MANILA, June 28, 2013— Batanes bishop Most Rev. Camilo Gregorio today said that the Church opposition over the controversial Reproductive Health (RH) Law, also known as Republic Act (RA) 10354 is not over yet.
In an interview over Church-run Radio Veritas, Bishop Gregorio reiterated that the debates and the Church opposition along with different pro-life organizations will go on when the Supreme Court tackles oral arguments of the RH law this July 9th.
Gregorio also urged the faithful to ‘defend life’, ‘participate in the gatherings’ and to ‘push for moral and social truth’ in and outside the debates.
“[RH] is now on the legal debate or legal area, we must continue our fight, and we will always proclaim the truth, the moral and social truth, and its consequences. We need to let the people know,” said Gregorio in the vernacular.
Gregorio also confidently expressed that despite the hardship and stumbling block prolife advocates experience, time will come when those who oppose the measure will succeed.
“I don’t know what to do, how we can teach our politicians not to be blinded by money. I believe in the end we will win, it may take time and it will be quite a struggle but we will win. Life always flourishes,” Gregorio added.
The Batanes bishop however showed signs of concern that tactics that would blackmail justices might be used by forces outside the judiciary.
“I now only wish that the judiciary won’t be influenced by dirty politics, they can be influenced especially when those in power supports it [RH],” he said. “If so, no more freedom of discussion and that only pressure will be used, political pressure, money pressure.”
Originally scheduled on June 18, the oral arguments were moved by the Supreme Court this July 9 due to the recent filing of several petitions and motions for interventions by those for and against the RH law. (Angelique Guevarra)