Phl under threat due to RH bill - Vidal

MANILA, Philippines - Cebu Archbishop Ricardo Cardinal Vidal has reported to Pope Benedict XVI that the Philippines is under threat because of the efforts to pass the Reproductive Health (RH) bill.

Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines-Episcopal Commission on Family and Life (CBCP-ECFL) executive secretary Fr. Melvin Castro told reporters that Cardinal Vidal met with the Pope in the Vatican during the Consistory last Nov. 20.

Members of the College of Cardinals of the Roman Catholic Church attended the Consistory.

“Cardinal Vidal mentioned to the Holy Father that in the Philippines, we are under threat because of the RH bill,” said Fr. Castro.

The Pontiff was reportedly not surprised to hear Vidal’s report since similar incidents were already happening in other countries particularly in Latin America.

The CBCP had opposed the passage of the RH bill in the country that could pave the way for the promotion of artificial contraceptives and indirectly promote abortion.

Despite the recent confusion on the Pope’s stand on the use of condom, Fr. Castro believed that the Pontiff continues to be strongly against the passage of such bills.

He recalled that last Nov. 21, the Holy Father issued a statement that was sent to the Pontifical Council for Health Pastoral Care president Archbishop Zygmunt Zimowski and it says that the “defense of life from conception until natural death must be supported and proclaimed even if this means going against the tide.”

“In concrete sense, he (Pope Benedict XVI) is also against the RH,” Castro added.

Meanwhile, the CBCPNews, the official news service provider of the CBCP, said that CBCP president Tandag Bishop Nereo Odchimar was a recent guest at the Vatican Radio and he discussed the priorities of the Church.

He cited the CBCP’s continued participation in the debates over the issue of government corruption and artificial birth control.

“We are heard in part,” Bishop Odchimar added.

He was at the Vatican for the ad limina visit, meeting with the various dicasteries of the Roman Curia and Benedict XVI.

The Catholic Church in the Philippines is regarded as the third world’s largest with 73 million faithful. The top two spots belonged to Brazil and Mexico.

On the RH bill he said that, “there are people who, especially through the media, support the promotion of artificial birth control. Our episcopal conference is committed to making known the position of the Catholic Church.”

He also expressed confidence that the Filipino laypeople are committed to defend their faith.

“We give special attention to the family to protect it from the danger of fragmentation, which occurs given intense emigration and attacks coming from phenomena such as abortion, divorce and consumerist models of life,” Bishop Odchimar said. – With Sheila Crisostomo