Church not obsessed with RH law–CBCP

Fr. Melvin Castro, executive director of the CBCP—Episcopal Commission on Family and Life. https://cbcpforlife.com

MANILA, Philippines—A Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) official on Saturday replied to calls by supporters of the controversial reproductive health (RH) law for the Church to stop its “obsession with contraception.”

“It is not the Church that is obsessed with contraception. The Church is merely reacting [to] the enactment of the RH law. It is the proponents [who] are so fixated on contraception that they made it into a law to be funded by taxpayer money,” CBCP Commission on Family and Life executive secretary Fr. Melvin Castro said in a text message to reporters.

“Since when has helping the poor been equated with decimating their numbers by population control? We help them by giving them opportunities in life, not decimating them,” he said.

RH law supporters picketed the CBCP headquarters in Intramuros, Manila, on Friday to urge the Catholic bishops to be open-minded about the RH law and heed Pope Francis’ appeal for a “new balance” in their pastoral ministry.

Don’t impose decision

The group, composed of women from urban poor communities, students and the youth also passed by Rizal Park before proceeding to the Supreme Court, which was expected to come out a decision after its final deliberations on the controversial law on April 8 during its summer session in Baguio City.

“In the spirit of the Pope’s call for a ‘new balance,’ we hope that you just join us in trying to feed the hungry, heal the sick and uphold freedom and justice in the Philippines,” said Bicbic Chua, executive director of Catholics for Reproductive Health, reading from a letter addressed to the CBCP.

“They should not impose their decision on the matter. Even Pope Francis said they should stop their obsession with contraception, abortion and homosexuality,” Chua said.

At a compound behind the Manila Cathedral last night, RH supporters presented a play on surrogate motherhood that raised disturbing questions on motherhood among rich and poor women alike.

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