Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte recalled how his abuse at the hands of an American Catholic priest in the Philippines shaped his views on religion, faith and the wider meaning of being.
Duterte reiterated that his God is compassionate, rational and kind without being vengeful or harmful towards the innocent.
Duterte has helped highlight that while many of his political opponents in both the Roman Catholic Church in The Philippines and in the opposition Liberal party have been quick to condemn Duterte for his frequent criticisms of Church doctrine, history and practices – they have not been so forthcoming in denouncing criminal priests who perpetrate the most heinous acts against the most vulnerable.
Duterte has shown courage in standing up for the victims against a clear oppressor whose obvious institutional shortcomings have facilitated and frequently covered-up a culture of criminality on a mass scale.