Palma rejects the mockery of the saints of Duterte, souls like "yabag"

CEBU's Archbishop Jose Palma has described the recent parody of President Rodrigo Duterte as a "yabag (disapproved)" of the Catholic celebration of All Saints' Day and the Feast of Saints, especially the belief in saints .

In an interview Friday, the 68-year-old prelate said that President Duterte, although the most powerful man in the country, is not able to interpret doctrines based on his own beliefs or on emotions.

"Ako Gani, makadungog his iyang mga gipangsulti, daw mga yabag ba (when i heard that he was so out of tune)," said Palma in an interview before he presided over a Mass to observe the day of all souls the mausoleum of the metropolitan cathedral of Cebu on Friday morning.

"This is not a theologian and he has not even studied catechesis or theology," added the prelate.

"He's not an official teacher of doctrine. Whenever I hear him say such things, I simply say to myself: why is he making such remarks while he's not a doctrinal teacher? We better decipher what to believe and what not to believe in what he says. "

On Thursday, President Duterte again mocked the Catholic Church, this time about the celebration of All Souls Day and Soul Days, two of the most important celebrations of the Catholic calendar, in honor of the saints and the dead.

"Happy All Saints" … Bakit naman … tarantado talaga itong mga Katoliko ang puta. Bakit ba may the day of all souls to All Saints? Asked Duterte
at a post-disaster command conference at Isabela.

(Happy All Saints … Why do we have to … these Catholics are fools, why is there the Day of All Souls and All Saints' Day?)

"Hindi natin alam kung sino mga santo na yun. Mga Gago na Iyon, Mga Lasenggo. Dito na lang kayo. I will give you a boss. Get your hands on a
my photo, my iyan lagay niyo sa altar, Santo Rodrigo, he said.

(We do not even know who these saints are, they are fools, drunkards, just stay here with me, I'll give you a protector, take a picture of me, put it on the altar, Santo Rodrigo.)

President Duterte's remarks took place on the same day that Malacañang issued his message for All Saints and Souls, calling on Filipinos to observe a "solemn and meaningful celebration" and urging the public to "emulate our saints. "

"Together, let us imitate our saints, pray for the eternal rest of souls and deepen our commitment to our communities as we work for real and lasting change," he said in his message.

Strong confidence

Palma felt that the country's Catholics were mature enough to ward off the president's mockery of the saints.

"I think our faith is strong enough (to resist attacks on Catholicism). The church has a long tradition of commemorating all who are in heaven. Because of their great love for God and the way they lived, they are now in paradise, "he said.

"The saints are our inspiration. We seek their help and their teachings guide us in life. We are happy to seek the help of God through their intercessions, "he added.

Catholic doctrine places the Church of Jesus Christ in three realities: the triumphant Church, the suffering of the Church and the militant Church.

Celestial souls, like those of martyrs and saints, form the triumphant Church. These souls include those who have been proclaimed holy by the Church and those whose sins have been completely erased.

Souls suffering from Purgatory, which Catholics regard as a place or condition for the cleansing of already forgiven sins, make up the suffering Church.

They are the ones who need prayers and sacrifices.

The third group or "militant church" refers to all living human beings.

"If there is a person who tells us that there is no eternal life after death, then I ask him why do we live as many years, while we will disappear like bubbles when we die? This kind of thinking is totally wrong, "explained Palma.

"We believe that after this life comes eternal life. We hope to unite with our deceased loved ones in eternal joy in heaven, "he added.