Monday, January 26, 2009
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
QUALITY should determine QUANTITY
By Rina Jimenez-David
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 01:53:00 12/10/2008
Last Monday, Oscar Lopez, chairman of the Lopez group of companies, was conferred the title of "Eminent Person" among the board of the Forum for Family Planning and Development.
Lopez is the fifth such "eminent person" on the Forum's board, after former President Fidel V. Ramos, former Prime Minister Cesar Virata, businessman and philanthropist Washington SyCip, and internationally renowned demographer Mercedes Concepcion. The Forum is an NGO devoted to advocacy for family planning, particularly in influencing policy-shaping on this issue.
In his remarks, Lopez declared that "even as we are gathered here today, there are many serious challenges being faced by our movement," citing the "well-organized challenge" mounted by religious groups against the pending bill on reproductive health, among others.
The Lopez group chairman also noted that "it is not enough to just depend on government to accomplish the ideal population growth rate."
The private sector also has an important role to play, he said, adding that within the Lopez group they "promote family planning ... [and are] starting to show some progress in this regard and our effort is positively received by our employees as a sign of management's regard for their welfare."
Citing surveys that show public opinion support for reproductive health programs, particularly family planning, Lopez urged his audience to "do everything in our power to make sure that (the people) get what they want and need to have the family size they can properly provide for."
* * *
Indeed, as former president Fidel Ramos said in his "words of inspiration" that afternoon, "the changing but fundamental reality of today's world is that it is quality that determines quantity.
If this nation is to be developed and modernized, Filipino families must all endeavor to produce and nurture quality children and not incapable humans who become burdens to themselves and to society."
At the individual, family and national levels, family planning makes sense, and this is a fact already obvious to and embraced by the majority of Filipinos. But some of our political and religious leaders seem oblivious to reality and instead choose to impose their own sense of morality and judgment on others.
Groups like the Forum have their work cut out for them to make such folks wake up and smell the consequences of overpopulation.
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 01:53:00 12/10/2008
Last Monday, Oscar Lopez, chairman of the Lopez group of companies, was conferred the title of "Eminent Person" among the board of the Forum for Family Planning and Development.
Lopez is the fifth such "eminent person" on the Forum's board, after former President Fidel V. Ramos, former Prime Minister Cesar Virata, businessman and philanthropist Washington SyCip, and internationally renowned demographer Mercedes Concepcion. The Forum is an NGO devoted to advocacy for family planning, particularly in influencing policy-shaping on this issue.
In his remarks, Lopez declared that "even as we are gathered here today, there are many serious challenges being faced by our movement," citing the "well-organized challenge" mounted by religious groups against the pending bill on reproductive health, among others.
The Lopez group chairman also noted that "it is not enough to just depend on government to accomplish the ideal population growth rate."
The private sector also has an important role to play, he said, adding that within the Lopez group they "promote family planning ... [and are] starting to show some progress in this regard and our effort is positively received by our employees as a sign of management's regard for their welfare."
Citing surveys that show public opinion support for reproductive health programs, particularly family planning, Lopez urged his audience to "do everything in our power to make sure that (the people) get what they want and need to have the family size they can properly provide for."
* * *
Indeed, as former president Fidel Ramos said in his "words of inspiration" that afternoon, "the changing but fundamental reality of today's world is that it is quality that determines quantity.
If this nation is to be developed and modernized, Filipino families must all endeavor to produce and nurture quality children and not incapable humans who become burdens to themselves and to society."
At the individual, family and national levels, family planning makes sense, and this is a fact already obvious to and embraced by the majority of Filipinos. But some of our political and religious leaders seem oblivious to reality and instead choose to impose their own sense of morality and judgment on others.
Groups like the Forum have their work cut out for them to make such folks wake up and smell the consequences of overpopulation.
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
Lea Salonga, Liza Macuja support RH Bill
Lea Salonga, Lisa Macuja support RH bill; Bands to rock 'House'
BY MARK MERUEÑAS, GMANews.TV
12/09/2008 | 04:43 PM
MANILA, Philippines - The controversial Reproductive Health Bill has found new allies in influential Filipino artists like Broadway superstar Lea Salonga and prima ballerina Lisa Macuja-Elizalde, and has even mobilized a number of musical acts into participating at a free concert to be held on Tuesday.
Salonga and Macuja were among the latest addition to a growing list of backers of the RH Bill, a measure being pushed by more than 100 lawmakers at the House of Representatives with the aim of providing poor families access to basic health information and addressing serious health problems on reproduction.
“Personally, I support [the RH Bill] and I’m sincerely hoping that it is passed because it will allow many of our countrymen, especially women, to have access to information that most of us already have access to," Salonga said in a taped message shown at a recent forum promoting the proposed reproductive health law.
Salonga, who is currently touring the United States , expressed confidence that the highly-contested measure, with its wide-ranging coverage, would be able to address the ills plaguing not only expecting mothers but also the youth.
“It’s a whole gamut of issues that this bill covers regarding family planning, spacing of our children, as well as other health issues such as STD [sexually transmitted disease] prevention, AIDS prevention. And I hope this will allow for a healthy and active discussions among all of you," said the 37-year-old Tony Award winner.
The bill had been receiving blows from pro-life supporters – the Catholic Church being the most vocal of them – who claimed passage of the bill would only promote abortion and promiscuity among teenagers.
In contrast to the Church, a recent survey conducted by polling firm Social Weather Station showed that most Filipinos, including Catholics, believe that there should be a reproductive health law and that the government should step in in ensuring that Filipinos are armed with basic knowledge on sexual education and contraception.
“I am a church-going Catholic, a wife, a mother of three beautiful children. And I believe that every woman should have the right to choose between wanted and unwanted pregnancies for her future," Macuja said.
“And the future of the children that she really wishes to have [can be achieved] thanks to the Reproductive Health," the highly-acclaimed ballerina said in another taped interview shown in the forum.
Even before Salonga and Macuja chipped in their support, backers of the RH Bill have already tagged along for their cause a number of priests from the Ateneo de Manila University; a support group for AIDS – The Girls, Women and HIV and AIDS Network; and even several Cabinet officials including Social Welfare Secretary Esperanza Cabral.
Rock the ‘House’
Further soliciting support from the music and arts industry, the Forum on Family Planning and Development Inc would be gathering more than 20 artists and bands for a one-night only, free concert at the Liwasang Aurora at the Quezon Memorial Circle at 6 p.m. of Tuesday.
“Together, let us rock the house… the House of the Representatives that is," declared Benjamin de Leon, the Forum president.
Peryodiko vocalist Vin Dancel, who will be performing at the free concert, said the best way that artists like him could support and promote the RH Bill is through their music.
“As artists, we enjoy a privileged position when we go up on stage and go up the microphone, wala silang choice kundi makinig. Were taking that opportunity to talk about this very important piece of legislation," Dancel said.
He said that they have even been promoting the bill through their mailing list over the Internet, encouraging their members to read the entire text of the measure before casting judgment on it.
Dancel, who also spoke at the forum, said the arguments hurled against the RH Bill were merely focused on its provision on artificial forms of contraception, when in fact the bill has a much broader scope.
“Dapat hindi nalilimitahan ang usapin ng RH sa sex at contraceptives dahil malawaka ang saklaw ng bill na ito and to limit the arguments to sex ay parang hindi dapat siya karapat dapat. Filipinos deserve so much more," said Dancel, a father of a seven-year-old boy.
Aside from natural and artificial forms of family planning, the bill also tackles other reproductive health issues like abortion, maternal deaths, child nutrition, reproductive system-related infections, RH awareness among the youth through sex education, and even violence against women.
For her part, Katwo Puertollano – vocalist of Duster, another band performing at the RH Bill concert - said during the forum that it was important for people to understand that the RH Bill is more a personal issue than a political or religious one.
“I’ve witnessed it destroy and change lives. Do we let this happen? Do the current rules that we have suffice? I don’t think so," Puertollano said.
She said that as a democratic and free society, the Filipinos should voice out their support for a measure which, she said, was only meant to protect lives and help address the chronic social ills like poverty.
“I urge everyone to support and to really go beyond the political and religious stigmas. We are in a position to be able to prevent more deaths and poverty," she said.
Among the musical acts slated to rock the night are Sandwich , Itchyworms, Lolita, Carbon, Sugarfree, Noel Cabangon, Imago, Chikoy Pura, Scarlet, Pedicab, Susan Fernandez, Cambio, Bob and Anya, Zoneone, Wandering Dw, FMD, and Jeepney Joyride.
No dialogue?
The Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) has recently issued a statement stressing the religious body’s opposition to the current version of the bill, further citing major “flaws" that could pose threats to the lives of a pregnant woman and the baby she is conceiving.
But as a compromise, the CBCP had also said they are willing to throw their support for the RH Bill only if its proponents would strike off or modify some of its provisions. The CBCP said it was willing to raise their points of revision in a dialogue with the bill’s authors.
In response, Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman, the bill’s primary author, said he was open to such a dialogue but doubted the CBCP’s seriousness in its call to sit with the RH Bill proponents.
In a separate interview with GMANews.TV, De Leon seconded Lagman’s sentiments and said based on the Church’s recent moves, he doubted whether such dialogue would ever take form.
“Ang tagal na noon nung ginawa nila ang offer na iyon, pero ayon sa aking nalalaman, hanggang ngayon wala pa kaming naririnig sa kanila (It’s been a long time since they offered to have a dialogue but we have yet to hear from them)," De Leon said.
He said if the Church really plans to dialogue with them, it should do so immediately so that the bill could pass the House even before lawmakers go into a Christmas break next week.
Vincent Jurlano, program officer of the United Nations Family Planning Authority, also stressed during the forum the urgency of passing the bill before the year ends.
“Dapat ipasa na nila sa House, para mapaghandaan na din ang susunod na stage, sa Senado (The bill should be passed at the House so it could proceed to the Senate)," Jurlano said.-
Mark Merueñas, GMANews.TV
BY MARK MERUEÑAS, GMANews.TV
12/09/2008 | 04:43 PM
MANILA, Philippines - The controversial Reproductive Health Bill has found new allies in influential Filipino artists like Broadway superstar Lea Salonga and prima ballerina Lisa Macuja-Elizalde, and has even mobilized a number of musical acts into participating at a free concert to be held on Tuesday.
Salonga and Macuja were among the latest addition to a growing list of backers of the RH Bill, a measure being pushed by more than 100 lawmakers at the House of Representatives with the aim of providing poor families access to basic health information and addressing serious health problems on reproduction.
“Personally, I support [the RH Bill] and I’m sincerely hoping that it is passed because it will allow many of our countrymen, especially women, to have access to information that most of us already have access to," Salonga said in a taped message shown at a recent forum promoting the proposed reproductive health law.
Salonga, who is currently touring the United States , expressed confidence that the highly-contested measure, with its wide-ranging coverage, would be able to address the ills plaguing not only expecting mothers but also the youth.
“It’s a whole gamut of issues that this bill covers regarding family planning, spacing of our children, as well as other health issues such as STD [sexually transmitted disease] prevention, AIDS prevention. And I hope this will allow for a healthy and active discussions among all of you," said the 37-year-old Tony Award winner.
The bill had been receiving blows from pro-life supporters – the Catholic Church being the most vocal of them – who claimed passage of the bill would only promote abortion and promiscuity among teenagers.
In contrast to the Church, a recent survey conducted by polling firm Social Weather Station showed that most Filipinos, including Catholics, believe that there should be a reproductive health law and that the government should step in in ensuring that Filipinos are armed with basic knowledge on sexual education and contraception.
“I am a church-going Catholic, a wife, a mother of three beautiful children. And I believe that every woman should have the right to choose between wanted and unwanted pregnancies for her future," Macuja said.
“And the future of the children that she really wishes to have [can be achieved] thanks to the Reproductive Health," the highly-acclaimed ballerina said in another taped interview shown in the forum.
Even before Salonga and Macuja chipped in their support, backers of the RH Bill have already tagged along for their cause a number of priests from the Ateneo de Manila University; a support group for AIDS – The Girls, Women and HIV and AIDS Network; and even several Cabinet officials including Social Welfare Secretary Esperanza Cabral.
Rock the ‘House’
Further soliciting support from the music and arts industry, the Forum on Family Planning and Development Inc would be gathering more than 20 artists and bands for a one-night only, free concert at the Liwasang Aurora at the Quezon Memorial Circle at 6 p.m. of Tuesday.
“Together, let us rock the house… the House of the Representatives that is," declared Benjamin de Leon, the Forum president.
Peryodiko vocalist Vin Dancel, who will be performing at the free concert, said the best way that artists like him could support and promote the RH Bill is through their music.
“As artists, we enjoy a privileged position when we go up on stage and go up the microphone, wala silang choice kundi makinig. Were taking that opportunity to talk about this very important piece of legislation," Dancel said.
He said that they have even been promoting the bill through their mailing list over the Internet, encouraging their members to read the entire text of the measure before casting judgment on it.
Dancel, who also spoke at the forum, said the arguments hurled against the RH Bill were merely focused on its provision on artificial forms of contraception, when in fact the bill has a much broader scope.
“Dapat hindi nalilimitahan ang usapin ng RH sa sex at contraceptives dahil malawaka ang saklaw ng bill na ito and to limit the arguments to sex ay parang hindi dapat siya karapat dapat. Filipinos deserve so much more," said Dancel, a father of a seven-year-old boy.
Aside from natural and artificial forms of family planning, the bill also tackles other reproductive health issues like abortion, maternal deaths, child nutrition, reproductive system-related infections, RH awareness among the youth through sex education, and even violence against women.
For her part, Katwo Puertollano – vocalist of Duster, another band performing at the RH Bill concert - said during the forum that it was important for people to understand that the RH Bill is more a personal issue than a political or religious one.
“I’ve witnessed it destroy and change lives. Do we let this happen? Do the current rules that we have suffice? I don’t think so," Puertollano said.
She said that as a democratic and free society, the Filipinos should voice out their support for a measure which, she said, was only meant to protect lives and help address the chronic social ills like poverty.
“I urge everyone to support and to really go beyond the political and religious stigmas. We are in a position to be able to prevent more deaths and poverty," she said.
Among the musical acts slated to rock the night are Sandwich , Itchyworms, Lolita, Carbon, Sugarfree, Noel Cabangon, Imago, Chikoy Pura, Scarlet, Pedicab, Susan Fernandez, Cambio, Bob and Anya, Zoneone, Wandering Dw, FMD, and Jeepney Joyride.
No dialogue?
The Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) has recently issued a statement stressing the religious body’s opposition to the current version of the bill, further citing major “flaws" that could pose threats to the lives of a pregnant woman and the baby she is conceiving.
But as a compromise, the CBCP had also said they are willing to throw their support for the RH Bill only if its proponents would strike off or modify some of its provisions. The CBCP said it was willing to raise their points of revision in a dialogue with the bill’s authors.
In response, Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman, the bill’s primary author, said he was open to such a dialogue but doubted the CBCP’s seriousness in its call to sit with the RH Bill proponents.
In a separate interview with GMANews.TV, De Leon seconded Lagman’s sentiments and said based on the Church’s recent moves, he doubted whether such dialogue would ever take form.
“Ang tagal na noon nung ginawa nila ang offer na iyon, pero ayon sa aking nalalaman, hanggang ngayon wala pa kaming naririnig sa kanila (It’s been a long time since they offered to have a dialogue but we have yet to hear from them)," De Leon said.
He said if the Church really plans to dialogue with them, it should do so immediately so that the bill could pass the House even before lawmakers go into a Christmas break next week.
Vincent Jurlano, program officer of the United Nations Family Planning Authority, also stressed during the forum the urgency of passing the bill before the year ends.
“Dapat ipasa na nila sa House, para mapaghandaan na din ang susunod na stage, sa Senado (The bill should be passed at the House so it could proceed to the Senate)," Jurlano said.-
Mark Merueñas, GMANews.TV
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Multi-Sectoral Groups in Cebu to Support RH Bill
PIA Press Release
2008/11/25
Multi-sectoral groups in Cebu to support RH Bill 5043
Cebu City (25 November) -- An information campaign to deepen the understanding of the public and showcase the support of various multi-sectoral groups in Cebu on the importance of passing House Bill 5043 is slated tomorrow in a scheduled press conference in Cebu City.
Rep. Edcel Lagman, who is pushing for the immediate passage of the proposed bill will discuss the salient points of the bill and its status in Congress.
HB 5043 is otherwise known as "An Act Providing for a National Policy on Reproductive Health, Responsible Parenthood and Population Development, and for Other Purposes", or "The Reproductive Health and Population Development Act of 2008."
A highlight of tomorrow's activity will be the presentation of respective positions and statement of support for the proposed RH and Population Development Bills by Rev. Danny Maing, senior pastor of the Mandaue City Alliance Church and the Interfaith Partnership for Responsible Parenthood, Rev. Orlando Carvajal, president of the Philippine Federation of Married Priests and Francis Monera, Board of Trustees of the Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
The bill has received flak from the Catholic religious hierarchy as it firmly stood pat on its position that the bill is anti-life which is against the principle of the church on pro-life, this is learned.
In keeping with their policy on pro-life, Church leaders are not advocating for artificial birth control and instead advocate the use of natural family planning in population control management.
HB 5043 is the Substitute Bill that consolidates the four Bills on Reproductive Health originally proposed by various authors in the 14th Congress. These 4 Bills are HB 17 authored by Rep. Edcel Lagman (An Act Providing for a National Policy on Reproductive Health, Responsible Parenthood and Population Development, and for Other Purposes), HB 812 by Rep. Janette Garin (An Act Providing for Reproductive Health Care Structures and Appropriating Funds Therefor), HB 2753 by Rep. Narciso Santiago III (An Act to Protect the Right of the People to Information About Reproductive Health Care Services) and HB 3970 by Rep. Ana Theresia Hontiveros-Baraquel (An Act Providing for Reproductive Health Care Structures and Appropriating Funds Therefore).
Tomorrow's activity is organized by the Philippine Legislators' Committee on Population and Development Foundation, Inc. (PLCPD) as it pushes for relevant human development policies in both Houses of Congress.
One of the PLCPD's banner advocacies is the Reproductive Health and Population Development Bill as it currently conducts a series of media events in various provinces nationwide to intensify public support on the bill. (PIA-Cebu/FCR) [top]
2008/11/25
Multi-sectoral groups in Cebu to support RH Bill 5043
Cebu City (25 November) -- An information campaign to deepen the understanding of the public and showcase the support of various multi-sectoral groups in Cebu on the importance of passing House Bill 5043 is slated tomorrow in a scheduled press conference in Cebu City.
Rep. Edcel Lagman, who is pushing for the immediate passage of the proposed bill will discuss the salient points of the bill and its status in Congress.
HB 5043 is otherwise known as "An Act Providing for a National Policy on Reproductive Health, Responsible Parenthood and Population Development, and for Other Purposes", or "The Reproductive Health and Population Development Act of 2008."
A highlight of tomorrow's activity will be the presentation of respective positions and statement of support for the proposed RH and Population Development Bills by Rev. Danny Maing, senior pastor of the Mandaue City Alliance Church and the Interfaith Partnership for Responsible Parenthood, Rev. Orlando Carvajal, president of the Philippine Federation of Married Priests and Francis Monera, Board of Trustees of the Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
The bill has received flak from the Catholic religious hierarchy as it firmly stood pat on its position that the bill is anti-life which is against the principle of the church on pro-life, this is learned.
In keeping with their policy on pro-life, Church leaders are not advocating for artificial birth control and instead advocate the use of natural family planning in population control management.
HB 5043 is the Substitute Bill that consolidates the four Bills on Reproductive Health originally proposed by various authors in the 14th Congress. These 4 Bills are HB 17 authored by Rep. Edcel Lagman (An Act Providing for a National Policy on Reproductive Health, Responsible Parenthood and Population Development, and for Other Purposes), HB 812 by Rep. Janette Garin (An Act Providing for Reproductive Health Care Structures and Appropriating Funds Therefor), HB 2753 by Rep. Narciso Santiago III (An Act to Protect the Right of the People to Information About Reproductive Health Care Services) and HB 3970 by Rep. Ana Theresia Hontiveros-Baraquel (An Act Providing for Reproductive Health Care Structures and Appropriating Funds Therefore).
Tomorrow's activity is organized by the Philippine Legislators' Committee on Population and Development Foundation, Inc. (PLCPD) as it pushes for relevant human development policies in both Houses of Congress.
One of the PLCPD's banner advocacies is the Reproductive Health and Population Development Bill as it currently conducts a series of media events in various provinces nationwide to intensify public support on the bill. (PIA-Cebu/FCR) [top]
Sunday, November 23, 2008
If one is PRO-CHOICE, Does that make him/her Evil? NO!
BARACK Obama is pro-choice, yes. Does that make him pro-evil? No.
by Melanie Lim Sun Star Daily Cebu Nov 23, 2008
I cannot imagine how any society can define a person as evil because he supports freedom of choice.
If Obama does not sit well with Catholics, it is not because he presents the epitome of evil. It is because he presents the epitome of leadership for the entire consti tuency not just for a few sectors of society.
I am not anti-life. But I will always be pro-choice. Contrary to what others may think, I am not batting for abortion. But I believe in freedom of choice—-even if that choice entails abortion.
This is the reality of adulthood. When you offer choices, you accept the choices made—-whatever they are.
This is the lifeblood of a democracy. And lest you need reminding, Obama is not a leader of a church. He is a leader of a country.
With choices comes accountability. You only need to answer for yours. Let others answer for theirs. Terminating a pregnancy is not an easy decision. But sometimes, circumstances compel others to make difficult decisions. Real Christianity dictates we show compassion rather than condemnation.
Do I believe in God? Yes. Do I believe in gospel truth? No. I neither believe nor support dogma. For me, obedience is NOT the highest virtue. Submission is. And make no mistake—-they are NOT the same.
Obedience is to never question the truthfulness of anything. Submission is to question and then to accept the truthfulness of something.
When you submit, you walk with your eyes wide open—-you think, you ponder, you struggle before you arrive at your decision. Hence, the decision to submit carries significance. When you obey, you walk with your eyes wide shut and plunge into oblivion.
If Catholics think that abortion, artificial methods of contraception, divorce and capital punishment are evil, I will not argue with them.
That is their concept of right and wrong, not mine. And if my convictions are worthy of Catholic condemnation, I will accept the mortal judgment of the Catholic Church.
But I will stake my soul on the belief that God does not demand obedience but submission from me. If God had wanted me to follow blindly, He would have made me a robot. But God made me a human being and granted me the gift of free will. What greater clarity do I need that God wants me to think?
Catholics who are up in arms should understand—-I opine. I do not evangelize. This is an opinion, not an edict. Where does the fear come from? I am neither preacher nor prophet. If anything, I am a heretic. If your faith is as unwavering as mine, you should have nothing to fear.
What is evil? I doubt if dissension and disobedience are evil.
Choice certainly is not. But hypocrisy and self-righteousness, I call evil. Greed, corruption, oppression, sexual misconduct and molestation—-these are evil.
I absolutely agree that those who depart from Catholic tenets should abstain from receiving Holy Communion.
But shouldn’t this rule apply to those GIVING Holy Communion as well?
If you are not worthy to GIVE Holy Communion but you do it anyway, I think that might fall under the fiery definition of evil.
(sunstarcebucolumnist@yahoo.com)
( I really like this article of Melanie Lim. We have a similar stand. I am PRO RH and for PRO -Quality life ( not just pro-life I hope this can enlighten the catholic hierarchy and lay catholics who are against RH, most specially the Philippine Legislators,hoping they will support the passage of the RH Bill.
by Melanie Lim Sun Star Daily Cebu Nov 23, 2008
I cannot imagine how any society can define a person as evil because he supports freedom of choice.
If Obama does not sit well with Catholics, it is not because he presents the epitome of evil. It is because he presents the epitome of leadership for the entire consti tuency not just for a few sectors of society.
I am not anti-life. But I will always be pro-choice. Contrary to what others may think, I am not batting for abortion. But I believe in freedom of choice—-even if that choice entails abortion.
This is the reality of adulthood. When you offer choices, you accept the choices made—-whatever they are.
This is the lifeblood of a democracy. And lest you need reminding, Obama is not a leader of a church. He is a leader of a country.
With choices comes accountability. You only need to answer for yours. Let others answer for theirs. Terminating a pregnancy is not an easy decision. But sometimes, circumstances compel others to make difficult decisions. Real Christianity dictates we show compassion rather than condemnation.
Do I believe in God? Yes. Do I believe in gospel truth? No. I neither believe nor support dogma. For me, obedience is NOT the highest virtue. Submission is. And make no mistake—-they are NOT the same.
Obedience is to never question the truthfulness of anything. Submission is to question and then to accept the truthfulness of something.
When you submit, you walk with your eyes wide open—-you think, you ponder, you struggle before you arrive at your decision. Hence, the decision to submit carries significance. When you obey, you walk with your eyes wide shut and plunge into oblivion.
If Catholics think that abortion, artificial methods of contraception, divorce and capital punishment are evil, I will not argue with them.
That is their concept of right and wrong, not mine. And if my convictions are worthy of Catholic condemnation, I will accept the mortal judgment of the Catholic Church.
But I will stake my soul on the belief that God does not demand obedience but submission from me. If God had wanted me to follow blindly, He would have made me a robot. But God made me a human being and granted me the gift of free will. What greater clarity do I need that God wants me to think?
Catholics who are up in arms should understand—-I opine. I do not evangelize. This is an opinion, not an edict. Where does the fear come from? I am neither preacher nor prophet. If anything, I am a heretic. If your faith is as unwavering as mine, you should have nothing to fear.
What is evil? I doubt if dissension and disobedience are evil.
Choice certainly is not. But hypocrisy and self-righteousness, I call evil. Greed, corruption, oppression, sexual misconduct and molestation—-these are evil.
I absolutely agree that those who depart from Catholic tenets should abstain from receiving Holy Communion.
But shouldn’t this rule apply to those GIVING Holy Communion as well?
If you are not worthy to GIVE Holy Communion but you do it anyway, I think that might fall under the fiery definition of evil.
(sunstarcebucolumnist@yahoo.com)
( I really like this article of Melanie Lim. We have a similar stand. I am PRO RH and for PRO -Quality life ( not just pro-life I hope this can enlighten the catholic hierarchy and lay catholics who are against RH, most specially the Philippine Legislators,hoping they will support the passage of the RH Bill.
Saturday, November 22, 2008
Churches unite for RH Bill
Churches unite for RH Bill
_____
By LILITA BALANE, Newsbreak | 11/22/2008 12:01 AM
A coalition of churches and faith-based organizations in the Philippines has given their support for House Bill 5043, also known as the Reproductive Health (RH) Bill, which seeks to address the high population and worsening poverty in the Philippines through the promotion of reproductive health, responsible parenthood and population development.
Contrary to the Catholic Church's position that the RH Bill was pro-abortion, the Christian and Missionary Alliance Churches of the Philippines (CMACP) , United Church of Christ of the Philippines (UCCP), Office of Muslim Affairs (OMA), Apostolic Catholic Church , and the Philippine Council for Evangelical Churches said the RH bill clearly espoused that abortion is a crime.
Moreover, they said that it seeks to provide mothers to the right to have safer pregnancies by giving them access to information and services.
"Primarily, we read and see it as a more intentional effort by our government to clear and provide for our nation a path that would lead to better management of our resources, both human and otherwise, which will eventually bring us into a more sustainable future," CMACP explained.
A position paper submited by the Iglesia ni Cristo also said that one need not be an expert to see for himself that the problem on population is real.
The INC said rapid population growth amply shows the need for family planning.
A group of professors from Jesuit-ran Ateneo de Manila University also attended the symposium to show their stand on HB 5043. The ADMU professors said that their move to support the bill was dictated by their conscience and not by their religious belief.
Patriach Dr. John Florentine Teruel, founding bishop of the Apostolic Church, made it clear that not all Catholic churches oppose the RH bill.Teruel said that the Apostolic Catholic Church was once skeptical of the bill. But after hearing the discussion of Representative Edcel Lagman, principal author of the bill, they now fully support the measure.
A Catholic denomination which started in Bataan, the Apostolic Catholic Church separated from the hierarchy of Roman Catholic in the 1980s. Though the church follows the Roman Catholics'seven sacraments, they have a patriarch instead of a Pope and a "Mahal na Ingkong" as their Holy Spirit. Unlike the Roman Catholic Church, Teruel said his church is more conservative. "We denounce sin vices. We observe modesty in dressing among women and we do not allow members below 24 years old to engage in courtship or sexual relationship," he said.
Teruel said that RH bill is pro-life, which is contrary to the information dissemina-ted by the Catholic Church.
"It is now clear to the Apostolic Catholic Church that the artificial family
planning method in the bill is not an abortive measure.
Let us leave the fathers and the mothers to decide. Let us not control how they will plan their families.
Let's us give them free will as the Bible says," Teruel said adding that the CBCP should not resort on threatening legislators just to advance their interests.
The CBCP reportedly threatened that lawmakers will be deprived of communion in their dioceses if they vote in favor of the bill.
Church groups however vowed to help in Lagman's efforts to have the RH bill
approved in the House of Representatives and the Senate.
as of 11/22/2008 4:54 AM
http://news.abs-cbn.com/nation/11/21/08/churches-unite-rh-bill
_____
By LILITA BALANE, Newsbreak | 11/22/2008 12:01 AM
A coalition of churches and faith-based organizations in the Philippines has given their support for House Bill 5043, also known as the Reproductive Health (RH) Bill, which seeks to address the high population and worsening poverty in the Philippines through the promotion of reproductive health, responsible parenthood and population development.
Contrary to the Catholic Church's position that the RH Bill was pro-abortion, the Christian and Missionary Alliance Churches of the Philippines (CMACP) , United Church of Christ of the Philippines (UCCP), Office of Muslim Affairs (OMA), Apostolic Catholic Church , and the Philippine Council for Evangelical Churches said the RH bill clearly espoused that abortion is a crime.
Moreover, they said that it seeks to provide mothers to the right to have safer pregnancies by giving them access to information and services.
"Primarily, we read and see it as a more intentional effort by our government to clear and provide for our nation a path that would lead to better management of our resources, both human and otherwise, which will eventually bring us into a more sustainable future," CMACP explained.
A position paper submited by the Iglesia ni Cristo also said that one need not be an expert to see for himself that the problem on population is real.
The INC said rapid population growth amply shows the need for family planning.
A group of professors from Jesuit-ran Ateneo de Manila University also attended the symposium to show their stand on HB 5043. The ADMU professors said that their move to support the bill was dictated by their conscience and not by their religious belief.
Patriach Dr. John Florentine Teruel, founding bishop of the Apostolic Church, made it clear that not all Catholic churches oppose the RH bill.Teruel said that the Apostolic Catholic Church was once skeptical of the bill. But after hearing the discussion of Representative Edcel Lagman, principal author of the bill, they now fully support the measure.
A Catholic denomination which started in Bataan, the Apostolic Catholic Church separated from the hierarchy of Roman Catholic in the 1980s. Though the church follows the Roman Catholics'seven sacraments, they have a patriarch instead of a Pope and a "Mahal na Ingkong" as their Holy Spirit. Unlike the Roman Catholic Church, Teruel said his church is more conservative. "We denounce sin vices. We observe modesty in dressing among women and we do not allow members below 24 years old to engage in courtship or sexual relationship," he said.
Teruel said that RH bill is pro-life, which is contrary to the information dissemina-ted by the Catholic Church.
"It is now clear to the Apostolic Catholic Church that the artificial family
planning method in the bill is not an abortive measure.
Let us leave the fathers and the mothers to decide. Let us not control how they will plan their families.
Let's us give them free will as the Bible says," Teruel said adding that the CBCP should not resort on threatening legislators just to advance their interests.
The CBCP reportedly threatened that lawmakers will be deprived of communion in their dioceses if they vote in favor of the bill.
Church groups however vowed to help in Lagman's efforts to have the RH bill
approved in the House of Representatives and the Senate.
as of 11/22/2008 4:54 AM
http://news.abs-cbn.com/nation/11/21/08/churches-unite-rh-bill
Thursday, November 13, 2008
Appeal for the passage of RH Bill into Law
An Appeal to the Philippine Legislators,
While the “POPE APPEALS TO WORLD LEADERS TO FIGHT POVERTY” and to “"courageously take and apply the necessary measures to wipe out extreme poverty, hunger, ignorance and the plague of pandemics,which above all, hit the most vulnerable." (CASTEL GANDOLFO, Italy 09/22/2008 | 12:19 AM GMA News TV)
The undersigned, an ordinary Filipino, a Catholic, ( a Social Worker, who has long been dealing with the difficulties of the many poor children and their families in the squatter and non-squatter areas) appeals to our other legislators to -
PLEASE … do something for our FILIPINOS living in extreme POVERTY !
and for families in very difficult circumstances, with too many children
who are neglected, malnourished and some dying!
Is this what “pro-life” Catholics … call,the sanctity /sacredness of life? When
many of the Filipinos are living but dying young or having a miserable life?
compared to that life which is well-planned, using safe and effective Family
Planning Method of their choice and a better chances of having children with
a better quality of life!
the least your Honor can do for the poor Filipinos is to
SUPPORT the RH Bill ! which has been long overdue …
The Filipinos expect your Honor and the rest of the Legislators to be INDEPENDENT-MINDED, to DECIDE based on what is FOR THE GOOD OF THE MANY poor Filipinos … and not to be swayed by the threats of one religious group. Pls. consider that not all Filipinos are Catholics nor are all Catholics oppose the RH Bill; many lay people are just silent for various reasons and so are a number of priests and devout but liberal Catholics.
I greatly hope you will consider this and the appeals of the many RH Supporters who are thinking of the benefits this law will have, to the many poor Filipinos … Thank you very much!
Very truly yours,
Mrs. FROHNIE D. CAGALITAN
PRO-QUALITY LIFE Training & Dev’t. Inc. (Q-Life)
“Advocating Poverty Reduction and Quality of Life for the Poor”
e-add: proqualitylife@gmail.com http:// proqualitylife.blogspot.com
. . . being pro-life is not enough, we should be pro-quality life . . .
“ let us aim for a better QUALITY OF LIFE for every Filipino …”
While the “POPE APPEALS TO WORLD LEADERS TO FIGHT POVERTY” and to “"courageously take and apply the necessary measures to wipe out extreme poverty, hunger, ignorance and the plague of pandemics,which above all, hit the most vulnerable." (CASTEL GANDOLFO, Italy 09/22/2008 | 12:19 AM GMA News TV)
The undersigned, an ordinary Filipino, a Catholic, ( a Social Worker, who has long been dealing with the difficulties of the many poor children and their families in the squatter and non-squatter areas) appeals to our other legislators to -
PLEASE … do something for our FILIPINOS living in extreme POVERTY !
and for families in very difficult circumstances, with too many children
who are neglected, malnourished and some dying!
Is this what “pro-life” Catholics … call,the sanctity /sacredness of life? When
many of the Filipinos are living but dying young or having a miserable life?
compared to that life which is well-planned, using safe and effective Family
Planning Method of their choice and a better chances of having children with
a better quality of life!
the least your Honor can do for the poor Filipinos is to
SUPPORT the RH Bill ! which has been long overdue …
The Filipinos expect your Honor and the rest of the Legislators to be INDEPENDENT-MINDED, to DECIDE based on what is FOR THE GOOD OF THE MANY poor Filipinos … and not to be swayed by the threats of one religious group. Pls. consider that not all Filipinos are Catholics nor are all Catholics oppose the RH Bill; many lay people are just silent for various reasons and so are a number of priests and devout but liberal Catholics.
I greatly hope you will consider this and the appeals of the many RH Supporters who are thinking of the benefits this law will have, to the many poor Filipinos … Thank you very much!
Very truly yours,
Mrs. FROHNIE D. CAGALITAN
PRO-QUALITY LIFE Training & Dev’t. Inc. (Q-Life)
“Advocating Poverty Reduction and Quality of Life for the Poor”
e-add: proqualitylife@gmail.com http:// proqualitylife.blogspot.com
. . . being pro-life is not enough, we should be pro-quality life . . .
“ let us aim for a better QUALITY OF LIFE for every Filipino …”
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