Vidal: Church to close door with Aquino over RH bill

Archbishop Emeritus of Cebu Ricardo Cardinal Vidal said President Benigno Simeon Aquino III has already made up his mind on the Reproductive Health bill and the Catholic Church would not have to re-open its doors to a dialogue on the issue.

“The president already said ‘I have decided, I have decided.’ So there is no more dialogue on the issue. That’s why I suggested (then Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines) president (Nereo) Odchimar to write a formal letter of withdrawal from the dialogue. There is no use,” the 81-year-old prelate said.

Asked what the church will do to those who will vote for the Reproductive Health bill?

Vidal said, “let’s see each other in the elections,” Vidal told reporters inside his residence in barangay Banilad, Cebu City yesterday.

The cardinal said he will come up with a list of those who deserve a seat in the government in next year’s elections.

“Hopefully, the Catholic lay will follow,” he said.

Aggravating the Church’s adverse reaction to the veiled endorsement of the president to the RH bill in his State of the Nation Address (Sona) last Monday issuance of the Department of Health issued Administrative Order No. 2012- 0009, entitled “National Strategy Toward Reducing Unmet Need for Modern Family Planning as a Means to Achieving MDGs [Millennium Development Goals] on Maternal Health” last June 27, 2012.

Vidal said Aquino seemed to be “careful” when the president mentioned the phrase “responsible parenthood” as the answer to the increasing number of students in schools during his Sona.

Vidal said the Church has nothing against responsible parenthood.

“Of course, we are for responsible parenthood because we care for the health of the mother and the child. What we are objecting is, precisely, to legislate means that we cannot accept as Catholics,” he said.

The Church is vehemently opposing modern family planning that includes among others, pills, injectables, condoms, ligation, and vasectomy.

The RH bill or the Responsible Parenthood, Reproductive Health and Population and Development Act of 2011 is a consolidated bill awaiting approval from the House of Representative and the Senate.

Vidal, however, lauded Aquino for his campaign against corruption as well as the other achievements he mentioned in his Sona.

“That was a litany of his achievements. Let it be because its for our own good,” he said.

Dr. Rene Josef Bullecer, Human Life International director, expressed fears that Malacanang may shortcut the RH policy.

He said Aquino can just come up with an executive order to implement an extensive population control in the country.

“That’s what we are afraid of. Aquino has become so powerful to the point that he controls the Congress, Supreme Court. Whatever he wants, (he can do),” Bullecer said.