January 31st, 12:25am January 30th, 7:25pm TDTWithout Fear Without Favor

The Catholic Church and by extension the faith practiced by 80 percent of the population was a key target in the recent attack in Jolo, Sulu, yet the bishops chose to attack President Rody Duterte to soothe their wounded egos.

In a left-handed apology, the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) through a pastoral letter titled “Conquering Evil with Good” sought forgiveness from the faithful for its lengthy silence over “disturbing issues.”

The prelates referred to the lowering of the age of criminal responsibility and efforts to reinstitute the death penalty as feeding a culture of violence in the country.

The CBCP issued the statement during its plenary assembly held twice a year.

Rody has been ranting against abuses of the prelates and challenging beliefs through introspections which the bishops interpreted as attacks on the faith.

The CBCP said the Catholic Church has been “on the receiving end of cruel words that pierce into the soul of the Catholic Church like sharp daggers.”

After the Jolo terror bombing, circulated in social media were suggestions that the attack was instigated by Rody’s verbal assaults on the Church similar to the arguments being peddled by the yellow mob that his rants fomented extrajudicial killings in the war on drugs.

The pastoral letter cited the “cycle of hate” existing in the country and connected the terror incursion as its product.

The Church would find greater respect if it lends its hand to encourage fortitude among the faithful in the wake of the tragedy instead of instigating strife.

Rody had, time and again, said his diatribes were meant to prod action or in his own words “to shake the tree.”

The pastoral letter, in obvious reference to Rody, said: “We respect the freedom of conscience and religion of people of other faiths, including former Catholic Christians who may have already renounced their faith.”

“We also respect the freedom of expression of our fellow citizens in this country, including their personal opinions about faith and religion. But as far as we know, the freedom of expression does not include a license to insult other people’s faith, especially our core beliefs.”

Speaking his mind, however, is all about the mandate which the people gave him nearly three years ago in his overwhelming victory at the polls.

As President, Rody needed to speak his mind on burning issues and Catholic Church hypocrisy should be on top of the list since majority of Filipinos practice the religion.

The beef of Rody is that during the term of his predecessor, Noynoy Aquino, who kowtows with the bishops, nothing has been said or done by the Church to criticize the spread of crime and drug addiction.

When he took over the presidency, the extent of the problem had reached an alarming level that required immediate and a strong action to reverse the trend.

Rody knew during his stint as Davao City mayor that powerful words will speed up the usually laggard government.

His opponents, the Church included and those from overseas, then use his sharp statements against him, saying he is responsible for impunity.

The truth, however, is that crime has been brought down drastically and the recent Transparency International report the country has gained 12 notches in a year in the fight against corruption in government.

The Church, instead of meddling in governance, should instead provide spiritual guidance to Filipinos and cooperation to Rody in his effort to clean up the government and society.

The Church, instead of setting up hurdles, should be an instrument for unity during times of trial for the nation such as the Jolo church attack.