Anti-RH rallies planned ahead of Humanae Vitae's 43rd year July 25

Catholics are planning anti-Reproductive Health (RH) bill activities ahead of the 43rd year of the "Humanae Vitae," the landmark papal letter about the Church's uncompromising stand on birth control. According to a news release on the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) website, Humanae Vitae's 43rd year on July 25 also happens to be the day that President Benigno Simeon Aquino is scheduled to deliver his annual "State of the Nation Address" (SONA). Monsignor Juanito Figura, CBCP secretary general, said "We’ll be doing activities a week before that just to stay away from the SONA." “The fight against the RH bill continues," he said. CBCP President and Tandag Bishop Nereo Odchimar earlier said Catholic bishops will continue to speak out against the RH bill as this is their duty to the people. “We are the last bastion standing against the RH bill, divorce and now there is also the possibility of same-sex marriage and we won’t be surprised if after that would come euthanasia," Odchimar said. The CBCP said during the bishops’ plenary assembly last week, Pope Benedict XVI urged them to "continue protect the sanctity of life and marriage." The Catholic Church is against the RH bill as it promotes both artificial and natural methods of family planning. The Church accepts only natural family planning methods. Humanae Vitae The encyclical or papal letter "Humanae Vitae" (Latin phrase meaning "of human life") was written by Pope Paul VI and issued on July 25, 1968. Subtitled "On the Regulation of Birth," the papal letter reaffirms the traditional teaching of the Catholic Church on married love, responsible parenthood, and birth control. The papal letter became highly controversial as it prohibits of all forms of artificial contraception. In 2008, Pope Benedict XVI said the Humanae Vitae was "so controversial, yet so crucial for humanity's future". Humanae Vitae became "a sign of contradiction but also of continuity of the Church's doctrine and tradition... What was true yesterday is true also today," he said. Familiaris Consortio Aside from Humanae Vitae, the Church is also marking the 20th anniversary of Familiaris Consortio (The Role of Christian family), an apostolic exhortation written by Pope John Paul II. The document describes the Church’s position on the meaning and role of marriage and the family. The apostolic exhortation also defines marriage "as a personal union in which the spouses reciprocally give and receive." The document also reaffirms the Church's opposition to artificial birth control and abortion. - VVP, GMA News