[OPINION] A Church co-opted: Duterte and the Davao archbishop

The archbishop of Davao, Romulo Valles, recently released a pastoral letter regarding the arrest and transport of former president Rodrigo Duterte to The Hague. While it is the prerogative of Valles to issue the said letter, I find it quite problematic.

First, the letter states that it offers “pastoral support and prayers to the former president and his family.” By highlighting that, Valles seems to have misplaced priorities. Should not the victims of extrajudicial killings (EJKs) be the Church’s priority? They are the ones who suffered and continue to suffer because of Duterte’s “war on drugs,” not Duterte and other state actors who planned and executed his “war.”

The Second Plenary Council of the Philippines called on the Church of the Philippines to become a Church of the Poor. It is supposed to have a special love for the poor and, if need be, fight for their rights even if that would mean alienation from the rich and the powerful.

Given this vision, should not Valles forcefully affirm the Church’s mission to act on behalf of justice and participate in social transformation (justice in the world)? It is striking that while he affirms “the importance of accountability” and the need to recognize “the sufferings of those who consider themselves victims of injustice in the past,” he does not mention at all the need of EJK victims for justice. That there is no room for them in such a letter is mind-boggling.

Second, Valles calls on the government to pursue justice “with fairness and integrity,” “free from partisan political motivation or personal vendettas,” and with respect for due process and the rule of law. While it is undeniable that there is politicking involved in the entire process, it is quite ironic that the leadership of local church of Davao was deafeningly silent when due process was not accorded all the victims of EJKs. Sure, call for justice, but the preference of the church ought not to be the powerful. It should always side with the defenseless and the marginalized.

Third, Valles, it seems to me, misuses the quote from the prophet Micah, “What does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?” (6,8). When the prophet said those words, it was a critique and condemnation of the rich and the powerful for all the injustices in the land of Israel. Micah had the interests of the poor in mind. After all, the God of Israel is a God who hears the cry of the poor (see Ps 34,15-18), who knows and sees the suffering of his people (Ex 3), who scatters the proud, brings down the powerful from their thrones and lifts up the lowly, and fills the hungry with good things and sends the rich away empty (Lk 1,52-54). Justice for Micah is justice for the downtrodden and not the powerful, not the Dutertes and not even the Marcoses.

Fourth, Valles goes on to say that the mission of the Church is to “uphold the truth, safeguard human dignity and promote the common good.” I couldn’t agree more with him. We need to ask ourselves the hard question about Duterte’s role in EJKs, and to question his administration’s “war,” and even the Church’s complicity in them. I just wish that the Davao Church was more emphatic with those same words when all the killings were taking place.

Moreover, I would have appreciated Valles’ letter if he called on the people to stop spreading fake news and disinformation, which are now rampant on social media and the vast majority of which are in support of Duterte. Should not the Davao local church be concerned with upholding truth on social media and in other fora for that matter?

Lastly, Valles calls on the Church in Davao to “reject hatred and division,” and to choose “the path of dialogue over discord and reconciliation over conflict.” Yes, we should reject hatred in all its forms. But didn’t Duterte use hate speech against the Catholic Church and those who oppose him? Moreover, there has been a significant increase in online threats and harassment against those who openly speak against Duterte. While I agree that there is a neeed to engage in dialogue, that presupposes that all parties involved in it are open to other perspectives and are willing to learn from the other? Now, tell me, is this the case with the rabid supporters of Duterte?

If one wants to read a pastoral letter that is aligned with the Church’s mission of opting for the poor and its vision of the Church of the Poor, one should read the pastoral letter issued by the bishop of San Carlos, Gerardo Alminaza.

Sadly, the one by Valles is an example of a letter from a Church leader who is co-opted by the powerful and from a Church that seems to have lost its prophetic voice. – Rappler.com

Ruben C. Mendoza is a professor and the former chair of the Department of Theology, Ateneo de Manila University. He is also the executive director of the KU Leuven-Ateneo Center for Catholic Theology and Social Justice.