Pope: No to RH, divorce

By LESLIE ANN G. AQUINO July 9, 2011, 6:22pm MANILA, Philippines The Catholic Churchs campaign against the Reproductive Health (RH) and divorce bills got a big boost after Pope Benedict XVI rallied behind the efforts of bishops to defend the value of human life and sacredness of marriage. His Holiness prays that this time for reflection and renewed dedication in the service of the Gospel will bear abundant fruit for the Church and the society, read the message of the Pontiff to Philippine bishops currently attending their 103rd Plenary Assembly in Paco, Manila. He encourages the bishops in their efforts in defense of the value of each human life, of the sacredness of marriage, and of the family, it further read. The Pontiffs letter addressed to CBCP President Tandag Bishop Nereo Odchimar was signed by Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone. Odchimar had earlier said that the issue of the RH bill will be included in their bi-annual gathering. We will be discussing that because that is the present burning issue and we have to speak out on that, he said in an interview with reporters. We are the last bastion standing against the RH bill, divorce, and now there is also the possibility of same-sex marriage and we wont be surprised if after that would come euthanasia, added Odchimar. The Catholic Church has been opposing the RH bill convinced that it is anti-life and family due to its promotion of artificial contraceptives as a family planning method. The Church is also against the introduction of divorce in the country for it destroys the marriage bond. As of Saturday morning, 89 bishops, out of the 138 members of the CBCP, were present during the Plenary Assembly. Among them are the bishops allegedly involved in the so-called PCSO fund mess namely; Cotabato Archbishop Orlando Quevedo, Butuan Bishop Juan De Dios Pueblos, Bangued Bishop Leopoldo Jaucian, Basilan Bishop Martin Jumoad, and Bontoc Bishop Rodolfo Beltran. The PCSO had earlier accused some bishops of receiving donations and sports utility vehicles (SUVs) from then President and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo allegedly for political patronage.

Expect greater opposition from the Catholic Church when it comes to the issue of the Reproductive Health (RH) bill and divorce bill when Congress resumes its session on July 25. This after the fight of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) against the said bills got a boost from no less than Pope Benedict XVI himself

Experts: RH bill doesn't address reproductive health problems

MANILA, November 22, 2008The controversial Reproductive Health (RH) bill now being deliberated in Philippine Congress does not address reproductive health problems, say bioethics experts. We commend efforts to improve the quality of life of the Filipino people. We agree that there is a need to address the present problems in reproductive health. This bill (An Act Providing for a National Policy on Reproductive Health, Responsible Parenthood and Population Development and for other purpose of House Bill No. 5043), however does not address these problems in a holistic manner. It focuses mainly on pregnancy prevention, said a group of bioethics groups of the country in a press statement. The press statement titled, Consensus statement on Reproductive Bill 5043) was signed and approved by Southeast Asian Center for Bioethics represented by Fr. Fausto B. Gomez, OP, president and Angeles T. Alora, MD, executive director; Edna Monzon, MD, president of Catholic Physicians Guild of the Philippines and chairman of Faculty of Medicine and Surgery of Dominican-run University of Santo Tomas (UST), Mayumi Bismark, MD president of Bioethics Society of the Philippines, and Mrs. Lucia V. Soltes, Catholic Nurses Guild of the Philippines. Bioethics is the philosophical study of the ethical controversies brought about by advances in biology and medicine. Bioethicists are concerned with the ethical questions that arise in the relationships among life sciences, biotechnology, medicine, politics, law, philosophy, and theology. The "consensus position paper on RH bill" reflects the Catholic teachings of the Church, current theological trends and bioethics principles, said Father Gomez, professor of bioethics at the Faculty of Medicine and Surgery of UST, the oldest univeristy in Asia. The RH Bill 5043, which is in substitution to House Bill Nos. 17, 812, 2753 and 3970, were introduced during the first regular session of the 14th Congress by Edcel C. Lagman, Janettte L. Garin, Narciso D. Santiago III, Mark Llandro Mendoza, Ana Theresia Hontiveros-Baraquel and Elandro Jesus F. Madrona. Population control is a highly politicized issue in the country, where more than 80 percent of the 90 million population are Catholics. We commend efforts to involve different sectors of society, said the statement which was issued after lengthy deliberations of a colloquium held on November 14, 2008.

The RH bill seeks to establish a national family planning program that would include sex education and use of on birth control, which the Catholic Church considers "immoral." The Church has objected on any artificial form of birth control and has been waging a strong campaign to block the passage of the bill. With regard to family planning, the group of experts on bioethics said, The family planning agenda should use natural rather than artificial methods. Sex education is an important part in the integral development of the child. The responsibility lies first with the parents. Their role should be stressed. It should also involve the school with teachers who should be educated. The absence of content regarding values in the way sex education is taught gives an impression that there is no universal value, human sexuality, not sex education, should be taught, said the bioethics groups that comprised of medical doctors, nurses, health professionals and teachers of health sciences and others. They (bioethics groups) further reiterated saying, The (RH) program should provide information and definitions which are accurate and free of contradictions: the antiabortion stance of the bills contraindicated by the promotion of contractive agents (IUD and hormonal contraceptives) which actually act after fertilization and are potentially abortificient agents. Clinical decisions, as permeated by RH, cannot be mandated (in the need refusing to refer patients to family planning services based on conscientious objection is penalized) but must be left to the informed conscience of the health practitioner, the statement said. Human freedom is a universal right. Health professionals and educators should be free to conscientiously object without fear of penalty and sanction, the statement stressed. International aid agencies and economists have supported the RH bill saying it is crucial if the Philippines is to curb its annual population growth rate of 2.04 percent, one of Asia's highest. We are all of the same intention in protecting the mother during her reproductive years but we must also consider the rights of others involved: specifically the unborn and those tasked with their care, the statement said. In the pursuit of the authentic common good, let us appreciate the obligation to ensure that no other aims or goals, no matter how pressing, obscure or overshadow our value of and respect for life and the dignities of person and family, the press note said. The bill should be re-shaped into a fully comprehensive RH bill after all the voices are heard, the bioethics teachers and practitioners said. Many points of RH Bill such national agenda policy to control population, use of contraceptives, and sex education provisions go against established church doctrine and puts the social fabric of the mainly Catholic Philippines in peril,

according to Fr Melvin Castro, executive secretary of the Episcopal Commission on Family and Life of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP). "We can't simply follow what the world wants us to do," the priest said in a separate press briefing. The Church hopes it has adequate support in Congress to defeat the RH bill promoting sex education and the use of contraceptives. "The bishops are confident they have the numbers," said Maria Fenny Tatad, executive director of the church lobby group Bishops-Legislators Caucus of the Philippines. Meanwhile, despite its tough campaign against the RH bill, CBCP has said that it will not take the battle against the bill to the streets. CBCP Family Life Executive Secretary Fr. Melvin Castro said that instead of holding mass protests, they want to dialogue the issue with the lawmakers who authored the bill. "We are not contemplating of any mass actions or mass protests because we view that it's not necessary," he said. (Santosh Digal)

Sa lahat po ng bansa na may RH bill, ang kaakibat po niyan ay abortion and divorce. The three are inseparable, like three-in-one coffee. Once the RH bill is passed, abortion and divorce will follow. Nasabi ko na po ang stand ko diyan: I am not in favor of passing the RH bill into law, for that would make it mandatory to all, actually killing the freedom of choice . Pabor po ako sa divorce for 80-year- old couples, for they can no longer use the divorce law to prostitute around because of their new-found emancipation. Kasi po para sa mga active pa ang libidos, the divorce law would only end up legalizing prostitution. Walang pinagkaiba sa mga kalapating mababa ang lipad sa Ermita, ika nga. The only difference from those in the prostitution business is high class ang mga papalit at dadami sa buong kapuluan. That s where the divorce law will end up to pag nag-umpisa na magpalitan ng partners ang may mga asawa. Wala po akong problema diyan at wala naman akong asawa. Kaya kayong may mga asawa, gawin na lang ninyo ang gusto ninyo. May vow of celibacy po ako since 1953 in Rome, noong panahon pa ni Father Arupe, the head of the Jesuit Order based in Rome and referred to as The Black Pope, together with Rev. Father Tom Sullivan, a Jesuit and a close friend, related to the Kennedys. Simple lang ang buhay ko. Ni ayaw ko na pong mag-comment sa mga issues, at magulo at walang direksyon ang mga tao ngayon. Kanya-kanya na po is the name of the game. It s survival of the fittest.

The law of the jungle prevails. Para na pong animal ang mga tao ngayon. It s useless to even comment. I have come to believe that we cannot change things anymore, not even to right a wrong. As things are, to fight for what is right is wrong, for wrong is what is perceived today to be right . I spoke out for the wrong things happening in the PCSO today, and for speaking out what ought to be done to right a wrong, ako pa ang mali. In all this, I was only fighting for the injustices sa mga pasyente at empleyado being committed in the PCSO today. Pero mukhang ang mensahe ng Malacanang ay tama abusuhin ang mga mahihirap na may sakit. Ayaw pong makinig. I, therefore, rest my case. I was only designated spokesperson for the past board. I was not the head of the agency for the past seven years as I was only a director with no powers to the purse during President Gloria s administration. Pero napagkasunduan po ng past PCSO board na maghahati kami sa trabaho. Ang past PCSO chairman at past PCSO general manager, si Sergio Valencia at Rosario Uriarte, ang mga sasagot po sa hearing sa Kongreso at Senado. Ako po ang inatasan nilang sumagot sa media as a media-person myself. Akala po ng tao na ako ang namuno sa PCSO in the past administration. Hindi po ako. Namuno po ako sa PCSO noong panahon ni Presidente Fidel V. Ramos nang i-appoint niya akong PCSO chairman. Dahilan na hindi kami nagka-meron ng tinatawag na transition period noong tanggalin kami ni P-Noy sa puwesto noong June 30, 2010, nawalan po kami ng pagkakataon makapagusap-usap ng old board at ng new board. Kunsabagay, ayaw din ni Margie Juico makipag-usap sa amin para magawa niya lahat ang kagustuhan niya, maski po noong director ko pa siya noong PCSO chairman ako noong panahon ni Presidente Ramos; at nang magka co-director kami sa panahon ni Presidente Gloria, isa lamang po ang masasabi ko sa kanya: Wala po yang alam at kakayahang magpatakbo ng PCSO. Walang alam yan sa gaming. Inakala ng Malacanang na dahil maraming beses na siyang naging director mula panahon pa ni Presidente Cory, Presidente Ramos, at Presidente Gloria, sa katunayan ang alam lang ni Margie sa PCSO ay kumolekta ng suweldo, bonuses, at allowances at mag sideline. Wala ng iba. Tanungin ninyo lahat ng 1,700 employees ng PCSO at yan din ang sasabihin nila. Sa pagbibigay ng parusa, diyan po siya magaling, at yan ay hindi ko kayang gawin maski kanino. Tinatanggap ko na maawain po ako sa kapwa. Kaya po ngayon, dinidiktahan si Margie ng mga directors niyang brutal kapareho ni Aleta Tolentino at Pancho Joaquin na naninigaw ng mga PCSO employees; at nakikinig sa gustong gawin ng asawa niya at ni Dante Ang (head ng PR Funds, adviser, at speech writer ni Margie), mga kapatid, anak at ilang alipores niya sa PCSO ngayon na nagsi-sipsip sa kanya.

Sa lahat ng mga pinahirapan ni Margie sa isang taong umupo siya sa puwesto, lahat ng namatay, pinahirapan at inabuso, wala na po kayong magagawa. Either lalala pa ang sitwasyon sa PCSO o matatauhan din siya (sana) sa mga pinarating ko sa kanya. Mag-improve man ang PCSO, it s too late. Those they killed will no longer be brought back to life. And those na mga inabuso, magdusa na lang kayo ang mensahe ni Margie sa inyo. I will just pray to God to help all of you and help change things for the better sa PCSO for your sake not hers. Margie never had it so good since she sat in office. Let the coming years be yours naman po at nakapagpasarap na silang mga appointees ni P-Noy diyan sa PCSO. Sila ang umani ng husto at nagpasarap sa puwesto. Sa lahat po ng bansa na may RH bill, ang kaakibat po niyan ay abortion and divorce. The three are inseparable, like three-in-one coffee. Once the RH bill is passed, abortion and divorce will follow. Nasabi ko na po ang stand ko diyan: I am not in favor of passing the RH bill into law, for that would make it mandatory to all, actually killing the freedom of choice . Pabor po ako sa divorce for 80-year- old couples, for they can no longer use the divorce law to prostitute around because of their new-found emancipation. Kasi po para sa mga active pa ang libidos, the divorce law would only end up legalizing prostitution. Walang pinagkaiba sa mga kalapating mababa ang lipad sa Ermita, ika nga. The only difference from those in the prostitution business is high class ang mga papalit at dadami sa buong kapuluan. That s where the divorce law will end up to pag nag-umpisa na magpalitan ng partners ang may mga asawa. Wala po akong problema diyan at wala naman akong asawa. Kaya kayong may mga asawa, gawin na lang ninyo ang gusto ninyo. May vow of celibacy po ako since 1953 in Rome, noong panahon pa ni Father Arupe, the head of the Jesuit Order based in Rome and referred to as The Black Pope, together with Rev. Father Tom Sullivan, a Jesuit and a close friend, related to the Kennedys. Simple lang ang buhay ko. Ni ayaw ko na pong mag-comment sa mga issues, at magulo at walang direksyon ang mga tao ngayon. Kanya-kanya na po is the name of the game. It s survival of the fittest. The law of the jungle prevails. Para na pong animal ang mga tao ngayon. It s useless to even comment. I have come to believe that we cannot change things anymore, not even to right a wrong. As things are, to fight for what is right is wrong, for wrong is what is perceived today to be right . I spoke out for the wrong things happening in the PCSO today, and for speaking out what ought to be done to right a wrong, ako pa ang mali. In all this, I was only fighting for the injustices sa mga pasyente at empleyado being committed in the PCSO today. Pero mukhang ang mensahe ng Malacanang ay tama abusuhin ang mga mahihirap na may

sakit. Ayaw pong makinig. I, therefore, rest my case. I was only designated spokesperson for the past board. I was not the head of the agency for the past seven years as I was only a director with no powers to the purse during President Gloria s administration. Pero napagkasunduan po ng past PCSO board na maghahati kami sa trabaho. Ang past PCSO chairman at past PCSO general manager, si Sergio Valencia at Rosario Uriarte, ang mga sasagot po sa hearing sa Kongreso at Senado. Ako po ang inatasan nilang sumagot sa media as a media-person myself. Akala po ng tao na ako ang namuno sa PCSO in the past administration. Hindi po ako. Namuno po ako sa PCSO noong panahon ni Presidente Fidel V. Ramos nang i-appoint niya akong PCSO chairman. Dahilan na hindi kami nagka-meron ng tinatawag na transition period noong tanggalin kami ni P-Noy sa puwesto noong June 30, 2010, nawalan po kami ng pagkakataon makapagusap-usap ng old board at ng new board. Kunsabagay, ayaw din ni Margie Juico makipag-usap sa amin para magawa niya lahat ang kagustuhan niya, maski po noong director ko pa siya noong PCSO chairman ako noong panahon ni Presidente Ramos; at nang magka co-director kami sa panahon ni Presidente Gloria, isa lamang po ang masasabi ko sa kanya: Wala po yang alam at kakayahang magpatakbo ng PCSO. Walang alam yan sa gaming. Inakala ng Malacanang na dahil maraming beses na siyang naging director mula panahon pa ni Presidente Cory, Presidente Ramos, at Presidente Gloria, sa katunayan ang alam lang ni Margie sa PCSO ay kumolekta ng suweldo, bonuses, at allowances at mag sideline. Wala ng iba. Tanungin ninyo lahat ng 1,700 employees ng PCSO at yan din ang sasabihin nila. Sa pagbibigay ng parusa, diyan po siya magaling, at yan ay hindi ko kayang gawin maski kanino. Tinatanggap ko na maawain po ako sa kapwa. Kaya po ngayon, dinidiktahan si Margie ng mga directors niyang brutal kapareho ni Aleta Tolentino at Pancho Joaquin na naninigaw ng mga PCSO employees; at nakikinig sa gustong gawin ng asawa niya at ni Dante Ang (head ng PR Funds, adviser, at speech writer ni Margie), mga kapatid, anak at ilang alipores niya sa PCSO ngayon na nagsi-sipsip sa kanya. Sa lahat ng mga pinahirapan ni Margie sa isang taong umupo siya sa puwesto, lahat ng namatay, pinahirapan at inabuso, wala na po kayong magagawa. Either lalala pa ang sitwasyon sa PCSO o matatauhan din siya (sana) sa mga pinarating ko sa kanya. Mag-improve man ang PCSO, it s too late. Those they killed will no longer be brought back to life. And those na mga inabuso, magdusa na lang kayo ang mensahe ni Margie sa inyo. I will just pray to God to help all of you and help change things for the better sa PCSO for your sake not

hers. Margie never had it so good since she sat in office. Let the coming years be yours naman po at nakapagpasarap na silang mga appointees ni P-Noy diyan sa PCSO. Sila ang umani ng husto at nagpasarap sa puwesto.