Arnold Clavio Defends the Catholic Faith Against a Disrespectful Joke
ARNOLD CLAVIO – The Kapuso broadcast journalist expressed his disappointment over a viral video where a young woman mocked the Catholic practice of making the sign of the cross.
In the video, the woman referred to the religious gesture as a “gang sign” and imitated it in a humorous manner. For Clavio, the act was not only offensive but also a clear example of disrespect towards religious beliefs.
On Instagram, Clavio emphasized the importance of respect, especially when it comes to religion. He said that while freedom of speech and expression is a right, it should never be used to insult or belittle someone else’s faith. As a Catholic, he explained that the sign of the cross is a sacred symbol — representing hope, gratitude, and a reminder of the ultimate sacrifice made by Jesus Christ.
“Hindi mo puwedeng kaladkarin iha ang FREEDOM OF SPEECH o FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION sa paggamit mo ng SIGN OF THE CROSS naming mga KATOLIKO para MAGPATAWA,” Clavio said. “Para sa amin , napaka-BANAL at SAGRADO ang ‘ANTANDA’ dahil pinapaalala nito ang pinaka-DAKILANG PAG-IBIG – ang sakripisyo at pag-aalay ng BUHAY ni Hesukristo.” He added that for many believers, the gesture also serves as a form of protection from evil and a way to reaffirm one’s faith.
Clavio also called out stand-up comedians and other performers who use religion as a subject for jokes. “For those whose job is to make people laugh — stepping on people’s beliefs is not funny,” he said.
Although Arnold Clavio admitted he did not know the woman in the video personally, he said he was praying for her, choosing to respond with compassion despite his dismay.
In the comments section of his post, netizens echoed his sentiments. Many agreed that respect for religious practices should be upheld. One user noted, “Freedom of speech doesn’t mean freedom to offend. May hangganan pa rin ‘yan.” Another said, “Bilang isang ina na nagtuturo ng pananampalataya sa mga anak ko, sobrang nakakasakit itong ganitong biro.”
While some users believed Clavio should have ignored the video to avoid giving it more attention, others praised him for speaking out and defending what is sacred to many.
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