MANILA, Jan. 24, 2011—The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines called on President Benigno Aquino III to be clear on what principle he is adopting in his “responsible parenthood†advocacy.
Archbishop Paciano Aniceto said that it’s not the name that matters but the content of the measure.
“He should really explain what he means by responsible parenthood,†said Aniceto, who chairs the Commission on Family and Life of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines.
For CBCP secretary general Msgr. Juanito Figura, said they would continue to oppose the measure if it is only a “rehash†of the much-debated reproductive health (RH) bill.
“It is not in the name. If you have a good name but the contents would be a rehash of the RH bill, then, definitely the Church will reject,†said Figura.
Last week, Aquino decided to have his own version and call it responsible parenthood to come up with a “win-win solution†on the RH bill.
He ordered his Cabinet to draft its own version of the bill and will be presenting it at the forthcoming the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC) meeting.
Malacañang said the instruction of Aquino is for the Cabinet to include in the would-be bill the suggestions of the religious sector.
Figura clarified that it was the church, through the Humanae Vitae, one of seven encyclicals published by Pope Paul VI that primarily used the phrase responsible parenthood.
The encyclical details the church’s uncompromising position on birth control.
“In the course of the years, the term has been used by certain groups and bodies which, unfortunately in their use, are alien on how the church uses that phrase,†he said.
Antipolo Bishop Gabriel Reyes said the government must already exclude in its responsible parenthood bill the ones being opposed by the church.
“(The principle of) responsible parenthood does not include artificial contraceptives,†Reyes said. (CBCPNews)
