Posted on 09/10/2002 1:56:29 AM PDT by nickcarraway
PHILIPPINES WAVERS ON ABORTION AS HALF OF CONGRESS READY TO SUPPORT IT
MANILLA, September 9, 2002 (LSN.ca) - Filipino media are reporting that more than 100 of the 214 members of Congress are backing the Reproductive Health Care Act (House Bill 4110 ) which would allow for abortion.
Church leaders, in the heavily Catholic country said they would maintain their stance on the need for protection of the life of the unborn regardless of the outcome of the legislation. Msgr. Rey Monsanto noted that Pope John Paul II remained outspoken on the issue despite the passage of even worse laws in other countries. "We will sustain our stand even if it means playing the role of (being) the voice in the desert just like St. John the Baptist," he added.
The Philippines has been one of the nations targeted for years, by formal U.S. policy emanating from NSSM 200, for aggressive de-population measures. This would partially explain why this strongly Catholic country still has a forceful pro-abortion and pro-contraception movement
Archdiocese 'calm' despite Abortion Bill
Sun Star Cagayan de Oro
ARCHDIOCESE spokesman Msgr. Rey Monsanto said they are not alarmed by reports that more than 100 of the 214 members in Congress are backing House Bill 4110 otherwise known as the Reproductive Health Care Act.
He said even Pope John Paul II maintained his stand over the issue despite the passage of other laws even worse than the proposed House Bill 4110 in other countries.
"We will sustain our stand even if it means playing the role of (being) the voice in the desert just like St. John the Baptist," he added.
Religious groups like the Cagayan de Oro Charismatic Renewal Movement member Ed Guttierez said they support the stand of the Catholic Church on the issue.
"Asa ang among archbishop adto sab kami (Where our archbishop will stand we will support him)," he said at the Guerrero Adaza and Associates law office where he was set to meet with lawyer Guerrero Adaza.
Adaza who heads the Divine Mercy religious group told Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro that he will give his comment this Wednesday.
God's grace
Meanwhile, Gabriela spokesperson Lalae Garcia told Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro the issue of morality and ethics should not be given much emphasis on the proposed bill.
"What should be highlighted here is the socio-political, educational and health needs of our people which the government has to address," she said.
Garcia said the bill will at least focus on the reproductive and health rights of women.
"So that spouses will know when to ask and wives will know when to say yes and when to say no para dili kita magsige ug panaghan (so that we won't increase in numbers)," she said.
For their part Jose Nebrao, president of Higala Foundation, said Provincial Board member Oscar Musni's statement that pregnant rape victims are allowed to abort their kids is "disturbing."
"(He in effect is) saying that it is legal that is incorrect and highly immoral against the natural law of thou shall not kill because abortion is direct killing of innocent and defenseless victims," he said.
Higala Foundation handles the values formation of students and professionals. Nebrao added that abortion deprives God's grace from the unborn child.
Nebrao said it is not true women have the right to artificially space their pregnancy since women don't own their bodies as many groups say.
"Artificial medicine should not be used as this is contradictory to going the natural way...women as well as men should remember that our bodies don't belong to us but to God the Creator," he said.
He added that the body was given by God to His children to achieve the ultimate end which is to use it for His divine purpose here in earth.
On the other hand Monsanto told Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro that the bill is somewhat deceptive since this leads to abortion and thus help promote the "Culture of Death".
"Culture means lifestyle...this would mean that it would be just easy for a person to terminate life as if it does not mean anything just like vigilantism or summary executions, euthanasia, death penalty to mention a few," he said.
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