It was a night like no other at the CFCFFL gathering at Christ the King Parish, Greenmeadows last June 11, 2010. Fr. Greg Gaston, CFC-FFL Spiritual Adviser, gave a comprehensive presentation on the world demographics to debunk the idea that population explosion is the primary reason for the push for population control. It served as an eye opener. He showed real, alarming and documented facts about world population, in stark contrast to what we are being made to believe in the media and by the advocates of artificial contraception. He also mentioned some countries that will be adversely affected by population control in the coming years. The Philippines is on its way to having the same fate if we would not take steps in thwarting the evil that is slowly eating up the psyche of our people.

Dr. Ligaya Acosta, formerly with the Department of Health (DoH), and now Human Life International (HLI), Executive Director for Asia and Oceania, gave a powerful and very touching first-hand experience about family planning. She had been with that government arm for thirty years, unaware of the implications her work entailed.

She was able to get hold of a copy of the then classified US document by then Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, NSSM 200 (Dec. 12, 1974): Implications of Worldwide Population Growth for U.S. Security & Overseas Interests which clearly stated the reasons why contraceptives were allowed to proliferate in third world countries. As she read it, her tears flowed and she was disturbed. She developed a nagging sense that she had to quit the job she had had for the last 30 years. Furthermore, upon reading the Diary of Sister Faustina of the Divine Mercy, where the horrors of hell were mentioned, she became frightened about the possibility of her being thrown into the fiery pit forever because of the job was in. She then decided to resign even without any financial assurance at all.

The family had to get used to the fact that there would be a drastic change from the comfortable, even lavish lifestyle they were used to. There were times when food would be scarce and only bottles of water were in their refrigerator. When her husband got sick, they hardly had any money for medicines. They decided to rely on God and the whole family laid their hands on him and their prayers were answered. There was one incident when they had nothing to eat. Her children were about to come home from school and there was no food. In desperation, she went to her favorite corner of the house – the altar. She implored God’s help and in the middle of her prayers, someone knocked on her door. It was a nephew she had not seen in a long while. He said he had just come from the airport and felt the need to visit her first. So, what would have been a “no food” evening turned out to be a feast! God indeed works in very mysterious ways.

Dr. Acosta still continues to give talks on Pro-Life here and abroad despite the fact that she had been receiving death threats. She knows that she’s on the right path and that it’s a mission she has to fulfill. She also knows too well that she will always be protected up to the end.

There is still much work to be done as each of us is called to defend life.

Contributed by:

Marlyn Surtida
CFC-FFL Education Ministry