Monday, October 06, 2008 Political solutions not enough: bishop
BISHOP Angel Lagdameo, president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), reminded Catholics to support the campaign to gather one million signatures against the reproductive health bill.
He also confirmed the CBCP is teaching its flock about the advantages of natural family planning.
“If we solve the problem of poverty only politically, we are bound to fail,” said Lagdameo.
“Be faithful in God and God will take care of us. If we are to take care of the things God has given us, then God will also take care of us,” said Lagdameo, during a mass at the Indiana Aerospace University.
From 61 co-authors in July this year, at least 106 co-authors have now thrown their support behind House Bill 5043, said a statement from the Philippine Legislators’ Committee on Population and Development.
CBCP still has high hopes of stopping the bill. “Only time will tell. But we are hoping. We have great hope that it will be stopped,” Lagdameo said.
90.46M in 2008
At the Sto. Rosario Parish Church in Cebu City, more than 7,000 parishioners have pledged their support against HB 5043.
“There are people who understand the issue, but there are some who do not understand. But once we tell them that this is against abortion, they immediately sign,” said Virgie Fajardo, a catechist assigned to collect signatures from churchgoers.
In his homily yesterday, Bishop Lagdameo said that supporting the reproductive health care bill goes against God’s plan.
Decision
“What do we own that He did not give us?” said Lagdameo. “No one can stop the blessings of the Lord.”
Now that other religious groups have expressed their support for the bill, Lagdameo said: “That is their own decision and we do not have a say on that. Each one will have their own decision to make.”
As of August 2007, the National Statistics Office pegged the country’s population at 88.57 million. It is projected to hit 90.46 million this year. (EPB)
