IMPULSES
BY HERMAN M. LAGON
CONSIDER also the company that Pastor Apollo Quiboloy keeps. His staunch defenders in the Senate include figures who seem more interested in protecting their political alliances than seeking the truth.
Robin Padilla’s objection to holding Quiboloy in contempt is a case in point. He argues that the Senate’s actions infringe on religious freedom. But does protecting a friend really justify disregarding allegations of such gravity? Does loyalty to a religious leader supersede loyalty to the law, to the people, to the truth?
Padilla’s objection is not just absurd; it is dangerous. By conflating criminal charges with religious persecution, he risks undermining the very principle of justice and the separation of the church and the state.
How many more leaders, religious or otherwise, will hide behind such arguments to escape the consequences of their actions? If a priest, preacher, or imam commits a crime, should they not be held to the same standards as any other citizen? Would Jesus approve of using religion as a cover for wrongdoing or to flex one’s hubris?
And what about the other senators and personalities who stand by Quiboloy in the standoff? Their defense of him raises questions about their integrity and intentions. Are they truly motivated by a concern for religious freedom, or is a more cynical calculation that concerns spins, cuts, clouts, and votes play? Are they protecting Quiboloy because they believe in his immaculateness or because they owe or ask him for past or future favors?
Moreover, if Quiboloy is indeed the “Owner of the Universe,” as he claims, why would he fear any earthly authority? Shouldn’t a man with divine backing and power be able to face mere mortals without hesitation?
Some say that his self-proclaimed divinity seems more of a shield against accountability than a reflection of true holiness. Whether this is true or not depends on what will happen in the following apocalyptic events to come.
In the end, the question remains: What would Jesus do? Would he evade the courts or stand firm in the face of false accusations? Would he accumulate wealth or live a life of simplicity and service? Would he use his influence to manipulate political systems or call out abuses and injustices wherever he saw it?
Quiboloy, who also claims to be “the way, the truth, and the life,” must, or maybe he already did, ask himself these questions if he truly believes in the path of righteousness.
Imagine how prophetic it would be if the ending narrative were that, by some supernatural grace, Quiboloy is eventually proven innocent. Is this not the kind of justice one would want if they were innocent and divine? Is it not the kind of biblical narrative one needs to have in order to cement his holiness among his flock?
Show the world that the “man of God” can withstand the scrutiny of both heaven and earth. After all, truth and divine justice will surely side with you if you are who you claim to be./PN
