Prayer rally held in Tacloban today vs Reproductive Health Bill

TACLOBAN CITY – Same as what is going to happen in Metro Manila, a “power prayer” is also to be held in this city this afternoon to show their opposition to the passage of Reproductive Health(RH) bill, according to Fr. Amadeo Alvero, social communication of the Archdiocese of Palo and parish priest of Santo Niño Church.

The Catholic Bishop Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) before Congress could vote on the fate of RH Bill on Aug. 7 urged the more than 80 dioceses in the country to conduct a prayer rally today, wherein the biggest prayer-rally gathering is to be held at the EDSA Shrine.

Organized by the group called In Defense for Love and Family, a prayer rally in this city is to be held at the Santo Niño Church this 1 p.m. said Fr. Alvero and to be attended by parishioners and priests.

However, it was not clear if the same activity is also to be held in other Roman Catholic Churches within the city of Tacloban, but the newly-installed archbishop of Palo, Archbishop John Du, according to Fr. Alvero, had asked for all parishes under their jurisdiction to also do the same.

Aside from praying, there will also be discussion which is to be done by Sonia Palami and her husband, Alvero said.

This bill, he added, could lead to divisiveness of the people as its main purpose is against the moral teaching of Church which is protecting and defending life, especially those innocent lives that are about to become victims once this bill is approved in both houses of Congress.

“We are hoping through this prayer rally that the minds of our legislators be enlightened and decide not to vote for the passage of the Reproductive Health bill because we know that the main reason why some of our local leaders are eager to passed this bill and this is to curb our population,” Alvero said.

In his recent State of the Nation Address,President Benigno Aquino III received the loudest applause after mentioning and asking for the immediate passage of RH bill.

It was learned that aside from the version of Congress, the Palace has also their own version of the bill which they called Responsible Parenthood Bill.

Several legislators where put into the limelight since this bill was introduced in both houses of Congress among which are the husband and wife legislators An Waray party-list Representative Florencio “Bem” Noel who is an anti-RH bill supporter and Malabon lone district Rep. Jaye Lacson-Noel,  a pro-RH bill supporter.

 ”I am happy that the President is really into this,” Rep. Lacson Noel when asked to comment when the President mentioned the bill during his SONA.

She added that what they are really promoting in the passage of the bill is a better future and environment for children and better access to their basic needs.

On her husband part, Rep. Noel said that it is high time now to know the destiny of RH bill as it had been discussed thoroughly since the previous Congresses.

He added that personally he would want for the bill to go into voting, just like as to what other legislative measures go into when it reaches Congress.

“I am not saying that we have the number, it’s just I want for us members in Congress to do the voting,” Noel said.

By ROEL AMAZONA
Correspondent

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