MANILA, August 28, 2012— Officials of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines will meet next week to talk about certain “academic concerns” related to controversial reproductive health (RH) bill.
Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma, CBCP president, said the discussion will take place during their regular permanent council meeting in Manila on September 4.
The move to include the issue on the bishops’ agenda was triggered by the 159 professors of the Jesuit-run Ateneo De Manila University who supported the passage of the population control measure.
“We will talk about good approaches, solutions and the task of Catholic universities to seek the truth and of course to continue studying and working out hoping to come out possible solutions to many concerns from the academic and also related points of view,” Palma told Church-run Radyo Veritas.
“In the search, we should be guided by the light of truth or by the light of faith. That is the mission of the Church,” he said.
Palma also lauded the ‘sincerity’ of the ADMU administration and the Philippine Province of the Society of Jesus in supporting the CBCP’s stand against the RH bill.
“They are both sincere in saying that they are with us together with the Catholic Church when they said that they are with us,” he said.
The CBCP head is hoping that the university will continue to uphold the Church’s teachings into their students.
Palma earlier said they are willing to resolve issues and hold a dialogue with the pro-RH bill Ateneo professors.
“For me, there’s really a need for a sincere dialogue because the professors, I think [they] must be motivated by their desire to discover what is good,” he said.
“They are part of the Catholic university and they should obey the mission and vision and not contradict the teachings,” he said. [RL/CBCPNews]
