Cardinal Tagle appeals for sobriety amid uproar over Duterte's 'stupid God' tirade

Erik Tenedero, ABS-CBN News
Posted at Jun 27 2018 05:07 PM

MANILA - Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle has called for peace and calm amid outrage over President Rodrigo Duterte's latest tirades calling God "stupid."

"Be at peace. Be calm. Don't let things disturb your inner peace. Let us read the situation with the eyes of the faith," the cardinal said in a letter addressed to priests from the Archdiocese of Manila.

Tagle, currently attending a United Nations Conference on Migrants and Refugees in Geneva co-sponsored by the Holy See, admitted he still did not have a "complete picture of the context" of Duterte's statements that hit the story of creation in the Bible.

But he reminded the faithful that questioning God and God's way is not new.

-snip-

Philippine President Duterte calls God 'stupid'

26 June 2018

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has called God "stupid", sparking anger in the largely Catholic country.

In a televised speech, he slammed the story of Adam and Eve's fall from grace in the Bible and the logic behind the Christian concept of original sin.

Mr Duterte is well known known for his outrageous statements and unfiltered attacks on his rivals.

While the church and many citizens condemned his remarks, his office said he was expressing personal beliefs.

The president has in the past also criticised the Pope in crude language and has racked up a string of other statements widely deemed as highly offensive, cruel or misogynist.

-snip-