Bishops remain open to dialogue on RH bill

Despite withdrawing from talks with Malacañang on the issue, Catholic bishops are still leaving the door open to dialogue on the Reproductive Health (RH) bill, particularly if amendments are made to the proposed measure. Caloocan Bishop Deogracias Iñiguez Jr. said that while the RH bill has many "positive" provisions, the bishops have non-negotiable stands against the other provisions of the measure. "Maraming pagkakataon at ganitong di pagkakasundo, nagsisikap (tayong) makarating sa compromise. That is always a possibility. There are matters na pwedeng i-compromise. May ibang bagay na maaring hindi i-compromise (In instances where we disagree, we always look for a compromise. Compromise is always a possibility, although there are matters where a compromise is not possible)," he said in an interview on dwIZ radio. Iñiguez heads the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines' public affairs unit. But when asked if the bishops would accept amendments to provisions in the RH bill, he said it would depend on which provisions are amended. The Church is particularly against the bill's provisions allowing artificial contraception. The Catholic Church allows only natural family planning. "Para sa simbahan. maraming provision ng bill na ito magaganda. Kaya nga lang, may mga moral principles ng simbahan na kinokontra ng ibang provision at dito hindi maaring makipag-compromise ang simbahan (For the Church, there are many provisions in the bill that are good. But there are moral principles involved in the other provisions where the Church has to make an uncompromising stand)," Iñiguez said. He also said that in the case of the CBCP's withdrawal from dialogue with the Palace, it was because bishops sensed President Benigno Aquino III had made up his mind to support the RH bill's passage. "Ang ibig sabihin ng dialogue, tayo ay naghahanap ng pagunawa sa paninindigan o kaisipan ng isang party. At sa tingin ng mga obispo ngayon waring buo na ang kaisipan at decision ng pangulo kaya ang dialogue ay wala nang lugar ngayon. Pero kailanman handa ang sinuman makipagtalakayan sa tamang diwa ng dialogue, laging bukas ang simbahan," he added. (In a dialogue, we always look for understanding from the other party. But the bishops for now believe Aquino already made up his mind, so there is nothing to talk about. But we are always open to the resumption of dialogues.) 'Constructive engagement' For its part, Malacañang maintained as well that it is ready to engage the Church in "constructive engagement" on the matter. "Parating sinasabi ng pangulo, kailangan dito constructive engagement. Kailangan maging bukas tayo sa isa't isa sapagka't ang hinahanap natin common ground para magkaroon ng malawak na pagkakaisa ang sambayanan ," Presidential Communications Operations Office head Herminio Coloma Jr. said in an interview on dzXL radio. (As the president said, we need constructive engagement. We must remain open to each other. We are looking for a common ground for the good of the people.) But Coloma also reiterated his call to the Church and prolife groups not to resort to name-calling. "Suliranin natin ito, hindi dapat idinadaan sa name-calling sa init ng ulo at sa pagbabatikos na walang batayan (This is a problem that affects all of us. We must not resort to name-calling and other hotheaded tirades that are baseless)," he said. — RSJ/HS, GMA News