MANILA, March 15, 2011— Metro Manila’s Catholic bishops are hoping to use their influence to raise awareness about the alleged risk of a birth control measure.
Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales and other prelates will be leading the ‘grandmother’ of all rallies against the reproductive health (RH) bill at the Quirino Grandstand on March 25.
The church leaders have joined with other anti-RH bill advocacy groups to press lawmakers to reject the proposed measure.
“Being the last country standing against the vicious attacks of power in connivance with lawmakers, we see the urgent need now to stop the attack by the proposed RH bill on our valued culture of life,†Rosales said.
“This orchestration instigated by those against life, local and foreign, has to be stopped. We shall all stand united against the assault on life and its values,†he said.
The rally, the second one to be held this year in Manila archdiocese, will coincide with the Feast of the Annunciation, also the Day of the Unborn Children.
The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines has made it clear in its recent pastoral letter that the RH bill does not promote reproduction or maternal health but the family instead.
“We all believe that you (lay people) will be one to deliver the message that our country will never allow the repressive RH bill to be passed,†Rosales said.
Several protest rallies against the bill have already been held across the country but organizers said the rally in Manila will be the “grandmother†of all demonstrations.
Pro-Life Philippines President Eric Manalang said Quirino Grandstand was chosen to be the venue to accommodate the expected huge crowd.
“I think this is one of the occasions to be with the cardinal joining something like this because he will officiate the Mass after the interfaith rally,†Manalang said.
In Cebu, pro-life groups will walk barefoot for three kilometers to dramatize their opposition against the RH bill.
The “Penitential Walk for Life,†will be held from the Cebu Provincial Capitol to Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral on March 19.
Several other dioceses in Visayas are also set to show their forces in rallies to show their indignation against the RH bill.
On March 11, pro-life advocates will also hold a protest rally in Tagbilaran City, Bohol and in Maasin City, Southern Leyte the following day.
Jaro Archbishop Angel Lagdameo said they will also hold a mass action in Iloilo City on March 17.
In Mindanao, meanwhile, anti-RH bill groups are also preparing a huge rally in Butuan City on March 22. [CBCPNews]
