Duterte on Friday questioned basic tenets of the Catholic church whose faithful make up 86 percent of the country’s population.
The 73-year-old leader said that if there’s “one single witness” who can prove, perhaps with a picture or a selfie that a human was “able to talk (with) and to see God,” he will immediately
Courting Controversy
Barely two weeks ago, Duterte was on the receiving end after calling God ‘stupid’, sparking anger in the largely Catholic country.
[SIZE=6]‘I was just testing the limits’[/SIZE] MANILA, Philippines — In remarks replete with verses from the Old Testament, President Duterte yesterday declared that he believes in God as he reiterated his denial that he had called the Creator stupid.
Speaking before a gathering of vice mayors in Bohol, Duterte explained he was “just testing the limits” of people’s patience in making controversial remarks – even about matters of faith and religion.
He also stressed his Creator is a “forgiving God” and that he would not apologize to critics although he vowed to refrain from talking about his tiff with the Catholic Church.
“We have different views. We won’t understand each other. But I have this deep and abiding faith in God,” the President said.
Duterte had earlier claimed to believe in a Universal Being but not religion.
“I just need one witness who will say, ‘Mayor, those fools at the church ordered me to go to heaven and talk to God.
God really exists. We have a picture together and I brought a selfie,’” he reportedly added.