The deepening rift between the Duterte leadership and the Catholic clergy augurs badly for the Philippine socio political landscape. While the priests are defined by the habit they wear, the State, for its own good, should carry the torch of civility.
To accuse the bishops of hypocrisy as if the accuser has the license to destroy anybody’s reputation, is an attitude that does not sit well with people who are accustomed to seeing leaders living comfortably with more civil ways. This is made more revolting given the free-wheeling habit of cursing that follows every verbal abuse.
Hypocrisy, the mirror image of insincerity, is not anybody’s monopoly. Outside the Catholic territory, the President, an acute observer, has also friends in other religious circles whose behavior, when it comes to indiscretion, are even worse.
Pointing an accusing finger at someone due to personal anger is not a healthy exercise. What this country needs, especially now that it is on the threshold of becoming an economic leader in Asia, is to adopt a certain kind of graciousness, which a friend calls as extrajudicial kindness.
Doubtless, Church-State separation is a sound and valid principle. The imagined partition, however, should not be made an anchor of enmity for some awkward protests. When did hypocrisy become the exclusive turf of priests? Have we not heard of pastors and ministers who preach like holy people but are actually demons in a televangelist’s coat?
Regrettably, in efforts to unite a divided nation, our leaders are sowing hatred. If the fight against illegal drugs has not taken off as planned, why blame it on the clergy? Isn’t it correct to say that the culprits that have helped spread the drug menace, first and foremost, are organic members of certain law enforcement agencies?
The Church is not an implementor of laws; neither is it an authority that has the clout to build rehabilitation centers for drug addicts. If it has openly sought state assistance for such undertaking, such request must be construed as helping government in its drive to reach out to the masses.
The government must not forget that without the religious sector, Catholic or otherwise, the products of our educational system outside state colleges would have been deficient. If only for that, we must not forget the role of the Church in nation-building. (Johnny Dayang)