Tuesday, April 15, 2008 'No sacraments' for pro-LDCP dads By Grace L. Plata
THE Archdiocese of Davao City headed by Archbishop Fernando R. Capalla
appealed to Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte and the members of the Davao City Council to scrap the proposed Local Development Plan for Children (LDPC) as it is "dangerous and detrimental to the moral and spiritual welfare of the people".
"I WISH to convey my sincere respect for their decision. But I wish to inform them that such decision, when often done in open defiance and ridicule of the Church's moral teachings, may create public scandal thereby making themselves openly unworthy to receive the Sacraments, " Archbishop Capalla said.
"I say 'dangerous and detrimental' because in the guise of 'reproductive health and safe pregnancy', the Plan mocks parental authority, belittles the value of family, denigrates the virtue of chastity, makes available all contraceptives to children from 0-18 years old and promotes pre-marital sex and promiscuity. The plan, therefore, offends our Catholic faith and the religious sentiments of our people," Capalla said, thus appealing to the local officials to be "sensitive and respectful of the religious feelings and moral values of the people".
The archbishop, however, warned the city officials "who directly and indirectly exert moral pressure to their subordinates" in the adoption and later implementation of the LDPC.
He, however, added that the judgment of one's unworthiness "is not automatic" and needs thorough verification by Church authorities.
Concerned with the situation that may arise, Floor Leader Danilo Dayanghirang already called for a private meeting with the body before tomorrow's regular session.
"We (City Council) have to talk about this (pastoral letter) but I have to say that the Church has been misinformed. The plan does not promote the use of contraceptives or natural methods of family planning. We are taking care of the health of the childbearing person or the female child here. We are concerned about the health of the ovary and the uterus as well as the formative years so that she will have a healthy and safe pregnancy when she becomes of age," Dayanghirang said.
"We are hoping that Msgr. Capalla will not do this because we are just looking into public welfare," Dayanghirang said. (GLP)
