Contraception is Corruption

A CBCP Pastoral Letter on the latest decision on the Reproductive Health Bill

Contraception is Corruption!

 Seeking Light and Guidance on the RH Bill Issue

“What then should we do?” (Lk. 3, 10)

 As we begin the nine-day Misa de Gallo today, our thoughts turn to John the Baptist, the one who points to Jesus, the Christ Child. People came to him to ask, “What then should we do?” because their hearts were filled with expectation for the Messiah. (Lk. 3,15) They needed reason to hope. St. John the Baptist told them to share what they had, to act with justice, and shun extortion.

Today, our question as a people of God, regarding the controversial RH bill, may be the same. What then should we do?

On behalf of the President of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines, I reiterate the collective discernment of the Philippine bishops that the RH Bill if passed into law can harm our nation. Contraception corrupts the soul. The RH Bill is being gift wrapped to look like a gift for maternal health care. It is not so. It will lead to greater crimes against women.

The poor are being promised a better life through the RH Bill. It will not be so. The poor can rise from their misery through more accessible education, better hospitals and lesser government corruption. Money for contraceptives can be better used for education and authentic health care.

The youth are being made to believe that sex before marriage is acceptable provided you know how to avoid pregnancy. Is this moral? Those who corrupt the minds of children will invoke divine wrath on themselves.

The Reproductive Health Bill, if passed into law in its present form, will put the moral fibre of our nation at risk. As we your bishops have said in the past, a contraceptive mentality is the mother of an abortion mentality. The wide and free accessibility of contraceptives, even to the youth, will result in the destruction of family life and in greater violence against women.

What then should we do?

We congratulate the one hundred four (104) congressmen and women who voted NO to the RH Bill. You have voted courageously, despite all pressures, to stand up for what is right and true. The Church will remember you as the heroes of our nation, those who have said no to corruption and who care for the true welfare of the people, especially the poor. May you continue to be steadfast and not waiver in your stand against moral corruption.

What then should we do?

We plead with the sixty four (64) congressmen who have not voted, to be enlightened and stand up for the Truth. As St. John the Baptist directed the people to justice, we call on you also to seek justice for the Filipino people. The Church teaches us to follow our conscience, the inner sanctuary where we are alone with God (Gaudium et Spes #16), but such conscience must be formed and informed according to the universal values that are common to all human persons. The truth is that to be pro-child, pro-mother and pro-poor, we must resist all threats against them. This is justice. Stand up for it; defend it; do not be swayed by worldly pressures, and be the champion of the people who voted for you. God knows and sees what you are doing.

What then should we do?

We admonish the Filipino Catholic faithful to share with those who have less this Christmas, but also share in praying that our congressmen and women will be faithful to their call to serve the true interests of the Filipino people. This means upholding life, saying no to contraception which is corruption, and being faithful to the Christ Child who was pro-woman, pro-child and pro-poor.

From the Cathedral of Saint John the Evangelist, Dagupan City, December 15, 2012
For the President of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines currently out of the country,

+SOCRATES B. VILLEGAS, D.D.
Archbishop of Lingayen-Dagupan &
Vice-President, CBCP

(Source: CBCP News)

-oOo-

How our Congressmen voted for House Bill 4244, "The Responsible Parenthood, Reproductive Health, and Population and Development Act of 2012" or RH Bill.


"YES" TO RH BILL

1. Abad, Henedina R.
2. Aggabao, Giorgidi B.
3. Aglipay, Emmeline Y.
4. Agyao, Manuel S.
5. Albano, Rodolfo B.
6. Alvarez, Mercedes K.
7. Amante-Matba, Angelica M.
8. Amatong, Rommel C.
9. Angara, Juan Edgardo M.
10. Antonio, Patricio T.
11. Apostol, Sergio F.
12. Arquiza, Godofredo V.
13. Bag-ao, Kaka J.
14. Brawner Baguilat, Teddy Jr.
15. Balindong, Pangalian M.
16. Banal, Jorge 'Bolet'
17. Barzaga, Elpidio Jr. F.
18. Batocabe, Rodel M.
19. Bautista, Franklin P.
20. Bello, Walden F.
21. Belmonte, Feliciano Jr. R.
22. Belmonte, Vicente Jr. F.
23. Benitez, Alfredo 'Albee' B.
24. Biazon, Rodolfo G.
25. Binay, Mar-Len Abigail S.
26. Biron, Ferjenel G.
27. Bulut-Begtang, Eleanor C.
28. Cagas, Marc Douglas IV C.
29. Cajayon, Mary Mitzi L.
30. Calixto-Rubiano, Emi G.
31. Canonigo, Ranulfo P.
32. Casiño, Teddy A.
33. Castelo, Winston 'Winnie'
34. Catamco, Nancy A.
35. Celeste, Jesus 'Boying' F.
36. Cerafica, Arnel M.
37. Chipeco, Justin Marc SB.
38. Cojuangco, Enrique M.
39. Cojuangco, Kimi S.
40. Colmenares, Neri J
41. Cortuna, Julieta R.
42. Cosalan, Ronald M.
43. Cruz-Gonzales, Cinchona
44. Datumanong ,Simeon A.
45. Defensor, Arthur Jr. R.
46. Del Rosario, Anthony G.
47. Del Rosario, Antonio A.
48. Dimaporo, Imelda Quibranza
49. Duavit, Joel Roy
50. Dy, Napoleon S.
51. Ebdane, Jun Omar C.
52. Enverga, Wilfrido Mark M.
53. Eriguel, Eufranio 'Franny' C., M.D.
54. Espina, Rogelio J.,M.D.
55. Estrella, Robert Raymund M. 
56. Evardone, Ben P.
57. Fernandez, Danilo Ramon S.
58. Ferriol, Abigail Faye C.
59. Flores, Florencio Jr. T.
60. Avance-Fuentes, Daisy
61. Garcia-Albano, Mylene J
62. Garin, Janette L.
63. Garin, Sharon S.
64. Gatchalian, Rex
65. Gatchalian, Weslie T.
66. Go, Arnulfo F.
67. Gonzales, Neptali II M.
68. Guanlao, Agapito H.
69. Haresco, Teodorico T.
70. Hataman-Salliman, Jim S.
71. Herrera-Dy, Bernadette R.
72. Ilagan,Luzviminda C.
73. Jalosjos, Cesar G.
74. Jalosjos, Romeo Jr. M.
75. Jalosjos, Seth F. P.
76. Joson, Josefina M.
77. Kho, David L.
78. Lacson-Noel, Josephine Veronique R.
79. Lagdameo, Antonio Jr. F.
80. Lagman, Edcel C.
81. Lapus, Jeci A.
82. Leonen-Pizarro, Catalina G.
83. Limkaichong, Jocelyn S.
84. Loong, Tupay T.
85. Lopez, Carlo V.
86. Lopez, Carol Jayne B.
87. Loyola, Roy M.
88. Magsaysay, Eulogio 'Amang' R.
89. Maliksi, Erineo S.
90. Maranan, Zeny
91. Marcoleta, Rodante D.
92. Mariano, Rafael V.
93. Miraflores, Florencio T.
94. Mirasol, Alejandro Y.
95. Nava, Joaquin Carlos Rahman A.
96. Ocampo, Rosenda Ann
97. Ortega, Francisco Emmanuel III R.
98. Ortega, Victor Francisco C.
99. Padilla, Carlos M.
100.Paez, Cresente C.
101.Palatino, Raymond V.
102.Palmones, Angelo B.
103.Pangandaman, Mohammed Hussein P.
104.Pichay, Philip A.
105.Ponce Enrile, Juan Jr. C.
106.Primicias-Agabas, Marlyn L.
107.Quimbo, Romero Federico 'Miro' S.
108.Sacdalan, Jesus N.
109.Sahidulla, Nur-ana I.
110.Sakaluran, Raden C.
111.Salvacion, Andres Jr. D.
112.Sambar, Mark Aeron H.
113.Sarmiento, Mel Senen S.
114.Sema, Bai Sandra A.
115.Singson, Eric Jr. G.
116.Sy-Alvarado, Ma. Victoria R.
117.Tañada, Lorenzo III R.
118.Teodoro, Marcelino R
119.Tinga, Sigfrido R.
120.Tinio, Antonio L.
121.Tomawis, Acmad M.
122.Treñas, Jerry P.
123.Tugna, Sherwin N.
124.Tupas, Niel Jr. C.
125.Umali, Reynaldo V.
126.Ungab, Isidro T.
127.Vargas-Alfonso, Baby Aline
128.Villar, Mark A.
129.Villarica, Linabelle Ruth R.
130.Yap, Susan
131.Yu, Victor J.
132.Zamora, Ma. Carmen S.
133.Zubiri, Jose III F.


"NO" TO RH BILL


1. Abayon, Daryl Grace J.
2. Alcover, Pastor Jr. M.
3. Almario, Thelma Z.
4. Almonte, Jorge T.
5. Alvarez, Antonio C.
6. Angping, Ma. Zenaida B.
7. Antonino, Rodolfo W.
8. Apacible, Tomas V.
9. Aquino, Jose II S.
10. Arenas, Ma. Rachel J.
11. Arnaiz, George P.
12. Arroyo, Diosdado Macapagal
13. Asilo, Benjamin DR.
14. Bagasina, Catalina C.
15. Bagatsing, Amado S.
16. Bataoil, Leopoldo N.
17. Bichara, Al Francis DC.
18. Bonoan-David, Ma. Theresa
19. Cabaluna, Salvador III P.
20. Cabilao Yambao, Jonathan
21. Calimbas-Villarosa, Ma. Amelita A.
22. Castro, Jane T.
23. Crisologo, Vincent 'Bingbong' P.
24. Cua, Dakila Carlo E.
25. De Venecia, Ma. Georgina P. 
26. Del Mar, Rachel Marguerite B.
27. Dimaporo, Fatima Aliah Q.
28. Durano, Ramon VI H.
29. Ejercito, Joseph Victor G.
30. Ferrer, Antonio A.
31. Fortuno, Salvio B.
32. Fua, Orlando B.
33. Garbin, Alfredo Jr. A.
34. Garcia, Albert Raymond S.
35. Garcia, Pablo P.
36. Golez, Anthony Rolando Jr. T.
37. Gomez, Lucy T.
38. Gullas, Eduardo R.
39. Javier, Paolo S.
40. Labadlabad, Rosendo S.
41. Lico, Isidro Q.
42. Macapagal Arroyo, Juan Miguel
43. Magsaysay, Ma. Milagros H.
44. Malapitan, Oscar G.
45. Mandanas, Hermilando I.
46. Marañon, Alfredo III D.
47. Mendoza, Mark Llandro L.
48. Mercado-Revilla, Lani
49. Noel, Florencio G.
50. Nograles, Karlo Alexei B.
51. Obillo, Reena Concepcion G.
52. Pangandaman, Nasser C.
53. Panotes, Elmer E.
54. Paras, Jesus Emmanuel M.
55. Payuyo, Ponciano D.
56. Piamonte, Mariano Jr. U.
57. Puno, Roberto V.
58. Rivera, Michael Angelo C.
59. Rodriguez, Isidro Jr. S. 
60. Rodriguez, Maximo Jr. B.
61. Rodriguez, Rufus B.
62. Romualdez, Ferdinand Martin G.
63. Romualdo, Pedro P.
64. Romulo, Roman T.
65. Salimbangon, Benhur L.
66. Singson, Ryan Luis V.
67. Socrates, Victorino Dennis M.
68. Suarez, Danilo E.
69. Syjuco, Augusto Boboy, Ph.D.
70. Teves, Pryde Henry A.
71. Tiangco, Tobias 'Toby' M.
72. Ting, Randolph S.
73. Ty, Arnel U.
74. Unabia, Peter 'Sr. Pedro' M.
75. Unico, Renato Jr. J.
76. Valencia, Rodolfo G.
77. Vergara, Bernardo M.
78. Violago, Joseph Gilbert F.
79. Yap, Arthur C.

ABSTENTIONS

1. Briones, Nicanor M
2. Ferrer, Jeffrey P.
3. Golez, Roilo S
4. Gunigundo, Magtanggol T
5. Osmeña, Tomas R
6. Relampagos, Rene L.
7. Remulla, Jesus Crispin C.


How our Senators voted for Senate Bill 2865, "An act providing for a national policy on reproductive health and responsible parenthood" or RH Bill

"YES" TO RH BILL

1. Joker Arroyo
2. Alan Peter Cayetano
3. Pia Cayetano
4. Edgardo Angara
5. Francis Escudero
6. Miriam Defensor-Santiago
7. Ralph Recto
8. Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
9. Loren Legarda
10. Teofisto Guingona II
11. Franklin M. Drilon
12. Francis Pangilinan
13. Panfilo Lacson.

"NO" TO RH BILL

1. Juan Ponce-Enrile
2. Jose “Jinggoy” Estrada
3. Vicente “Tito” Sotto III
4. Gringo Honasan
5. Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III
6. Manuel “Manny” Villar
7. Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr.
8. Antonio “Sonny” Trillanes IV

(Source: catholicvote.ph)


Why am I putting up a list of those who voted for and against the RH Bill? My personal belief is that each vote cast for or against the passing of the controversial bill is highly reflective of their moral integrity as a person. There were reports about solons being pressured by the President to vote in favor of the bill in exchange for some personal gains. I believe there is some truth to this report and what a shame! I am not in a position to judge the "moral integrity" of our elected government officials, but their stand on this issue certainly reveal a lot about the principles and values they stand up for. You can be very sure that I will not vote for those who voted in favor of RH Bill. I will choose future government officials who value the sanctity of life. As to those who voted in favor of the bill, please think twice or thrice before putting their name in your ballot. Think of the future of your children and this nation. Ask yourself whether these are the kind of people who represent your best interests. As for me I won't vote for them.I hope you won't to for the sake of this country.