I AM not taking President Digong’s words seriously. We all know that he has the “gift” of tongue. When he said that God is stupid, that could just be one of his impulses. That could be a ‘slip of the tongue’ (Freudian slip) or “slip of the mind” or that could be both.
In my catechism class, I was told that God is a Supreme Being, infinitely perfect. He made all things and keep them in existence. The late Msgr. Isidro U. Dormido told us that. God anoints leaders who have been chosen by the people. The voice of the people is the voice of God. If God is stupid, then he could have anointed stupid leaders.
We don’t believe and we don’t think that way. I am a Catholic but I am not a ritualistic person. I believe in my God as I feel him, as I understand Him, and as He knows me. I value my God in times of peace, difficulties, abundance and joy. He is my guide, my strength, my father, and my friend. Someone may insult other gods but not my God.
Anyone who disrespects my God is a blasphemous person. My God (your God, too) should be venerated. By rejecting belief in God and elevating human or political values only, one is swallowed by rationalism or humanism. If President Digong (a Catholic) does not believe in God’s existence, then he is a victim of agnosticism.
If our president espouses a philosophical doctrine that there is no God, then he is an atheist. I don’t want to believe also that our president adores Zeus (King of the Greek Gods), Dionysus (god of wine and ecstasy), Hades (god of the underworld), Apollo (god of the sun) or Aphrodite (goddess of love and beauty).
Is it really the real God or the God of the Catholic priests that President Digong wants to call stupid? The real God here, I believe, simply becomes a victim of President Digong’s hatred for some of the priests who dislike his “illegal killing,” “human rights violations” and “dirty words.” Even the ringing of the church bells is interpreted as a protest for the Duterte policy.
The president has been badly hit by the pronouncement of the church carried by some priest and church leaders during the sermons and prayer rallies. The president strikes backs by hurdling allegations that some priests are making money out of church contribution and live a life attached to the politicians (receiving brand new cars and other favors).
He exposed the womanizing of some priests and their abuses in young children. He even openly said that once he was molested by a priest. He attacked the nuns, the Pope, and now God. It is a record in history that the Philippines is the only Christian country in Asia where the bigger number of the population belongs to the Catholic Church.
In the past and even up to now, Filipinos who have become victims of land grabbing, social injustice, and other calamities still trust the priests and the church. I know of priests who are dedicated to their calling. Many of them are my best personal friends because we have involvement in religious, cultural, social, and civic programs.
President Digong finds what is weak in the Catholic Church. The bishops and the priests as mandated by the Vatican are anchored in their high-end ceremonies and closeness to the rich businessmen, landowners, and rich politicians. They talk about faith and they do all the talking. The president sees that the bishops and the priests don’t talk about their sins, the imperfection of the church, the corruption and immorality of church leaders.
The issues have now entered a “volleyball scheme.” If God is stupid, who is not stupid? One fool may claim that a stupid man created a stupid God. In the issue of stupidity, we at the ringside will see if who among the fighters are consistently stupid in their stupidity. To have a peace of mind with the real God, don’t make the issue sensational and controversial. We strongly want to tell the president, “Mr. President your God is not different from our God. Do not make us believe that God is stupid. Do not destroy the moral fiber of our existence.”
For President Digong, he has to probe some more that God is stupid and he is a victim. The clergy has to be consistently consistent in its consistency by defending that God refuses to be stupid. The anatomy of stupidity will prove that all of us can be stupid. If you believe in that, that is stupidity!