MANILA, April 3, 2009— As the deliberation of the Reproductive Health (RH) bill in Congress nears end, expect more dirt, Catholic Church officials said.
San Fernando Archbishop Paciano Aniceto claimed local government officials will be “manipulated” to add support to the proposed measure.
They will try to get in the provincial and municipal level. They will influence the governors and mayors to promote the same bill in the LGUs,” he said.
Aniceto is the chairman of the Episcopal Commission on Family and Life (ECFL) of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP).
That’s why, the religious leader said, the church is getting more proactive in its advocacy against the bill which seeks to promote artificial family planning.
He called on his fellow bishops to continue conducting forums or even rallies purportedly to keep the public informed about the “dangers” of the bill.
The archbishop clarified they are not against the RH bill per se but they want some of its provisions like making contraceptives widely available to the public be removed.
We, the bishops, will also continue engaging with the lawmakers in a friendly conversation on the important aspects of the bill (that) should be incorporated,” Aniceto said.
He also called on the church leaders and “pro-life” advocates to keep educating the public about the RH bill even if it would be passed or not.
The bishops, even if theoretically this bill will not be approved by Congress, will still continue to catechize and educate our people in our parishes,” Aniceto said.
For his part, ECFL executive secretary Fr Melvin Castro said they are also intensifying their signature drive to be able to bring at least a million to Congress before June this year.
A key crusader of the bill in the lower House, Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman, said the proposed measure could be passed by June. (Kate Laceda)
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