Duterte questions original sin, calls God ‘stupid’

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After calling God "stupid" and then doubling down on the comment on Monday, Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte announced Tuesday that he's created a committee to start a dialogue with the Catholic Church.

Duterte has attacked many people, from the Pope to former US President Barack Obama, but he sparked new outrage on Friday when he took on a target that transcends the earthly realm: God.

In a speech in his hometown of Davao on Friday, Duterte turned his attention to God, questioned the concept of original sin, and using familiarly crude language, asked “Who is this stupid God?”

Referring to the Biblical story of how humans fell from divine grace, Duterte says, "Adam ate it (the fruit from the forbidden tree), then malice was born. Who is this stupid God? You are really a stupid son of a b***ch if that is the case," said the president.

"…Now you're stained with an original sins ... What kind of a religion is that? That's what I can't accept, very stupid proposition," he said.

Backlash in the Philippines – Asia’s largest Catholic country – was swift. Lawmakers, social media sites and clergy members have publicly criticized the president, with some saying he’s finally crossed a line.

Sen. Panfilo Lacson, a former national police chief, wrote in a public statement that though he often sided with Duterte in conflicts with political adversaries, he hoped that “God [could] forgive him and make him atone for all his sins.”

Despite the public objections, Duterte did not back down on Monday.

At an event in Cagayan de Oro, Duterte defended his beliefs, saying that “your God is not my God because your God is stupid. Mine has a lot of common sense.”

The defense didn't last long, as on Tuesday Duterte's spokesman, Harry Roque, announced that the president later decided to address his rift with the Catholic Church.

The committee will consist of three people: Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Ernesto Abella, Council for Philippine Affairs Secretary General Pastor “Boy” Saycon Jr. and spokesperson Harry Roque.

(Top photo: File photo of Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte /VCG photo)