Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte called God "stupid" during a speech last week, and people are not having it.
Duterte, who has had rude things to say about everyone from former President Barack Obama to Pope Francis, was asked about the Biblical story of Adam and Eve and why God would tempt them. "Who is this stupid God?" Duterte responded. "This son of a bitch is then really stupid. How can you rationalize a God? Do you believe?" Duterte is president of the largest Catholic country in Asia, and immediately, both supporters and detractors spoke out against him.
Arturo Bastes, a Catholic bishop, called Duterte a "madman" whose "tirade against God and the Bible reveals again that he is a psychological freak, a psychopath, an abnormal mind who should have not been elected as president of our civilized and Christian nation." Sen. Panfilo Lacson said he supported most of Duterte's actions, but he was outraged by his comments. "May my God forgive him and make him atone for all his sins," he said.
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On Monday, Duterte's spokesman said he has the right to his opinion, and mentioned that Duterte has shared he was sexually abused by a priest as a student. Duterte lashed out at his detractors as well. "Why do you bind me with something very stupid?" he said. "I was given my own mind by God."
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