Bishop Cautions Faithful on Pro-choice "Catholic" Group

MANILA, April 7, 2010-A Church official has warned the public to become wary of a "Catholic" group that endorses the use of condom.

Sorsogon Bishop Arturo Bastes has called on Catholics to be cautious of a Washington D.C.-based pro-abortion group called Catholic for Choice (CFC) which has given its full support to the condom distribution program of the Department of Health (DoH).

"Mag-ingat tayo sa grupo na yan. Lilinlangin tayo niyan para lumabas na suportado ng simbahan ang condom which is malinaw at noon pa natin sinasabi na tutol tayo sa condom distribution ng DoH" (Be wary of this group. Let us not allow ourselves to be misled. The Church has been clear from the beginning why it is against the condom program of DOH)" the bishop said in an interview with Radio Veritas.

Bastes said the group's advocacy goes against the will of God and the teachings of the Catholic Church.

"It is against the will of God, against the teaching of the Church. We have to respect life God has given us. We cannot simply play with the divine power of human reproduction, that's why the Catholic Church is really against it," the Sorsogon bishop explained.

The prelate said the American-based "catholic" organization is not following the doctrines of the Catholic Church.

"[Their support] for condom and all kinds of contraceptives are really against the teachings of the Church," he said.

In a report, CFC president Jon O'Brien praised DOH Sec. Cabral for her brave stance against the Catholic Church's position on the contraceptive issues.

O'Brien said that the condom distribution program "will undoubtedly save lives as the country confronts the HIV/AIDS epidemic."

Bastes believed that the group is being funded by an international organization which promotes condoms and artificial contraceptives.

He advised Catholics to think and reflect well on their stand on condom distribution.

"If you support condom distribution, you have to examine your life if you should remain catholic. As a catholic, you must follow the teachings of the Catholic Church. There is no such thing as half Catholic," he said.

Bastes urged the faithful to avoid the use of artificial contraceptives especially condom since it can only lead to all kinds of immoral actions.

"Life is a sacred [gift] from God. We have to value and respect it," he said.

Founded in 1973, the CFC organization serves as a "voice for Catholics who believe that their faith supports a woman's moral and legal rights to follow her conscience in matters of sexuality and reproductive health." (CBCPNews)