Duterte’s criticism of the Church is good for women, their families, and the country

FIREBRAND President-elect Rodrigo Duterte’s recent ferocious attacks against the Catholic Church, which he accused of being hypocritical and out of tune with the Filipino people, will benefit women and the country. He has not shied away from showing his contempt for rotten priests: “P****g ina kayo! Aren’t you ashamed of yourselves? Who do you think you are?” He has threatened to expose bishops guilty of corruption, womanizing, and sexual abuse. No other President has been quite so vocal in castigating the Church hierarchy. Or quite so categorical about population control. “I am a Christian but I am a realist,” says Duterte, who rode to victory on a great wave of populist rage. “We have to do something about overpopulation.” The fact that he won’t toady to the Church, unlike his presidential predecessors, is a significant point in his favor.

But it’s too early to consider him a champion of women’s reproductive health-care rights. If his pronouncements are to have any value, they need to be backed up by resolute political will and concrete action. But his rhetoric, no matter how coated in cuss words, gives ground for optimism.