MANILA, Philippines — Senatorial aspirant and former Agrarian Reform Secretary John Castriciones is not in favor of same-sex marriage, divorce, and abortion as these are against the teachings of the Catholic church.
“Not in favor. Well, you know, same-sex marriage, we’re talking about marriage. Under our law, under persons and family code, marriage is a union between male and female, and definitely, there’s no law that would justify the marriage of persons belonging to the same-sex,” Castriciones said on INQside Look on Wednesday.
He added that a law must be crafted in order to allow homosexual couples to marry.
Echoing Pope Francis, Castriciones noted that same-sex marriage would never be allowed in the Catholic church. However, homosexual couples must be respected through civil unions.
“People who belong to the same sex must be respected when it comes to the decisions, not really marriage, but same-sex union, probably. Because, nobody can stop them,” he said.
As a Catholic faithful, Castriciones likewise opposed divorce.
“If the government, later on, because it would be the effort of many legislators, it will be voted upon in a plenary, whether they would allow divorce or not. But if at all, there would be a law proposed for a divorce, my position is I will not go for it,” Castriciones explained, adding that the Philippines is a Catholic country.
Asked if he also disapproves of abortion as it is contrary to Catholic teachings, Castriciones affirmed.
Castriciones formalized his bid for a senatorial seat by filing his certificate of candidacy under the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan.
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