Friday, September 05, 2008 Church may organize protest actions vs reproductive health bill By Edmund B. Sestoso
THE Catholic Church is now taking some serious tact in its opposition against the passage of the Reproductive Health bill now pending in Congress.
Dumaguete Vicar General, Monsignor Gamaliel Tulabing said it is possible that they might organize a march rally or any form of protest that will show to the legislators their vehement opposition of the Reproductive Health Bill.
Tulabing and Dr. Josef Bullecer, a top official of Pro Life Philippines, discussed lengthily on the group's position opposing the said bill.
The Reproductive Health Bill are authored by Representatives Edcel Lagman, Janette Garin, Narciso Santiago III, Jesus F. Madrona, Ana Theresa Hontiveros-Baraquel and supported by 72 other congressmen like Cebu Rep. Nerissa Soon Ruiz and Benhur Salimbangon.
Bullecer claimed that the controversial bill is unconstitutional, anti poor and anti life aside from being anti Christian and anti-humanity.
The pro-life advocate doctor was in Dumaguete City Thursday to personally lead the information drive and talks with university students regarding the controversial bill.
Bullecer pointed out that in the language of the United Nations, the term reproductive health is taken to mean universal access of abortion while the term population development is a euphemism to mean population control.
Bullecer emphasized in the same media conference that in the declaration of the policy of the proposed bill, they invoke the universally international human rights instead of the provisions of the Philippine Constitution.
The pro-life advocate doctor said some of the lawmakers had to use UN provisions to escape what the Philippine Constitution prohibits.
He further cited that contraceptives and abortion is in direct violation of the preamble which protects the life of the unborn from the moment of conception
Tulabing said they are now conducting series of information drives to put emphasis on the position of the Church to several sectors that include the youth.
Bullecer also said the proposed bill is not new as it has been discussed even in the 11th Congress but was stalled several times due to the strong campaign of moralist and members of the Roman Catholic Church and other religious groupings.
Now it is revived in the 14th Congress and Bullercer said the wordings of the bill is not the result of the Filipino legislators's craftsmanship but a direct import from one information section of the United Nations.
He said, he learned this, when their group got the same copies from other countries and told them that some groups in the United Nations craft it.
Bullecer said they have also an existing 55 members of the Houser of Representatives who form the so called "pro life" advocates which will rival the group of Rep. Edcel Lagman considered as supporters of reproductive health bill.
When asked where the three lawmakers of Negros Oriental belongs, Tulabing said they have yet to confirm, but both 3rd district Rep. Henry Pryde Teves and 2nd district Rep. George Arnaiz is supportive of the church while they are still doubting the position of 1st District Rep. Jocelyn Limkaichong over the controversial bill.
Tulabing suspects that Limkaichoing is pro reproductive health bill as her office is initiating a signature campaign supporting the controversial bill.
