CBCP president welcomes dialogue with Duterte-formed committee

Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) president Davao Archbishop Romulo Valles on Tuesday welcomed the proposed dialogue with the government through a committee President Rodrigo Duterte formed to improve relations between him and the Catholic Church.

A report by Radio Veritas quoted Valles as saying that listening to one another is always good.

“That is most welcome development. To dialogue, to listen to one another, is always good,” Valles said.

Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said that Duterte decided on Monday night to hold a dialogue with the Catholic Church to address the rift between them.

Making up the government panel are Roque, Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Ernesto Abella, and Council for Philippine Affairs secretary-general Pastor Boy Saycon.

Roque said he believes that there is room for reconciliation between Duterte and the Church.

However, not everyone in the CBCP is convinced of the motive behind Duterte's decision to hold a dialogue.

Manila Archbishop Bishop Broderick Pabillo, chairman of the CBCP-Episcopal Commission on the Laity, said the dialogue is merely Duterte's tactic to diffuse the anger of the Filipinos after his controversial pronouncements against God.

“Palusot lang iyan para ma-diffuse ang criticism sa kanya,” Pabillo said.

Duterte has been criticized by various quarters, including political allies, for calling God “stupid” and finding fault in the creation story in the Bible during a speech in Davao City on June 22.

Malacañang defended Duterte’s remarks, saying he was entitled to his personal belief. —Jessica Bartolome/KBK, GMA News