By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

After President Rodrigo Duterte claimed the Catholic Church would be gone in 25 years, the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) yesterday responded by saying the church has endured everyone and everything.

In a statement by Diocese of Balanga Bishop Ruperto Santos of the CBCP Episcopal Commission on Migrants and Itinerant People, he said bishops, priests, and the religious have experienced “cruel persecution” and “many have been martyred” for the Catholic faith, yet the church continues to stand.

Meanwhile, Caloocan Bishop Pablo David, who has been critical of the Duterte administration, said, “Not even the sins and human weakness of members could destroy the church.”

He further stated, the church remains in existence not because of them but rather the Holy Spirit.

Last Monday, during the National Assembly of the Liga ng mga Barangay in Pasay City, Duterte renewed his tirade against the church saying it would disappear in 25 years.

The president’s remarks were in response to the recent conference called by Pope Francis over the numerous sexual abuses committed by members of the clergy.

Duterte earlier claimed he was molested by a priest while attending Catholic school./DGB, WDJ