MANILA, Philippines—The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines will issue guidelines to Catholic voters on how they should choose their candidates in the May 2010 elections.

The guidelines will underscore the Catholic Church's position on “family and life issues,” which is how Church officials refer to the debate over the proposed Reproductive Health and Population Development Act or the so-called reproductive health bill in Congress.

“We believe it is necessary for our voters to be guided by the Church through the (CBCP Episcopal) Commission on Family and Life,” said the commission's executive secretary Father Melvin Castro.

He said the guidelines should help Catholic voters, especially those who would be voting for the first time, choose the right leaders for the country.

The guidelines will be issued during the national gathering of the Episcopal Commission on Family and Life on Nov. 30 in Antipolo City.

San Fernando Archbishop Paciano Aniceto chairs the commission.

The Catholic Church claims the RH bill goes against the right to freedom of religion and that it legalizes surgical procedures for birth control such as ligation, vasectomy and abortion which the Church has denounced as immoral.

The Church also opposes the RH bill for requiring reproductive health education for Grade 5 to fourth year high school students, and for recommending two children per family.

The Church also opposes a clause that penalizes violations of the proposed law with imprisonment and fines of P10,000 to P50,000.

Every election year, the CBCP calls on the faithful to vote wisely. It lays down minimum requirements for candidates such as proven integrity, honesty, competence and dedication to public service.