Rep. Lito Atienza lived his Catholic faith and defended the Church against Duterte attack!

Thanks for defending the Church!

Atienza to Duterte: Stop insulting Catholic faith; Church can’t be destroyed

Lito Atienza (Photo Source: Inquirer)

By: Pathricia Ann V. Roxas - Reporter / @PathRoxasINQ

INQUIRER.net / 08:20 PM January 15, 2019

MANILA, Philippines — Senior Deputy Minority Leader and Buhay Rep. Lito Atienza has defended the Catholic Church from President Rodrigo Duterte’s tirades, urging the Chief Executive to stop insulting the faith as the Church “cannot be destroyed.”

In a statement on Tuesday, Atienza pointed out that Duterte’s “incessant” statements against the clergy are “creating a climate and culture of death.” He added that Duterte should instead focus on his campaign to stamp out corruption.

“The Church cannot be destroyed. Many have tried but failed. I’d rather that the President devotes his time to giving Filipinos a better life and I want him to succeed in that,” Atienza said.

The former Manila mayor also noted that while he has been supporting Duterte’s flagship campaign against illegal drugs and increasing the pay of military and police personnel, he “speak out against him when he is wrong.”

“Huwag niyo pong maliitin, insultuhin, at ilagay sa kapahamakan ang ating mga pari at obispo. I believe in my faith and I will continue defending my faith,” said Atienza, pointing out Duterte should not focus on the Catholic Church, “which has been dealing with wrongdoings committed by its members.”

“We in Congress must stand and prevent the continuing efforts to destroy the foundations of our Church. What will succeed in the end is still the will of God,” he added.

Christmas in Our Hearts

Iglesia Ni Cristo® Congressman Rodante Marcoleta leaves the Minority in Favor of Duterte's Majority Block at the Request of the INC™'s Administration

... and there was NO PROTEST against "SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE"!!

Photo Source: Manila Balita

"Asked why Marcoleta left, Lagman said the party-list congressman informed him that he was joining the majority coalition at the request of the Iglesia ni Cristo, a highly influential religious group known for voting as a bloc."

By: DJ Yap

Tweeter @deejayapINQ

Philippine Daily Inquirer

October 2nd, 2016

The House opposition’s “Legitimate 8” is now the “Magnificent 7.”

An independent minority faction in the House of Representatives initially composed of eight lawmakers has lost one of its key members to President Duterte’s “supermajority.”

Sagip party-list Rep. Rodante Marcoleta “is applying for membership” in the majority, according to Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman, a member of the opposition faction that supported the bid of Ifugao Rep. Teddy Baguilat to be minority leader in July.

“Though we’re no longer the ‘Legitimate 8,’ now we’re the ‘Magnificent 7,’” Lagman told the Inquirer.

Asked why Marcoleta left, Lagman said the party-list congressman informed him that he was joining the majority coalition at the request of the Iglesia ni Cristo, a highly influential religious group known for voting as a bloc.

Majority Leader Rodolfo Fariñas confirmed the move, but said Marcoleta had given him a different reason.

“I received a letter from him asking me to accept him in the majority pursuant to our rules,” he said.

“The reason he cited was he had realized that his advocacies were more aligned with those of the majority,” said Fariñas, also the chair of the powerful committee on rules.

He clarified, however, that Marcoleta’s transfer was not yet final. “Even if the authority is with me to act on his request, out of courtesy to the Speaker [Pantaleon Alvarez], I’ll consult with him first,” he told the Inquirer.

Lagman said he was not too upset by Marcoleta’s departure from their bloc, whose members have been critical of President Duterte and his policies.

“Even though we lost a member, we are still recognized as the real minority,” he said, noting that Minority Leader Danilo Suarez “is not being critical” of the administration at all.

The other members of their “magnificent” group are Caloocan Rep. Edgar Erice, Magdalo Rep. Gary Alejano, Capiz Rep. Emmanuel Billones, Akbayan Rep. Tomasito Villarin and Northern Samar Rep. Raul Daza.

Except for the party-list lawmakers, Baguilat, Lagman and the three others belong to the former ruling Liberal Party (LP) whose numbers have been decimated by Mr. Duterte’s PDP-Laban, now the dominant force in the chamber.

Twenty-eight LP members led by former Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. have joined the administration bandwagon, a multiparty coalition that has been touted as Mr. Duterte’s supermajority.

Philippine President-elect mocks Saints and the Catholic Church... again!

Photo source: Monk's Hobbit

President-elect Rodrigo R. Duterte, who was hailed from Mindanao, once again mocks the Catholic Church. And at this time, he mocks saints and Catholic practice of venerating them. According to this news, he mocks the saints by joking on having difficulty choosing between more than 5,000 declared saints to pray for. And blurted out that there is only ONE GOD and his "name" is ALLAH.

'Allah' is NOT a name but it's an Arabic word الله‎ which is the English equivalent for 'god' or 'God'. Therefore to say that God's name is 'allah' is erroneously incorrect.  His name, according to Judeo-Christian tradition is 'Yahweh' or 'Jehovah' or mostly substituted with 'Elohim' or 'Adonai'.

The 'SAINTS' aren't gods. They're like us. They live like us but died a heroic death for God and His Church. In other words, they are Christianity's heroes worthy of emulation. And in particular, we Catholics venerated them because we firmly believe the saints OFFER our prayers before the throne of God (Rev. 5:8).  

And as his followers liked his revolting commentaries, he even went beyond INSULTING THE HOLY SCRIPTURES “Those were written 3,000 years ago. Ano ba pakialam natin sa kanilang sinulat?”

Let's pray for his leadership and be vigilant for we cannot be complacent with his detestable, very distasteful and very destructive strong worded comments on the Catholic Church and our bishops and priests. -CD2000

Duterte makes fun of Catholic Church’s practices
By Alexis Romero (philstar.com) | Updated June 27, 2016

MANILA, Philippines - President-elect Rodrigo Duterte Monday made fun of the practices of the Roman Catholic Church, which has been critical of his stance on family planning and death penalty.

Duterte, in particular, joked about the Catholic practice of venerating saints, people officially recognized by the Church as models of the faith.

“I believe in one God Allah. Period,” he said during his last flag ceremony as Davao City mayor. Allah is the name of the God worshipped by Muslims.

Duterte’s discomfort with Catholicism, it seems, stemmed from his unpleasant experiences when he was still a child. He recalled that when he was a child, his mother Soledad would punish him by asking him to kneel before an altar.

"I told Jesus, help me. He said I can’t help a naughty boy,” he said in jest.

Duterte said in the Catholic faith, there are about 5,000 saints to choose from.

“You choose your saint: San Tiago, Santo Isabelo, Santo Roman, Santilmo, Santo Rodrigo,” the next Philippine president said, drawing laughs from the audience.

“St. Peter himself loves cockfighting,” he said in jest, referring to the apostle whose symbol in art is the rooster.

According to the Christian Bible, a rooster crowed after St. Peter disowned Jesus Christ.

Roman Catholicism is a monotheistic religion, which means that it worships only one God, Jesus Christ. Catholics do not worship saints but only venerate or respect them.

Duterte said he has been at odds with the Catholic Church because of its opposition to artificial family planning methods. He noted that in Davao City, pills, ligation and other birth control methods are accessible to couples.

“I go against the Church because its position is not realistic,” the tough-talking leader said.

Duterte has called the Catholic Church “the most hypocritical institution” for its supposed failure to practice what it teaches. He claimed that bishops continue to teach morality but has failed to address clergy sexual abuses.

Last December, Duterte revealed that a Jesuit priest molested him when he was in high school but was too afraid to file a complaint.

Duterte, however, went beyond Catholic doctrines and questioned the relevance of the scriptures themselves.

“Those were written 3,000 years ago. Ano ba pakialam natin sa kanilang sinulat?” he said.

'Iglesia ni Duterte'

President-Elect Rodrigo Duterte (Photo from New Mandala)

By: Red Tani from Inquirer Opinion

Tweeter @inquirerdotnet
12:18 AM June 1st, 2016

After admitting in a recent press conference that he is no longer a Catholic, Rodrigo Duterte remarked that he had a new religion: “Iglesia ni Duterte.”

He invited people to join it, presumably after leaving the Catholic Church, which he has called “the most hypocritical institution.”

Many will dismiss the invitation as just another joke. But I think the idea of a religion with Duterte as its deity is not as far from the truth as you’d expect.

For starters, I don’t think it’s an exaggeration to call some of Duterte’s followers fanatical, even cultist. Teachers at the high school where Duterte recently cast his vote plan on preserving the chair he sat on as he voted in a museum. In at least one sortie, supporters braved crowds for a chance to get a towel graced with his sweat—a scene that evokes the Black Nazarene procession. A Facebook page called “Duterte Savior of the Philippines” has over 27,000 fans.

Duterte is without fault for this fanaticism. In a speech he delivered at an assembly of the Makati Business Club, he said that to understand his mind, we must “forget about the laws of men” and “imagine the… justice of the Lord.”

In a program hosted by Apollo Quiboloy, the leader of a sect that believes him, Quiboloy, to be the actual Son of God, Duterte recalled how the evangelist’s prophecy gave him the idea to seek the presidency. He said that despite his initial reluctance, God made it his destiny to become president.

Many #DearPresidentDigong posts on social media sound less like requests and more like prayers. And who can blame them for expecting this much from someone who originally promised to eliminate crime in three to six months?

The Philippine president-elect's shocking insult to Catholic bishops

What a disgrace!

Rodrigo Duterte, the Filipino president-elect, who is expected to take office June 30, 2016. Credit: Malacañang Photo Bureau/Public Domain via Wikipedia

Manila, Philippines, May 26, 2016 / 04:25 pm (CNA).- The president-elect of the Philippines, Rodrigo Duterte, recently described the country's bishops as corrupt and “sons of whores” for allegedly resorting to seeking favors from politicians.

During a May 20 press conference, the president-elect described the Catholic Church as “the most hypocritical institution” and insulted the Filipino bishops: “You sons of whores, aren't you ashamed? You ask for so many favors, even from me.”

It is estimated that more than 80% of Filipinos are part of the Catholic Church.

Duterte won 38.5 percent of the vote for president of the Philippines, which was held May 9. While the nation's congress has not yet declared the result official, his lead is unassailable.

Currently mayor of Davao City, Duterte has built his political image as a tough leader. Nicknamed “the Punisher” by Time Magazine, Duterte brought law and order to Davao – known in the '70s and '80s as the murder capital of the country – with drastic measures which included, according to various human rights organizations, allowing death squads to operate.

He has served as mayor of Davao since 1988, except a three-year period when he was term-limited, and another three-year period when he served as vice mayor, while his daughter Sara was mayor.

During the election campaign, the Church in the Philippines expressed its opposition to several of Duterte's proposals, such as re-instituting the death penalty.

PDI OPINION: Duterte’s unfair tactics and lies against Roman Catholic bishops

BULLSEYE!

Philippine Daily Inquirer
12:10 AM May 25th, 2016

These are presumptive President-elect Rodrigo Duterte’s false charges and unfair tactics against the bishops of the Catholic Church whenever they humbly assert their moral duty and their magisterium, as apostles of God, like when they opposed his plan to reimpose the death penalty (this time, by hanging, at that):

1. Ad hominem. Attack the honor, character and integrity of the Catholic Church and its bishops.

He alleges he was a victim of sexual abuse by a priest 50 years ago when he was 10. (His father, former governor of Davao, apparently ignored it or did not believe it because until recently, Duterte did not talk about the actions taken by his prominent family in response—if what he claims is true).

Some bishops received vehicles and financial support from former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. (They returned the vehicles to the government during a Senate inquiry, as an act of spiritual detachment to material things, despite their great need for mobility and accessibility, considering their multifarious field pastoral work to serve millions of Catholics in far-flung areas).

By virtue of the constitutional doctrine of “separation of Church and state,” the Church is “absolutely” prohibited from collaborating with and receiving assistance from government for its social action programs that benefit the poor and the oppressed. (According to many Supreme Court decisions, the Constitution allows “collaboration” between Church and state to promote the general welfare, and the matter of the Church receiving reasonable support from the state does not violate the separation doctrine.

That the Church is the “most hypocritical institution” in the Philippines. (Duterte, of course, skirts the issues on his unexplained wealth in BPI, his dubious SALNs, the inconsistencies, if not lies, in his speeches [his positions on issues change from time to time, depending on his audience], his secret meetings with Chinese officials and the Sultan of Brunei during the campaign, his allegation about poverty and lack of campaign funds [belied by his TV and radio political ads worth millions of pesos] his secret big-time financiers from mining, rice-trading and other business sectors, and his many other claims that amounted to gross dishonesty, irresponsibility and hypocrisy).

2. Diversionary tactic. Ignore the main arguments. (The United Nations and its agencies urge member-states to reject death penalty as a policy. The Second Protocol to the 1949 Geneva Convention prohibits death penalty since the 1970s. The current international norm rejects death penalty, except for a few states—e.g., United States, China, Singapore). Divert instead the attention of the public to irrelevant or collateral issues.

Sometimes I am tempted to conclude that Duterte’s very close, if not fanatical, association with top-ranking communist leaders and his deep ideological indoctrination to communism since the 1960s up to now have turned him into an atheist, the “religion” of hardcore communists.

Whenever I listen to Duterte, I always get the feeling that his mind is not only agitated by hate and overblown ego but also closed to reason and differing opinions, and that he listens only to himself and his alter egos, and that he believes his own lies.
—MANUEL J. LASERNA JR., former professor of law, Far Eastern University, partner, Laserna Cueva-Mercader Law Offices, Las Piñas City

Read more: http://opinion.inquirer.net/94893/dutertes-unfair-tactics-and-lies-against-roman-catholic-bishops#ixzz49osX8YH3

Follow us: @inquirerdotnet on Twitter | inquirerdotnet on Facebook

MY LOYALTY TO A LEADER ENDS WHERE MY LOYALTY TO MY FAITH IN GOD AND OBEDIENCE TO HIS CHURCH AUTHORITIES BEGINS

When told about Quiboloy's hurt feelings when Duterte seems to ease out the pastor during the selection of his Cabinet members, Duterte blurterd: "I am sorry. My loyalty to my friend ends where my loyalty to my country begins." (Read HERE)

 

As a Catholic, I too will say "I AM SORRY MR DUTERTE. MY LOYALTY TO MY PRESIDENT ENDS WHERE MY LOYALTY TO MY FAITH IN GOD AND HIS CHURCH BEGINS."

Revealing his deep-seated grudges against the Catholic Church during his interview with ABS-CBN News Sunday, Mr. Duterte lambasted the Catholic Church as the "MOST HYPOCRITICAL INSTITUTION" after enumerating what he says the sins of the Catholic Church. I could only shook my head in disbelief.  What  a disgrace. And what would Catholic priests and bishops from the Visayas and Mindanao who defended his unbecoming behavior would say in response?  And what would CFD's (Catholic Faith Defenders) response to his venomous attack against the Church as an institution and her ordained priests and bishops?  I can only surmise.  Is this the kind of 'CHANGE' we Catholic Filipinos are expecting from him? Did we vote for him so as to attack us the next day?

Here are his rantings:

• He belittle the power of the Catholic Bishops as he considers his win as a clear referendum between him and the Catholic Church. 
• He boasts that although the bishops issued a Pastoral Letter "not to vote" for him (but the Bishops didn't name names), still he won among Catholics.
• He assumes his authority over Catholics with their bishops "iilan lang kayo!"
• He was "molested" by a Catholic priest according to him of which he laments because the priest already died 20 years ago and this is what he wants to start a fight against the Catholic priests and bishops.
• He wants to lecture Catholic bishops and priests of the sins of the Catholic Church since "institution of papacy" began.
• He dares he can drop names of bishops and priests who have fathered illegitimate children and that this is the "explosion" in the Catholic as a church.
• He wants a debate with any of the Catholic Bishops!
• Catholic bishops and priests are humans (still that's what we Catholics thought of our bishops and priests) prone to sin. And that this sin of clandestine priests will ultimately cause them "all fall down".
• The Catholic Church is just a "show" (pageantry).
• He curses Catholic bishops and priests living in "luxurious lifestyles" allegedly coming from politicians.
• Catholic bishops and priests who are soliciting donations from him, now barking at him.
• He believes in God but not in religion.
• He rejects Catholic rituals!
• He doesn't believe someone (like sinful human Catholic priests) could take away sins.  He said, priests / bishops aren't Gods (and we Catholic also believed that but they're given the authority to 'bind and loose')

As a Catholic 'faith defender', I cannot be silent on this matter. it's time to role up our sleeves once again and let's go back to prayer, fasting, sacrifice and action! RISE UP CATHOLICS!

Jamaine Punzalan, ABS-CBN News
Posted at May 22 2016 01:20 PM

Duterte calls Catholic Church 'most hypocritical institution'

Warning: Video contains offensive language.

(2nd UPDATE) OLD GRUDGES. Presumptive President Rodrigo Duterte on Sunday dubbed the Catholic Church as the "most hypocritical institution" as he lambasted its bishops for supposedly attempting to erode public support for him before the May 9 elections.

Duterte told reporters in Davao City that the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) released a pastoral letter a few days before the elections in a bid to dissuade the electorate from voting for him.

Despite this, Duterte said he still won the presidential elections, which he described as a "public referendum" between him and the bishops. The long-time mayor of Davao City has a 6.2 million lead over administration candidate, Mar Roxas, going into the official canvassing of the results by Congress this week. Three of his four rivals have conceded.

"They campaigned against me, everybody was saying 'Do not vote for Duterte.' Fine. I said, let this election be a referendum between me and the Catholic Church... Sabi ko, this will be a referendum kung sinong tama sa atin. Look, were you able to stop me? Iilan lang kayong mga obispo diyan," he said.

In an apparent reference to Duterte, the CBCP on May 1 urged the public to reject a "morally reprehensible" candidate who has shown "scant regard" for the rights of others and the teachings of the Church.

BREAKING: Catholics Will not be Part of Duterte's Presidency

Source: Abante

Out ang Katoliko sa gobyerno ko! -- Du30

Tahasang sinabi ni Davao City Mayor Rodrigo ‘Digong’ Duterte na sakaling manalo siya sa pagka-pangulo nga­yong eleksyon ay walang magiging role o ga­gampanang papel ang Simbahang Katoliko sa ilalim ng kanyang admi­nistrasyon.

“No more. Why should I acknowledge them? They say I should not be elected. I will not die if the Catholics will not vote for me,” sabi pa ni Duterte.

Gayunman, sinu­suportahan niya ang fa­mily planning, moderno man o ‘yung natural me­thods at binigyang-diin pa na ang ideal number of children per family ay dalawa hanggang tatlo upang mas mapalaki nang mabuti.

Samantala, minaliit lamang ng Catholic Bi­shops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) ang pagyayabang ni Duterte na hindi nito kailangan ang boto ng mga Katoliko sa buong bansa.

Ayon kay Lipa Archbishop Ramon Arguelles, kung hindi kailangan ni Duterte ang boto ng may 81 por­siyentong registered voters na Katoliko ay bahala na itong maniwala sa kanyang sarili.

“Kung hindi niya kailangan ang boto ng mga Katoliko ay bahala siya basta sa kasalukuyan ay nasa 81 porsiyento lang naman ang mga botante na pawang tagasunod ng Simbahang Katoliko,” sa panayam ng Abante kay Arguelles.

Ani Arguelles, kahit nakuha ni Duterte ang basbas ng Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) ay hindi ito nakakasiguro na mapupuwersa ng pamunuan nito na sumunod ang mga miyembro nito.

Against Muslim Terrorists called Deash (ISIS): Arab Christians Thank President Vladimir Puttin of Russia and the Syrian Government! Obama is the greatest threat for Arab Christians!

While Christians from the "free world" are arguing whose doctrines are genuine, here in the land where Christianity was born, our Christian brethren are fighting for this faith we just taken for granted. While Protestants argue that the Catholic Church had deviated from the True Faith, here are the Catholics and other Christian orthodox churches coming together as one believer in Christ Jesus. [Photo Source: Chaldean Nation Facebook Page or visit their website Chaldean Nation]

Raising the Christian Cross and the name of Lord Jesus Christ in Maaloula, Syria.

The ancient Syrian Christian town restores our Christian Cross and the Virgin Mary statue on top of the Mountain overlooking the beautiful city of Chaldean, Armenian and Syriac Christians. Maaloula celebrates with the Syrian government officials, banner of President Assad, as monument destroyed by rebels replaced.

Located north of Damascus, Maaloula is one of the world’s oldest Christian settlements, and its inhabitants still speak Aramaic and Chaldean, the language of Lord Jesus Christ.

Thank you Syrian Army and citizens including our Chaldean and Syriac Christian armies that librated the city from the criminals of Muslim terrorists also called Deash (ISIS).

Long Live the Syrian People!

Restoring the Virgin Mary statue, The Lady of Peace in Maaloula, Syria. This is a Christian city and will stay a Christian city forever!

Thank you Syria! Thank you Syrian and Christian armies. Thank you President Assad and Thank you President Vladimir Putin.

The ancient Syrian Christian town restores the Virgin Mary statue, The Lady of Peace on top of the Mountain overlooking the beautiful city of Chaldean, Armenian and Syriac Christians. Maaloula celebrates with the Syrian government officials, banner of President Assad, as monument destroyed by rebels replaced.

Located north of Damascus, Maaloula is one of the world’s oldest Christian settlements, and its inhabitants still speak Aramaic and Chaldean, the language of Lord Jesus Christ.

Thank you Syrian Army and citizens including our Chaldean and Syriac Christian armies that librated the city from the criminals of Muslim terrorists also called Deash (ISIS).

Long Live the Syrian People!

#ChaldeanNation #Chaldean #Syriac #Armenian #Syria #Iraq #Mesopotamia

Hoax: Prime Minister Julia Gillard - Australia on Muslim Immigration

But I wish they were TRUE!

She Did It Again !!!
Australia says NO -- This will be the second Time Julia Gillard has done this!

She sure isn't backing down on her hard line stance and one has to appreciate her belief in the rights of her native countrymen. Muslims who want to live under Islamic Sharia law were told on Wednesday to get out of Australia, as the government targeted radicals in a bid to head off potential terror attacks.

Separately, Gillard angered some Australian Muslims on Wednesday by saying she supported spy agencies monitoring the nation's mosques. Quote:

'IMMIGRANTS, NOT AUSTRALIANS, MUST ADAPT... Take It Or Leave It. I am tired of this nation worrying about whether we are offending some individual or their culture. Since the terrorist attacks on Bali, we have experienced a surge in patriotism by the majority of Australians.

'This culture has been developed over two centuries of struggles, trials and victories by millions of men and women who have sought freedom.

'We speak mainly ENGLISH, not Spanish, Lebanese, Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, Russian, or any other language. Therefore, if you wish to become part of our society, learn the language!

'Most Australians believe in God. This is not some Christian, right wing, political push, but a fact, because Christian men and women, on Christian principles, founded this nation, and this is clearly documented. It is certainly appropriate to display it on the walls of our schools. If God offends you, then I suggest you consider another part of the world as your new home, because God is part of our culture.'

'We will accept your beliefs, and will not question why. All we ask is that you accept ours, and live in harmony and peaceful enjoyment with us.

'This is OUR COUNTRY, OUR LAND, and OUR LIFESTYLE, and we will allow you every opportunity to enjoy all this. But once you are done complaining, whining, and griping about Our Flag, Our Pledge, Our Christian beliefs, or Our Way of Life, I highly encourage you take advantage of one other great Australian freedom, 'THE RIGHT TO LEAVE'.

'If you aren't happy here then LEAVE. We didn't force you to come here. You asked to be here. So accept the country that accepted you.

NOTE: IF we circulate this amongst ourselves in Canada & USA, WE will find the courage to start speaking and voicing the same truths.

Are ISIS Muslims or Not?

Source: StopIslam

Pope Francis is World's No. 4 Most Powerful Man on Earth

According to Forbes, Pope Francis is the fourth most powerful man on earth.

1 Vladimir Putin; Russian President (3)

2 Barack Obama; US President (1)

3 Xi Jinping; General Secretary of China’s Communist Party (9)

4 Pope Francis; Supreme Pontiff (NA)

5 Angela Merkel; German Chancellor (2)

6 Bill Gates; Co-chair Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (4)

7 Ben Bernanke; US Federal Reserve Chairman (6)

8 Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud; King, Saudi Arabia (7)

9 Mario Draghi; European Central Bank President (8)

10 Michael Duke; Wal-Mart CEO (17)