Catholic Church is anti-Duterte? Not the Archdiocese of Davao

Former president Rodrigo Duterte, after all, once cursed at bishops and priests, called Pope Francis a “son of a bitch,” and labeled God “stupid.”

When the 79-year-old Duterte was arrested on March 11, Catholic organizations were among the first to issue celebratory statements. Duterte’s case at the International Criminal Court, according to them, would lead to justice for Duterte drug war victims. A number of bishops followed suit by warning against hatred and division, a message that applied to all political colors. 

But the Catholic leadership in Duterte’s hometown, Davao City, handled with care “a son of this local Church.”

While also rejecting hatred and division, Davao Archbishop Romulo Valles promised support and prayers for the former president. 

“United as one people, we recognize the pain and frustration felt across the land, including the suffering of those who consider themselves victims of injustice in the past,” Valles said in a pastoral message dated Sunday, March 17.  

“While we affirm the importance of accountability, we also extend our pastoral support and prayers to the former President and his family — he being a son of this local Church, so beloved by a vast number of our faithful,” he added.

Valles made an appeal to the Marcos government, which had been criticized by Duterte supporters for alleged selfish motives and lack of due process in Duterte’s arrest. 

“Justice…must be pursued with fairness and integrity. It must remain free from partisan political motivations or personal vendettas,” the Davao archbishop said.

“We urge our government to uphold due process, adhere to the rule of law, and respect the fundamental principle of the presumption of innocence. Only through such commitment to justice can true peace be achieved,” he added.

Valles emphasized that the church’s mission of preaching the Gospel “urges everyone to uphold truth, safeguard human dignity, and promote the common good.”

“We therefore call upon you, our faithful here in the archdiocese, to reject hatred and division, choosing instead the path of dialogue over discord, and reconciliation over conflict,” he said.

Duterte’s ‘friend-sinner’

The Archdiocese of Davao is a territory of 1.83 million Catholics in Davao City — where Duterte was mayor for over two decades — and the islands of Samal and Talicud in Davao del Norte.

Valles, in a 2016 interview, said he views himself as Duterte’s “friend-sinner,” as he engages the former Davao City mayor not through conflict, but through a “friendly sharing of ideas.”

Valles’ predecessor as Davao archbishop, the late Fernando Capalla, took a stronger stance against Duterte and the Davao Death Squad killings. 

In a 2001 pastoral letter, Capalla said, “Killing, murder, salvaging, or the taking of life in whatever manner, is an affront against the Creator and against humanity.” He added that “no one takes the law into one’s hands simply because no one is above the law and a law unto oneself.”

“We call on our government and its law enforcement agencies to stop them from making Davao City a ‘wild, wild, West’ where the only law is the law of the gun,” Capalla said.

Over a decade later, when Duterte became president, other bishops also condemned Duterte’s nationwide war on drugs. Not so much condemnation was heard from his hometown of Davao.

What a divisive time it is, even among our nation’s churches. – Rappler.com