Monday, July 21, 2008

Philippine Catholic Church Frowns Abortion Bill

The local church is making its voice heard as the debate rages on the merits and demerits of a bill pending in Congress hiding under a harmless description as  reproductive health, responsible parenthood and population development. 

 Slamming the bill as nothing but a legal cover for abortion and sex education, the Diocese of Tagbilaran is calling on the faithful to attend a prayer rally on July 29 to dramatize its opposition to House Bill No 17 otherwise known as Reproductive Health, Responsible Parenthood and Population Development Act of 2007.

 According to Msgr. Jeffrey Malanog, vicar general and officer-in-charge of the diocese, the prayer rally will expect from 3,000 to 5,000 participants coming from church-mandated organizations and schools in this city.

 The debate on the propriety of the proposed reproductive bill  intensified last week when an Ozamis bishop announced that his diocese would deny communion any lawmaker found to have advocated the pro-abortion bill.

 In Bohol, the three lawmakers, Cong. Edgar Chatto, Roberto Cajes and Adam Relson Jala are true to their Catholic upbringing when they opted to become pro-life solons.

 When  asked to react on the bishop's statement, Msgr. Malanog said that prelates are free to make legislations in their own dioceses.

 In the case of the local diocese, the second in command said that he cannot make an official stand in the absence of  Bishop Leornardo Medroso,  who is in Australia. The bishop of Tagbilaran is expected to arrive today from his overseas trip.

 Msgr. Malanog said it will be a judgment call of  Bishop Medroso if he will follow the ecclesiastical directive of the Ozamis prelate.

 According to a press statement of the local diocese, the proponents of the bills (there are seven of similar nature) may deny that they included abortion but it was clear that the terms and words used, have double meaning.

 For example, the statement cited reproductive health term and its allied terms, which evolved at the Cairo Program of Action and Beijing Platform of Action in which the Philippines was one of the signatories, declared that it include abortion.

 On sex education to the youth , the statement said, it was mandated in these bills that it will be available to students from Grade 5 to fourth year. The diocese statement said under this arrangement, the young students will be exposed to promiscuity since they will view sex as just for pleasure and free for all, instead of its true meaning, for procreation and bonding for the husband and the wife.

 Bishop Medroso and Msgr. Malanog, the clergy and the rest of the faithful will come from five different points of the city and converge at the cathedral grounds on July 29.

 The group from Mansasa Chaplaincy,Mansasa Seaside,Panglao, Dauis, Baclayon, Albur, Vicariates of Holy Infant and Our Lady of the Assumption led by Fr. Julian Lupot Jr. will assemble at Mansasa-Dauis Junction.

 To assemble at the school entrance of Bohol Wisdom is the group led by Fr. Crislito Geagan coming from La Paz, Cortes, Manga, Cogon, Taloto, Vicariate of Mt. Carmel, Vicariate of St. Vincent, Dr. Cecilio Putong National High School, Bohol Wisdom School, CVSCAFT, UB, STI, Informatics, BLD, El Shaddai, FFCCWO, Lingkod ng Panginoon.

 The group from Dao, Corella, AWRET, Sikatuna, Tiptip, Lindaville, Holy Name University, Vicariate of Our Lady of Light, city government, DMI, BCBP (North and South) Cursillos in Christianity led by Fr. Manuel Mendez will assemble at Agricultural Promotions Center.

 To assemble at Dampas Chapel is the group led by Rev. Fr. Marcelo Operiano Jr. coming from Dampas, Bool, Cabawan,Tagbilaran Science High, Vicariate of St. Peter, St. Joseph Cathedral, Charismatic Renewal Movement, Couples for Christ, SCA, Divine Mercy

 The group from Taloto, Ubujan, Our Lady of Lourdes Parish, COLL, Holy Spirit School, Legion of Mary, Volunteers for Prison Ministry, PMI Colleges, BIT, CWL, Knights of Columbus, Booy, Cathecists, to be led by Gerardo Saco Jr. will assemble at Cainget/Graharn Junction.

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