Philippine bishops urge new president to oppose contraceptive mentality
July 12, 2010
At the conclusion of its annual meeting on July 11, the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines called upon President Benigno Aquino III “to listen to the call of the Philippine Church that the former program of the government to promote a contraceptive mentality through education and medical practices is immoral and will not bring about a people that is God-fearing, holding on to the sacredness of sexuality, life and the family.”
President Aquino assumed office on June 30.
Speaking on behalf of his brother bishops, Bishop Nereo Odchimar of Tandag, the president of the bishops’ conference, added:
Among the many concerns, the media has shown a particular concern on sex education and reproductive health bills. There are no changes in the stand of the Church. Human life starts at conception, and conception takes place at the fertilization of the egg by the sperm. Human life is a gift of God and has to be respected and protected from conception till natural death. The Church is always concerned with the poor, and the many church institutions and groups that help the poor bear this out. Poverty cannot be solved by promoting contraceptive education and programs. Education does not merely deal with knowledge and skills; rather it must promote values that are inherent to us as Filipinos. Parents have the primary right to educate their children and sex education is properly to be done in the family.
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Further information:
- CBCP Press Statement at the conclusion of the 101st Plenary Assembly (CBCP)
- Church calls for end to ‘contraceptive mentality’ (Manila Bulletin)
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