CBCP: No need to fire the last DU30 tirade against the Church

The last tirade of President Rodrigo R. Duterte against the Catholic Church shows his "ignorance of how it works", said an official of the Conference of Catholic Bishops of the Philippines (CBCP).

In a statement, CBCP Public Affairs Committee Executive Secretary Jerome Secillano said Duterte's call to the public to build chapels at home instead of going to church is useless.

Contrary to what Duterte hinted on Monday in a statement, Secillano said the church did not force people to "give, donate, or make love offerings" to support its operations.

"When people pray in the church, we do not force them to pay for their electricity consumption and maintenance … It does not even force them to attend church services, but simply to ENCOURAGE them," he said. declared Secillano.

Secillano said that the same could not be said of "pseudo-churches forcing their devotees to pay money to support their leaders" and government officials who "hold their meetings in hotels up to range "using taxpayer money.

"So who's forcing people to pay now?" Secillano asked.

Secillano explained that the faithful go to Mass in the churches as it houses the Eucharist, Christ in the form of a guest (bread) that is reserved in the tabernacle.

Citing Canon 935 of the Code of Canon Law, he stated that the Eucharist could not be placed in houses, the risk of profanation being high.

The only exception to the rule is that if the pastoral necessity requires it and that the prescriptions of the diocesan bishop are met.

Following the last anti-Catholic statement of Duterte. Secillano said that worshipers should seriously consider ignoring the president's similar statements.

"I'm not sure that the President's pressing demands can be seen as a" pastoral necessity "(well, maybe for his followers), but his ignorance of the workings of the Church tells us, Catholics, that we should not believe this guy or even take it seriously, "says Secillano.