbishop appalled at Catholics behaviour
Thursday, April 20th, 2017
Philippine bishops’ conference head, Archbishop Socrates Villegas, said he is appalled at the way Catholics in the Philippines are behaving. They are making their clergy “martyrs” to harassment on social media and an easy target of trolls who make up lies for the media about them. This is because of the clergy’s continued criticisms to Read more
Duterte’s drug war plants drugs, pays killers
Thursday, April 20th, 2017Two senior police officers in the Philippines say some Philippine police have received cash payments for executing drug suspects, planted evidence at crime scenes and carried out most of the killings in President Duterte’s drug war. These same police blame “vigilantes” for the attacks which focus on killing the poor, the senior police officers say. Read more
Catholic Church and politics still mix
Monday, March 20th, 2017
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
Thousands of Filipino Catholics protest drug killings
Monday, February 20th, 2017
Thousands of Filipino Catholics have marched to protest against President Rodrigo Duterte’s deadly crackdown against illegal drugs. The protest tagged ‘Walk for Life’ was endorsed by Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines. Police estimate over 50,000 took part in the march. The drug crackdown has left thousands of drug suspects dead. According to a Police Read more
Filipino Catholics condemn Duterte’s reign of terror; he won’t back down
Friday, February 10th, 2017
Filipino Catholics have condemned President Duterte’s wholesale killing of drug users and dealers. Their opinion has not changed his views. He remains determined to see his aim to rid the country of all drug users and dealers. By killing them. Last weekend, a pastoral letter from the Catholic Bishops’ Conference was read at Masses throughout the Read more
Philippines drug killings divide once powerful Catholic church
Friday, October 14th, 2016
Philippines drug killings are dividing its once-powerful Catholic church. Some priests say challenging the thousands of killings in President Duterte’s campaign could be dangerous. Others support it. More than 3,600 people have died at the hands of police and suspected vigilantes since Duterte took power in June. Most were small-time drug users and dealers. Duterte Read more