CBCP pulls out of Senate consultations on RH bill

The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) formally pulled out from consultations for the Senate's version of the reproductive health (RH) bill, saying its participation will be "futile." CBCP lawyer Jo Aurea Imbong said the pullout from the Senate health committee's technical working group (TWG) was in line with the CBCP's "uncompromising" stand against the RH bill. “The CBCP cannot lend its voice to a measure that undermines fundamental rights and the ideals and aspirations of Filipinos as written in the Constitution," Imbong said in an article posted on the CBCP news site on Friday. Imbong said the Senate consultation on Thursday was supposed to be the TWG’s first meeting. The consultation with anti- and pro-RH advocates was led by Senate health committee chairwoman Pilar Juliana Cayetano's chief of staff. Imbong said the consultation revealed how far apart the respective positions of the pro- and anti-RH bill advocates are. Despite the CBCP’s decision to inhibit itself from the consultation, Imbong said the meeting was “very cordial." “We have to do that because the CBCP pastoral letter strongly rejects RH bill so there’s no more point for us in participating in the Senate committee process," she said. The Catholic Church accepts only natural methods of family planning and has been opposed to the RH bill because it would permit artificial contraception. In January this year, the CBCP issued a pastoral letter entitled "Choosing Life, Rejecting the RH Bill." (See: CBCP: RH bill a form of 'moral corruption') The letter spoke about the Catholic Church's opposition to the RH bill but did not issue any directive to deny Holy Communion to pro-RH advocates. The Church also issued an oratio imperata (mandated prayer) for the respect of all human life. Previous consultations The CBCP said it was not the first time that it has pulled out of consultations on the RH bill. In February 2009, Imbong and other church representatives walked out of a hearing on the Senate version of the controversial RH bill claiming that there was “blatant disregard" of their concerns. At the time, they claimed supporters of the measure were ramming the draft of the bill like “traditional politicians." Meanwhile, the CBCP hinted it may also pull out of dialogues with Malacañang on the issue. However, their final decision will be made after their next meeting with Palace officials, when they will determine whether it is useless to continue such discussions. – VVP, GMA News