SAN PABLO CITY – The 80 parishes all over the Diocese of San Pablo, Laguna with Catholic populations numbering more than 2.3 million conducted a simultaneous Signature Drive starting Sunday to oppose the proposed controversial Reproductive Health Bill now pending approval in the Halls of Congress.
Fr. Eduardo Arupo, head of the Diocesan Commission on Family and Life said, the signature drive in the diocese which is simultaneous throughout the province of Laguna is an expression of the resounding support of the local church to the nationwide clamour to reject the bill (RH BILL 5043) to protect the dignity of human life and the family.
Don Bosco San Pablo Bishop Leo M. Drona, has given instructions to his clergy specially those heads of Commissions and Apostolates directly or indirectly involved in the care of life and family, in line with the Church’s stand against the bill which was perceived by Church experts as gravely disastrous to both the individual human life, the family and the entire national population in the long term.
Arupo in a meeting Wednesday with fellow priests in San Pablo City Vicariate said, aside from the ongoing Signature Drive another seminar on Family and Life for parishioners throughout the diocese would be held at University of the Philippines at Los Banos(UPLB), Laguna on October 18 to step-up awareness about issues involving life and family particularly related to the controversial RH BILL 5043 and the corresponding action necessary against it. Previous related seminars had been conducted in various areas of the diocese to increase awareness among families and individual parish constituents.
The Family and Life Commission Director also distributed to parish priests throughout the diocese a 7-Disc DVD setentitled “S.A.F.E. (Subtle Attacks Against the Family Explained) ABOARD” for them to educate their respectiveparishioners. The DVD expounds on seven relevant issues affecting family life such as: Demography, Sex Education, Violence and Pornography in the Mass Media, The New Age Spirituality, The Truth and Meaning of Human Sexuality, The Gospel of Life, and Marriage and Family in God’s Plan.
The Inquirer reported earlier that four Canossian of Daughters of Charity schools/college in Laguna and Batangas had launched their protest Signature Campaign few weeks ago against the same bill which school officials call as very treacherous and very much loaded with falsehood.
Rev. Fr. Gregory D. Gaston, SThD a former Official of the Pontifical Council for the Family, Vatican, for five years, wrote his comments and clarifications in relation to some claims made by proponents of the controversial bill.
Concerning suggestions made by proponents of the bill saying that “contraceptives should be listed as essential drugs”, Gaston said, “They should not be listed as essential drugs, but as dangerous drugs and devices.”
He said, “ Pills have been shown to cause abortion of a 5-day old baby, cancer, premature hypertension, heart disease, etc. IUD's are abortifacient and may cause intrauterine trauma, pelvic infections and ectopic pregnancy. Condoms have high failure rate even against pregnancy and thus do not guarantee protection against AIDS and other STD's. Tubal ligation and vasectomy (especially targeting the poor) leave couples without the chance to have more children (for example, in case of improved economic situation, or death of their present children) and little or no support in their old age.” Concerning claims of the bill authors that “Condoms have
no holes. They provide truly safe sex, as advertised,” Gaston contradicted by saying “"CONDOMS DO NOT
GUARANTEE PROTECTION FROM AIDS AND OTHER STD'S", PILLS HAVE BEEN SHOWN TO CAUSE CANCER AND ABORTION OF 5-DAY OLD BABIES," and, "IUD'S MAY CAUSE TRAUMA OF THE UTERUS AND ABORTION OF 5-DAY OLD BABIES," etc.”
ROMULO O. PONTE
> 15 October 2008
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