Pro-life groups to storm Davao City council over reproductive health programs

MANILA, Philippines - Pro-life groups in Davao City will storm the city council meeting Tuesday to express their opposition against reproductive health programs implemented in some areas of the city. Gilda Cunanan del Mar, coordinator of the family and life apostolate in the archdiocese, said that any form of reproductive program is considered abortion. "The pro-life advocates will prevent any moves that will further desecrate the sanctity of Christian family and human life," she said in a statement posted Monday night on the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines website. Pro-life groups will converge at 8:30 a.m. in front of the city council to publicly announce their resistance to the city government's reproductive programs and to lobby to scrap the local development plan for children. Fr. Henry Campeon, director of the family and life apostolate, said he will launch a "campaign in the pulpit" to "enlighten" parishioners on the evils of reproductive health and the local development plan for children. "If we can't make it in the council then we will find our ways in the parishes and in the grassroots communities. We will make them understand fully the evils underlying reproductive programs," Campeon said. Campeon said he will also mobilize the family and life workers in the parishes to intensify their campaigns against reproductive health and the local development for children. He added that aside from educational campaigns he will also offer prayers for guidance and enlightenment to those who are advocating reproductive health agenda. "I will ask the help of our Catholic families who take the issues of morality seriously and my brother clergy to help in advocating against reproductive programs and the local development plan for children," he said. For his part, Archbishop Fernando Capalla criticized the city government for allegedly implementing sex education in villages and for the mutilation of reproductive organs despite opposition from Church and other concerned groups. Last Sunday, Capalla's message was read in all churches in the archdiocese asking the people not to support the reproductive health campaigns of the city government. The letter also called for "communal discernment" among parents to reflect on the evil effects of reproductive organs mutilation as well as sex education to children. Capalla said the implementation of sex education in the barangay level poses serious threat in the already problematic morality of the people today. He added that the sex education will further encourage promiscuity and free sex among young people as long as it is safe. Also, he expressed fear that because of this reproductive health campaign which includes free access to contraceptives, an increase in abortion cases will also be noted. Capalla also condemned the "Ligtas Buntis" program of the city government that provides pills and other contraceptives including the mutilation of reproductive organs like vasectomy and tubal ligations. "These are against life," Capalla said. Capalla also noted with dismay the fact that the barangays where the parishes and Gagmay'ng Kristohanong Katilingban (GKK) basic ecclesiastical communities are ministering becomes now the principal venue of the city government for the promotion of the different birth control methods like vasectomy and tubal ligation. The CBCP statement said some parishes in far-flung areas have received reports that there were financial assistance given to those who volunteered to undergo the surgical operations, but added the city health office denied this. - GMANews.TV