CBCP Head Slams Journalists for Fake News

MANILA, April 16, 2011— The head of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) has faulted some journalists for fabricating news.

CBCP President Bishop Nereo Odchimar was reacting against yesterday’s newspaper reports quoting him attacking Davao City’s proposed birth control ordinance.

In the reports, Odchimar was quoted saying: “We will counter any government official pushing for the passage of a city ordinance allowing the distribution of condoms and other contraceptives. We will tell people not to obey them.”

“We are ready to oppose any government plan to promote artificial contraception. The Catholic Church will organize mass protests against the reproductive health bill that it says promotes illicit sex through the distribution of condoms,” the report added.

According to Odchimar, he did not issue any statement on the matter yet and was never interviewed by any journalists.

While he is against distribution of contraceptives to the public by the government, the CBCP head disowned the statements supposedly issued by him in the news reports.

Upon cursory check with some reporters it was learned that a PR man distributed to reporters the press release containing a fake statement.

“That’s putting words into my mouth,” Odchimar said in a statement on Saturday. [CBCPNews]