By Genalyn D. Kabiling
The Catholic Church must apologize for sexual abuses committed by some priests so victims like President Duterte could finally move on, Malacañang said yesterday.
Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said the President’s “stupid God” remark is his personal conviction following an unpleasant experience with a priest.
“Tingin ko ang mga deklarasyon ni Pangulo ay nagmumula doon sa hindi magandang karanasan niya noong siya ay isang bata na diumano siya ay naabuso ng isang pari. Ito ay isang isyu po na dapat talagang harapin din ng Simbahan,” Roque said in a television interview.
“Hindi pupuwedeng kalimutan ng Simbahan. Kinakailangan aminin, humingi ng tawad. So that lahat iyong mga naging biktima gaya naman ni Presidente Duterte can also move on with their lives,” he added.
Roque said under human rights law, there should be an investigation into the alleged abuses committed by some priests as well as “reparation” for the victims.
“‘Yung acknowledgement na talagang nangyari ito na sa isang malawakang pamamaraan na ito po ay hindi inaktohan ng napakatagal na panahon at kinakailangang humingi rin ng tawad ang Simbahan sa mga naging biktima na mga kabataan na gaya ni Presidente Duterte noong siya ay bata pa,” he said.
Roque said that Duterte was entitled to his own religious beliefs in the wake of criticisms against the President’s latest attack on God.
“Iyan po ay personal na pani-nindigan ng Pangulo. Alam ninyo iyong ating kalayaan ng malayang pananampalataya, kasama po iyan ‘yun sa wala kang paniniwalaan na pananampalataya,” he said. “Tingin ko ang ating Pangulo ay merong personal na spirituwalidad, pero nasa sa kanya na iyan at hindi na kinakailangang bigyan ng interpretasyon,” he said.