‘Father Soc’ adds voice vs. RH bill
LINGAYEN–Dagupan Archbishop Socrates Villegas, standing firm behind the Catholic Church’s position on the proposed Reproductive Health bill, called for a “return to the voice of conscience” over the controversial issue.
In a Pastoral Statement read today, May 29, in masses in all churches and chapels in the Archdiocese, Villegas underlined the position of the Church against the bill saying that “the issue of contraception belongs to the realm of faith not opinions.”
He qualified this by saying that Blessed John Paul II repeatedly taught his flock during his papacy that contraception can never be justified.
“We must not make wrong right by the sheer force of survey or legislation by the majority or the convenience of some. People in authority who mislead others on the matter of contraception put themselves in open conflict with the laws of God and lead others to sin,” he said in his most critical comment against the RH bill yet.
Villegas said that the Church “holds close to her heart the dream of everyone to rise out of poverty and live the fullness of life,” as he cited Pope John Paul II’s belief that “the causes of underdevelopment are not primarily material but a matter of the will and mind and even more so in the lack of brotherhood among individuals and peoples”.
This means, he said, that the greater cause of underdevelopment is corruption of the soul and corruption of the society, pointing out that contraception “adds to the moral corruption of our society and family.”
The archbishop appealed to officials in government and members of the media to look at the Catholic Church as a partner in the mission of development.
He clarified that if the Church issues stern warning about the RH bill, it is not to impede national progress but to protect the nation from greater harm and tragedies in the generations ahead.
He stressed that in this highly divisive issue, the Church is still “a mother protecting her children from greater dangers and moral traps which until now her beloved children are still unable to foresee”.–LM
Share your Comments or Reactions
Powered by Facebook Comments
