Archbishop Palma to meet pro-life leaders

CEBU Archbishop Jose Palma will meet on Friday with government leaders who opposed the Reproductive Hill bill to thank them and to seek their continued support to the Church’s stand against the bill.

Msgr. Achilles Dakay, Cebu Archdiocese spokesman, said yesterday that Archbishop Palma would meet with 25 government leaders to discuss the controversial bill and to thank them for opposing the RH bill.

“As your new spiritual shepherd in Cebu, this is the opportunity for me to know more of you,” Palma said on his letter, which was read by Dakay during a press conference at the Archbishop’s residence yesterday.

The invited guests include Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile, Majority leader Sen. Vicente Sotto III, Sen. Ralph Recto, Sen. Jinggoy Estrada and Sen. Gringo Honasan II.

Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia and Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama are among the 21 local leaders invited to the meeting.

All congressmen in Cebu except for Rep. Tomas Osmeña (Cebu City south district) were invited to the meeting.

Osmeña has vocally expressed his support for the passage of the RH bill in Congress.

Former north district representative Raul del Mar, who was awarded with the Papal Cross last year, is the only guest who does not hold any current government position.

“The present controversy on the RH bill that has divided our people poses a great challenge to us leaders in the church and the government to strengthen each other in leadership. Please accept my sincerest gratitude to you for standing for truth about life and the law of God,” Palma said on his invitation letter to the politicians.

However, Dakay said that Palma had no other intention than to personally thank the leaders for their support of the church’s stand against the bill and to seek their continued commitment to oppose the bill.

Dakay said they were just doing the same thing as what Manila prelates had done to thank the leaders opposing the bill.

Pro-life advocate Dr. Rene Bullecer, who was also present during the conference, said there would be lunch at the Archbishop’s Palace with the Archbishop Palma followed by a “solidarity toast.”

Bullecer said there would also be later a “solidarity pose” where photographs would be taken while guests would pose at the image of the Blessed Pope John Paul II outside the Palace grounds.

He said Senator Sotto informed them that he couldn’t attend the event but his chief of staff would be there to represent him.

Governor Garcia, for her part, said she would attend the lunch meeting.

She said that she had always been steadfast in her stand against the bill. /Reporter Candeze R. Mongaya with a report from Correspondent Carmel Loise Matus