CBCP chief twits RH bill in Christmas message

Even as he made a Christmas pitch for peace, the head of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines continued to wage war on the controversial reproductive health (RH) bill pending in Congress. In his Christmas message, CBCP president and Tandag Bishop Nereo Odchimar branded the bill as the "most glaring" threat to Filipinos. "…the most glaring among (problems) is that ‘unpeace’ in the mother’s womb. With the approval of RH Bill, a woman’s womb can be a ferocious threat to those who are yet to be born," he said in his message. "In the face of difficult situations, we can only ask: How can we speak of good tidings where poverty is almost all around the place? What is left in the store for the marginalized, the unprivileged, the oppressed, and the poor?" he added. Relentless in advocating natural family planning, the Catholic Church has been vocal in its opposition to artificial contraception, which the RH bill allows. Before Odchimar's message lambasting the RH bill, Bacolod Bishop Vicente Navarra issued a similar criticism of the bill, and had ordered homilies against the measure during the recently concluded dawn Masses. Odchimar also admitted other recent events can sometimes obscure our faith in the "Prince of Peace, Lord of Consolation, and Incarnate Hope." He lamented the threat of war, political unrest, and armed conflicts put nations in constant fear. "In our country, acquiring peace in Muslim Mindanao seems almost hopeless while insurgency, coup attempts, and crimes such as extrajudicial killing, terrorism and the like continue to interrupt the smooth progress of national affairs," he said. Yet, he said that despite these problems, Christ has the "irresistible power" to change the face of the world according to His own plan. "However ironic it may seem, everyone can still gladly sing: Joy to the world the Lord is come! We marvel at how the street children, the prisoners, the people in Payatas and Smokey Mountain, and the indigenous tribes could sing their heart out to the tune of Christmas Jingles. Armed Forces have their camps decorated with Christmas trees and lanterns; insurgents leave their guns in the fox hole. Conflicting parties seek reconciliation and most often, ceasefire and peace-talks befall on Christmas. Many a great wonderful thing happens in this most anticipated season of the year. Lonely men and women cheer up; bad people turn good; self-seeking ones become Santa Clauses," he said. Odchimar urged the faithful to accept their individual roles in this crucial and intricate work of transforming the face of the earth. "If we allow our hearts to be mangers on which He lays, He can make rich and beautiful hearts out of our own—hearts who can love as He loves; who can forgive as He forgives; and generous hearts who take joy in none other than self-giving," he said. Christmas in the Eucharist Christmas happens not just once a year on December 25, but every day during celebration of the Holy Mass, Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Socrates Villegas said. “Every time the priest whispers the words: ‘This is my Body… this is my Blood’ over the bread and the chalice of wine, it’s Christmas," he said in his Christmas message. He said the symbolisms and other practices that go with the celebration of Christmas are but seasonal. “If you want to fulfill the wish of the song, “Araw-araw ay Paskong lagi," you do not need to keep the Christmas decors and eat the Christmas goodies the whole year. Go to Mass every day — that is daily Christmas! Receive Holy Communion as much as possible every day — that is Christmas everyday! So many lives have been changes by frequent Holy Communion. So many have become saints by daily Holy Communion. If all of us become saints, isn’t that why Christ was born?" he stressed. On the other hand, Villegas urged families to pray for vocations to the priesthood. He called on the faithful to love and respect the clergy and not take them for granted. — LBG, GMANews.TV