By Tim Waggoner
MANILA, Philippines, July 17, 2008 (LifeSiteNews.com) - The Catholic Church in the Philippines is pulling out all the stops in its efforts to fight a proposed law that would see the country legalize abortion.
According to Asia News, Fr. Melvin Castro, Executive Secretary of the Episcopal Commission for Family and Life, is invoking all Catholics in the Philippines to demonstrate their opposition to the proposed legislation through a public protest scheduled for July 25. The national event will be filled with "prayers and marches on behalf of life" as bishops, priests, nuns and lay people take to the streets of all the cities in the country peacefully protesting, singing and chanting.
The government-proposed law, which is currently sitting in the legislative chamber, seeks the legalization of abortion and the adoption of "family planning methods" - aka. contraceptive techniques. But Catholic leaders in the country have warned that replacing the teachings of abstinence and fidelity with contraceptives endorses promiscuity, which will only lead to more abortions.
In light of the fact that some Catholic political leaders are supporting all or part of the initiative, Archbishop Angel Lagdameo, President of the Filipino Bishops' Conference, has instructed all Filipino bishops to "withhold the sacrament of communion from all those politicians who uphold family planning methods."
Likewise, Archbishop Jesus Dosado of the Ozamiz archdiocese issued a pastoral letter this weekend saying priests should tell such politicians, "until they bring to an end the objective situation of sin" they should not present themselves at Mass to receive Communion.
"This decision, properly speaking, is not a sanction or a penalty," the archbishop said. "Nor is the minister of the Holy Communion passing judgment on the person's subjective guilt, but rather is reacting to the person's public unworthiness to receive Holy Communion due to an objective situation of sin."
Please see related LifeSiteNews.com coverage:
Pro-Abort Politicians "Must" be Refused Communion: Philippines Archbishop
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2008/jul/08071409.html
