Bishop tells public: Don't vote for pro-RH bill politicians

MANILA, Philippines - A Catholic bishop who refused to give communion to "anti-life" politicians, has again moved against them by urging people not to vote for candidates who would back the controversial Reproductive Health (RH) bill. In Sunday's pastoral letter, Ozamis Archbishop Jesus Dosado asked the public not to vote in the 2010 elections politicians who would support the "anti-life" bill. “I asked those responsible of these bills not to receive the Holy Communion and that the Church uses her rights to urge her flock not to vote the politicians who endorsed the reproductive health bills," Dosado said. Last July, Dosado issued a similar pastoral letter discouraging Catholic congressmen supportive of the RH bill “not to present themselves for Holy Communion". The Catholic Church has been strongly opposing the passage of the bill that promotes the use of artificial contraceptives, which the clergy has found to be an "abortificient" or tantamount to abortion. The bill, sponsored by Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman, is up for second reading at the House of Representatives. The Episcopal Commission on Family and Life (ECFL) of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines chaired by Archbishop Paciano Aniceto, however, insisted that the matter is not a battle between politicians and the Church. “Life has no religion. Life has no political color. Life has no biases. Kapag itong life po na ito ay kinitil natin o ibinasura natin ay lahat tayo mawawala sa balat ng lupa. So, it is the issue of life (Life has no religion. Life has no political color. Life has no biases. If we are going to kill this life, all of us will perish from earth)," Aniceto said over Church-run Radio Veritas. Asked who could be adding political flavor in the debate regarding the bill, Aniceto said definitely not the CBCP. “Ang nagpo-politicize dito 'yong mga authors. Malapit na 'yung 2010 eh. Siguro, they can use this for their own political agendas. I don’t know. I am not judging pero dahil sila ay politicians, maaaring kasama sa agenda nila iyan (The authors of the bill are politicizing the issue. The 2010 polls nears. Maybe they can use this for their own political agendas. I don't know. I am not judging but because they are politicians, that could be part of their agenda), " the prelate added. Meanwhile, ECFL Executive Secretary Fr. Melvin Castro said pro-life advocates would bring a larger contingent at the House plenary debates, which is set to continue this week. “During the first plenary, last Tuesday, our number was about 100 but our numbers went down the following days. While supporters of the RH bill were more organized and numbered about 500," Castro said. Castro said his group was hoping to gather more supporters from other dioceses, aside from those who came from the Diocese of Novaliches. “We need more warm bodies there… We would come out as a stronger group," Castro said adding that his group was set to continue its prayer vigils until Congress goes on recess on October 10. Archbishop Angel Lagdameo, president of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines, are praising lawmakers who have been unwavering in their support to the cause of pro-life groups in opposing the passage of the bill. " Ako po ay talagang sumasaludo sa lahat ng mga kongresista na sumusuporta sa advocacy ng pro life." He said the passage of an anti-life bill is against the moral teachings of God and the Church. - GMANews.TV