Catholics set May 9 as national day of prayer vs RH bill

The Catholic Church has set May 9 as a “National Day of Prayer" to urge legislators reject the Reproductive Health (RH) bill. Lipa (Batangas) Archbishop Ramon Arguelles also asked the faithful to pray the rosary starting May 9 so lawmakers will eventually reject the proposed measure. “Ialay natin ang pagdarasal ng rosary sa mga kongresista, senador at kay Pangulong Aquino na maliwanagan ang kanilang pag-iisip at pahalagahan ang buhay," Arguelles said in an interview on Church-run Radio Veritas. Excerpts of the interview were posted Thursday night on the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) news site. In Mindanao, meanwhile, Cotabato Auxiliary Bishop Jose Colin Bagaforo said they have started a “text brigade" for the success of the National Day of Prayer. Bagaforo said it is time for the people to show publicly their opposition to the bill which the Church opposes for allowing artificial contraception. The Catholic Church favors only natural methods of family planning. According to Bagaforo, the national day of prayer should "manifest our unity" and show everybody that "all sectors of the society are against the proposed bill." “This is also an opportunity for us as one nation… one voice in prayer," he added. Blue shirts, white ribbons In Agusan Del Sur, Butuan Bishop Juan de Dios Pueblos said the Church will also lead a protest against the passage of the RH bill. Pueblos said he is set to make a directive to his priests to observe the National Day of Prayer by also wearing blue or white shirts or by wearing white ribbon pins. He said he will also order the holding of a prayer vigil on Monday. “I will call my people to do this, let’s storm the heaven with prayers," he said. In Manila, the Church is currently holding a "novena for life" against the RH bill. The novena will end on May 9, the day Congress will resume session. - VVP, GMA News