After Pope blessing, Duterte challenges abusive priests to 'showdown'

[TomSea]

After Pope blessing, Duterte challenges abusive priests to 'showdown'

 By Neil Jerome Morales | MANILA

Undeterred by a blessing from Pope Francis, Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte launched an angry rebuke on Thursday of priests and bishops critical of his drugs war, accusing them of homosexuality, corruption and of abusing children.

Duterte was furious over concerns by the Catholic Church of alleged extrajudicial killings during his crackdown and lambasted clergymen for denouncing him instead of using their influence to get people off drugs.

His no-holds-barred tirade came a day after one of Duterte's top advisers met Pope Francis at the Vatican and said the Pontiff had told him he would bless the Philippines, and "also bless your president".

In a speech to policemen, the firebrand leader of one of only two majority Catholic Asian countries challenged the church to a "showdown" and threatened to expose priests and bishops for a litany of abuses.

Continued: http://www.reuters.com/article/philippines-duterte-pope-int-idUSKBN1531OJ?feedType=RSS&virtualBrandChannel=11563

[geronl]

Now they gonna go kill some clergy members, oh what fun for a cold-blooded murder like Duterte

[montanajoe]

Duterte will need the Pope's blessing, more accurately the last rites, if he goes against the church in the PI..

[DB]

There's nothing alleged about "alleged extrajudicial killings" in the Philippines. It has become a vigilante state due to failed law enforcement.

[geronl]

There's nothing alleged about "alleged extrajudicial killings" in the Philippines. It has become a vigilante state due to failed law enforcement.

Duterte doesn't think that is a failure, he thinks its a perk