World | Philippines
Catholic Church to protest 'anti-life' Bill
The influential Catholic Church will mount 150 billboards in different parts of the Philippines to campaign against the passage of a family planning Bill at the House of Representatives.
- By Barbara Mae Dacanay, Bureau Chief
- Published: 00:01 November 12, 2008
Manila: The influential Catholic Church will mount 150 billboards in different parts of the Philippines to campaign against the passage of a family planning Bill at the House of Representatives.
"The billboards will categorically say, Yes to Life, No to Reproductive Health [Bill]," said Fr Anton Pascual, president of Radio Veritas.
The Bill will allow the government to disseminate artificial contraceptive to poor people, to curb the country's 2.2 per cent annual growth.
"The church will maintain its prophetic stand as it will continue to oppose the passage of this RH Bill in Congress," Pascual said, adding, "We will encourage the faithful to join us in our quest against the controversial measure."
Radio Veritas has been sending senators and congressmen copies of a book entitled "Catholics and House Bill 5043," which was written by Bishop Teodoro Bacani.
"Hopefully the minds of those pushing the passage of this Bill will realise that life is sacred and that this is God's gift to mankind," said Pascual.
The Bill is pending for debate in the two-houses of Congress.
Earlier, congressmen and senators complained of plans that the Catholic Church will not give communion to those who support the passage of the controversial Bill.
There were also reports that the Catholic Church will campaign against the lawmen who support the Bill and who will run for official post in 2010.
The Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) has called the Bill "anti-life".
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