In a recent video message, Filipino Archbishop Socrates Villegas has managed to deliver a masterclass in subtle racism, all while ostensibly encouraging prayer and goodwill.
With a straight face, Villegas urged his flock to pray for the “conversion” of China, making sure to highlight that the Chinese bullies in the South China Sea all have “slanted eyes,” or “singkit” as he so culturally sensitively put it.
It seems the Archbishop has taken a page from the history of phrenology, believing that moral character can be discerned from physical features. Perhaps next week, he’ll be instructing us to pray for people with curly hair or dark skin to find redemption too.
And just to sprinkle some irony on top, he invoked the Blessed Virgin Mary in his borderline xenophobic diatribe, showcasing a level of un-Christian behavior that even Pontius Pilate might find a tad excessive.
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