Church exec: 'Sincerity' key to resolving RH issue

A Catholic official said the sincerity of both parties in the much-debated Reproductive Health (RH) bill will be crucial to resolving the issue. In an interview on dwIZ radio on Tuesday, Caloocan Bishop Deogracias Iñiguez Jr. said “Kung maganda ang nilalayon, merong mangyayari, if it’s a true dialogue (If everyone is sincere, we expect something good from the dialogue if it is a true dialogue)." Iñiguez, head of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines' (CBCP) public affairs unit, said “The success of the dialogue depends on the participants’ sincerity. If they are really thinking of the country I am sure something good will come out. In the meantime let us pray for the success of the talks." Amid the word-war truce reached by the government and the Church on the RH issue, Iñiguez also asked Catholics for the success of the upcoming dialogue between Church officials and President Benigno Simeon Aquino III. Aquino, though a Catholic, has opposed the Church's stand on contraception, saying he is for informed choice and responsible parenthood. Meanwhile, CBCP Commission on Family and Life executive secretary Fr. Melvin Castro said the Church has not compromised its stand against contraception even though it has agreed to a word-war "ceasefire" on the issue. “It does not mean that the Church is compromising (its position). It simply means that it is good there’s this lull moment to pause, to assess things and to pray and hope for a genuine dialogue," Castro said in an article posted on Monday on the CBCP news site. He said the ceasefire will allow both parties and the public to study the matter carefully. The Catholic Church had agreed to a "ceasefire" with government over the RH debate, at least until they can hold a formal dialogue on the issue. “We respect the request of Malacañang for a ceasefire to calm everybody… and as we wait for a face-to-face dialogue with the bishops and the president," Castro said. On Monday, presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda called for “sobriety" amid the growing tension between the Church and the government over the controversial RH bill. Some Church officials earlier claimed civil disobedience remains a “moral option" for Catholics if government pushes through with the distribution of contraceptives to couples. The Church opposes the use of artificial contraceptives and promotes only the use natural family planning method.— LBG/VVP, GMANews.TV