Bishop to churches: Reject funds from firms promoting abortion, contraception

MANILA, Philippines - After two Catholic bishops said there was nothing wrong with accepting money from gambling sources, another senior prelate warned churches against accepting donations from pharmaceutical firms that "promote abortion and contraception." An article posted on the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines website cited a letter sent by Alfonso Cardinal Lopez Trujilo, president of Pontificium Consilium Pro Familia (Vatican's Pontifical Council for the Family) to Antipolo bishop Gabriel Reyes which stated that the acceptance of such funds would confuse the faithful on the church's stand on abortion and contraceptives. "Accepting such funding creates confusion among the faithful, as they give the impression that abortion, and the production, distribution, and use of contraceptives and abortifacients are acceptable practices," Trujilo stated in the letter. "It would provide those working against the family grounds for extremely persuasive criticism to attack and discredit Church organizations and the Church herself, especially through charges of incoherence and insincerity," he added. On Tuesday, Manila Archbishop Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales and Caloocan bishop Deogracias Iñiguez Jr said they have no problem accepting money from legal gambling institutions as long as the donation would be used for the needy. In rejecting funds from firms that promote abortion and contraceptives, Trujilo said God's providence is never lacking for those who keep His teachings. "If the faithful are seriously formed in Christian values and frequently strive to receive God's grace, especially through the sacraments of the Eucharist and Confession, they will be extremely generous in supporting truly laudable projects with their prayers and contributions in terms of time, effort and resources," Trujilo said. "In this regard, there is no need at all to receive funding from questionable sources, an action that besides will go directly against efforts toward truly Christian formation," he added. - GMANews.TV