Philippines: Catholic Bishops Seek Prayer Against RH Bill

International   |   Steven Ertelt   |   May 6, 2011   |   5:21PM   |   Manilla, Philippines

Catholic Bishops in the Philippines have set Monday, May 9 as a “National Day of Prayer” in the Philippines. May 9 also will mark the opening of the legislative session which will reopen debate on the controversial “RH bill“, a bill which is opposed by the Catholic Church and many other Christians in this pro-life and pro-family nation.

Lipa Archbishop Ramon Arguelles issued the call for prayer against the bill, which would impose a two-child limit on the Pacific island nation similar to the one-child policy in China.

“I-alay natin ang pagdarasal ng rosary sa mga Kongresista, Senador at kay Pangulong Aquino na maliwanagan ang kanilang pag-iisip at pahalagahan ang buhay,” Arguelles said.

In Southern Philippines, Cotabato Auxiliary Bishop Jose Colin Bagaforo called for prayer as well.

“This will manifest our unity. To show to everybody that all sectors of the society are against the proposed bill,” said Bagaforo. “This is also an opportunity for us as one nation… one voice in prayer,” he said, and which according to him, is an effective instrument in the fight against the bill.

Monsignor Ignacio Barreiro-Carambula, Interim President of Human Life International, made the following statement in support of the bishops and the people of the Philippines:

“We thank the bishops for their courageous leadership in calling their flocks to prayer. More than 80% of Filipinos are Catholic, and when so many voices are united in prayer, mountains can be moved!

“In this case, the mountains that must be moved are mountains of liberal ideology and money: hundreds of millions of dollars from Western elites who want the Filipinos to stop having children, and so are promoting this anti-life, anti-family ‘Reproductive Health’ bill. In communion with our bishops, priests and the faithful, we join you in this prayer.

“Solidarity! All Christians around the world must join our brothers and sisters in this prayer for life! The lies and darkness cannot withstand the power of the faithful united in prayer.

“Stand strong, Filipino brothers and sisters! We are with you. May the Lord of Life have mercy on the Philippines and deliver them from this attack, and in so doing make the Philippines a shining beacon of hope for all of us that we can defeat the Culture of Death with His divine aid.”