CBCP Head Denies Threatening Aquino of Excommunication

MANILA, Oct.1, 2010-Although "frustrated" with President Aquino's plan to push artificial contraception, the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines denied threatening him with excommunication.

CBCP President and Tandag Bishop Nereo Odchimar underscored that they still believe in the spirit of dialogue as an "initial approach" on the matter "and not confrontation."

"Threat of excommunication at this point of time can hardly be considered to be in line with dialogue," Odchimar said in a "disclaimer" issued Friday.

"The imposition of the canonical sanction has not been contemplated by the CBCP," he said.

The CBCP head also reiterated the Church's position that human life starts at conception and not at implantation.

In Odchimar's radio interview yesterday, which was adapted by television news and in major dailies today, he said that any completed act to expel or kill the fertilized ovum is considered abortion.

In the Catholic Church, abortion is a capital offence with a penalty of "excommunication" on those who procure and helped obtain it.

Excommunication is a religious censure used to deprive or suspend membership in the Catholic community.

Church officials, however said, the purpose of which is not to reject anyone, but precisely to help people understand how evil abortion is, and help them to turn away from it.

But "right now, it is not a proximate possibility (as far as Aquino is concerned)," Odchimar said over Church-run Radyo Veritas on Thursday.

The prelate also clarified the Church intervenes on issues like artificial contraception "because this is a moral question."

"Among other things this concerns the right to life particularly of the unborn child in the mother's womb," Odchimar added in his statement. (CBCPNews)