Forces against, for RH Bill both troubled
Saturday, February 12, 2011
CEBU CITY -- About 5,000 people joined the Catholic church-initiated rally against the Reproductive Health (RH) Bill at the Fuente Osmeña circle Friday afternoon.
They endured the heat and dust in the area as they chanted "We are, we are for life" and waved placards with messages along these lines: "RH bill source of corruption," "I choose life!" and "Katoliko ako! Supak ako sa RH bill."
But supporters of the bill in Cebu also expressed disappointment that it was not included among the priority measures of President Benigno Aquino III.
Judy Aguilar, coordinator of the Reproductive Rights Resource Group, said Aquino's "change of heart" may become a setback in the country's goal of reducing maternal deaths and child mortality by 2015.
Participants of the Fuente rally included students of Catholic schools, church organizations like the Knights of Columbus and Catholic Women's League and trans-parochial organizations from Cebu City to as far as Daanbantayan town, in northern Cebu province.
The rally, dubbed as "Cebuanos! Unite for Life!" was also attended by Representative Rachel del Mar (Cebu City, north) and her father former congressman Raul del Mar, Representative Pablo Garcia (Cebu Province, second district), Cebu Auxiliary Bishop Emilio Bataclan and Episcopal Vicar Msgr. Esteban Binghay, among others.
One of the invited speakers was Msgr. Juanito Figura, Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) secretary general, who said the Catholic Church does not have funds or a strategy to mount an anti-RH bill campaign.
"What we have are prayers, Gospel values, sincerity and commitment to human life, which are enough because this means we have God on our side," he said.
He asked why some legislators who are practicing Catholics promote the RH bill, "which is against the aspirations of the Filipino people."
"Every law of the society must be for the protection of human life," he added.
The CBCP issued a pastoral letter against the bill last January 31, where they stated that they are against the non-consideration of moral principles; anti-life, anti-natal and contraceptive mentality reflected in media and some proposed legislation; efforts to railroad the RH bill; the trajectory of the bill toward population control; and the use of public funds for contraceptives, sterilization and compulsory sex education.
Cebu Archbishop Palma, in a message delivered by Fr. Euselito Tulipas, said, "We come to manifest our faith in Jesus and our resolve not to allow ourselves to be persuaded by anyone whose principles are contrary to the teachings of Jesus Christ."
"For those who, out of honest ignorance, are supporting the RH bill, we pray to the Holy Spirit for the light of wisdom and understanding. For those who are indifferent about this issue, or are afraid to stand for the faith, or have grown cold in their faith, we pray for ardent zeal," he said.
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