Why have you kept silent?

De Lima to Catholic Church:

Detained opposition Sen. Leila de Lima slammed yesterday the powerful Roman Catholic Church leaders for their silence amid attacks by the Duterte government against their beliefs.

From her detention cell at the Philippine National Police (PNP) custodial center in Quezon City, de Lima said “our people dying…priests who defend the people are dying.”

“Why are they are silent in the face 0f those who speak maliciously of God, and the call for good behavior?” she asked.

Several senators have expressed alarm at the murder of three priests and the wounding of another in a matter of six months.

“For a predominantly Catholic country, there seems to be a growing sentiment among the people I have spoken to that the Roman Catholic Church is slowly allowing itself to fall into irrelevancy,”’ de Lima said.

“Other denominations, when they deem their ranks and their beliefs are under attack, the leadership makes their voices heard, and defends their Church, their own, their followers and, most importantly, their faith,” she pointed out.

“But these days, it seems that the Church, as an organization, has fallen silent. Where are the words of wisdom from the highest ranking official of the Roman Catholic Church in the Philippines? Words that defend against blasphemous words that take the name of God for granted? Words that defend those who defend the faith and its people? Words that are not just meant to guide the Filipino people towards a stronger faith, and away from morally ruinous mentalities and actions, but to condemn recent events that seem to make religious leaders fair game for killing sprees? ” she asked.

De Lima said the Church could not have chosen the worst time to become silent and passive.

Pabillo slams violent culture

Meanwhile, a Catholic Church leader said that President Duterte has “furthered” the culture of violence and impunity in the country as the Philippines recently placed second as the least peaceful country in the Asia Pacific Region.

“Duterte tried to distance himself from the killings and the acts of violence. But it cannot be denied that these are happening under his watch. He also is a factor in this increase of violence. Violence generates violence. If the president of the land gives out violent words in almost all his talks, violence become his message,” said Manila Auxiliary Bishop Broderick Pabillo.

Pabillo said that if the President will “boasts of thousands of killings” due to the government's war on illegal drugs and “exonerate” the police force if they kill suspected drug addicts, “this robs on the people,” he said.

“If after more than 22,000 killed “under investigation” no one has been held accountable, then the message becomes clear that one can kill – for whatever reason – because the police is either so inept that they will not be able to hold anyone liable, or they can easily be bought so that no one will be caught and put on trial--as long as one is in good odor with the administration,” Pabillo said.

“In this sense Duterte has furthered the culture of violence in the country, and with it, the culture of impunity,” he added. (With a report from Analou de Vera)