Filipino Catholic Bishops Cut Off Negotiations with Government Over RH Bill 
May 11, 2011 /Christian Newswire/ -- Filipino Bishops have responded to Philippines President Benigno Aquino's increasing public declarations of support for the anti-life, anti-family "Reproductive Health" bill by declaring an end to negotiations with the government, citing the president's unyielding stance on the bill's more controversial elements. A spokesman for Philippine President Aquino, who supports the RH bill, said Monday that Aquino still hopes there would be "common ground" reached in dialogue with the Filipino Catholic Church. The Church staunchly opposes the bill which mandates that the government actively promote all forms of contraception, and which has provisions to jail critics who provide undefined "inaccurate" opposition to the bill. "While President Aquino has stated that he wants to find common ground with Catholics on the anti-life Reproductive Health (RH) Bill, Catholics cannot compromise on God's teachings on the protection of human life. We are defending non-negotiable values." Monsignor Ignacio Barreiro-Carambula, Interim President of Human Life International, said on Tuesday. "While we would prefer that real negotiations continue and that the anti-life provisions of the bill be removed, we applaud the Filipino Bishops' for their courageous statement of truth. Any independent observer can see the huge gap between the truth and the untenable position of the bill's supporters." "This bill fundamentally disrespects God's teachings on human dignity and the respect and protection of human life," Monsignor Barreiro said. "That is the 'common ground' upon which President Aquino should meet opponents of this bill. Without that, there can be no agreement. Let us hope that the Filipino government does not try to ram this bill through congress in a dictatorial fashion." About HLI: Human Life International: Pro-Life Missionaries to the World. Founded in 1981, HLI is the world's largest international pro-life organization and has affiliates and associates in over 100 countries on six continents. www.hli.org 
MANILA, Philippines,
