Healing priest: Pray, don't discriminate vs pro-RH advocates

Catholic healing priest Father Fernando Suarez urged Catholics to pray for and not to discriminate against supporters of the Reproductive Health (RH) bill. Suarez said the RH issue — which promotes both artificial and natural family planning methods — has been a divisive issue in the country. The Catholic Church accepts only natural family planning methods. “It’s not (the) time for division (but the) time to unite. Only Satan will triumph if hatred reign in our hearts against them (pro-RH bill)," Suarez said in a homily marking the 43rd anniversary of Humanae Vitae at the Sanctuario de San Jose Parish Church in Greenhills, San Juan on Monday. Excerpts of the homily were posted Monday night on the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) news site. Pray for RH advocates Suarez asked the faithful to pray for those supporting the RH bill so they will be "enlightened" on its repercussions. “Please do not discriminate them. Let’s pray for them. Let’s embrace them as our brothers. And in doing so we are protecting life, respecting life, and promoting the culture of life," he said. Meanwhile, Manila Auxiliary Bishop Broderick Pabillo, the main celebrant at Monday's Mass, called on priests to seriously study the RH bill and speak out more often against it. Anti-RH with a smile campaign On Friday last week, Catholics opposing the RH bill launched "anti-RH campaign with a smile." Msgr. Juanito Figura, secretary general of the CBCP, said the Catholic Church will be giving out stickers with a yellow smiley to promote the "Gospel of Life" with a smile. “Maybe we can summarize the position of the church as it continues to do its campaign against the RH, it is peaceful, friendly campaign and we are saying that we are pro-life and we are anti-RH with a smile," Figura said. “You will see stickers displayed on vehicles. We would place stickers that are more friendly because we are actually not adversarial, not against anybody in particular, not against any group in particular but against the RH bill specifically so we are doing this mission with a smile," Figura said. Humanae Vitae The "Humanae Vitae" 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 all forms of artificial contraception. - VVP, GMA News