Sex ed, gambling loom as top topics at CBCP meet

Sex education and gambling "donation" emerge as top topics of Catholic bishops as they started their plenary meeting Saturday. The Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP)’s 101st Plenary Assembly is scheduled this Saturday and Sunday at the Pope Pius Center in Manila. Earlier, CBCP president Nereo Odchimar indicated the bishops would take up the government's sex education program at the meeting. “We’ll have to make our position clear... We will probably talk about the issues involved during our plenary meeting...," Odchimar said in an earlier interview on Church-run Radyo Veritas. He added there may not be time in the near future for the CBCP-Department of Education dialogue, as the bishops will need some time to study the DepEd program. The respective CBCP commissions will also need time to come up with the appropriate recommendations, Odchimar added. On the other hand, the Catholic bishops may tackle the problem regarding some bishops allegedly receiving donations from gambling operations. "If (the issue on gambling money) will be raised, (yes, we will take it up)," Odchimar said . Church leaders also agreed not to receive donations from gambling institutions, including state-run Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor). Last Tuesday, former CBCP president and retired Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Oscar Cruz challenged the public to name bishops receiving gambling money. He also challenged Pagcor to issue a list of prelates to whom the agency has given donations. By doing so, Cruz said, the Pagcor could help the CBCP in its efforts to make its members adhere to policies defined in its pastoral statements. But Odchimar voiced confidence majority of the CBCP's members are adhering to their “consistent" stand against gambling. “Most of the bishops (believe) that it would be better for us not to receive donations and much more not to ask donations from Pagcor since we know what the source of donation is," he said. “As often been stated, the end does not justify the means… that is the prevailing sentiment of the bishops because of the evil effects of gambling," he added. Meanwhile, Radio dzBB's Sam Nielsen reported militant urban poor groups staged a demonstration at the Pope Pius Center, just in time for the start of the plenary. The militants, bringing a "cross," asked the bishops to urge the government to protect the rights of urban poor communities, including protection from demolitions.— LBG, GMANews.TV