| Abortion
is still illegal in the Philippines. But
contraception is being pushed aggressively,
with much funding from the US government.
Now the stark reality is that what precedes
abortion is contraception. Accept contraception,
and that will INEVITABLY and SURELY lead
to acceptance of abortion. So do not start
off on that diabolical track. It is totally
naive, nay, stupid, for one to profess to
oppose abortion but be willing to accept
contraception.
Some
of our Filipino clerics supported a pro-choice
candidate, who is now the President. This
was in spite of strong warnings by pro-lifers
as to the possible consequences. Please,
let our bishops speak out now strongly
against the reproductive health bill.
This will preclude having to speak out
strongly later when the problem is already
abortion.
Pope
Calls Upon Brazilian Bishops to Speak out
against Abortion as Election Approaches
By
Matthew Cullinan Hoffman, Latin America
Correspondent
VATICAN
CITY, October 28, 2010 (LifeSiteNews.com)
- Pope Benedict XVI is telling Brazil's
Catholic bishops to speak out against
ideologies that justify abortion, only
days before a hotly contested presidential
election in which the frontrunner has
been accused of supporting the decriminalization
of abortion.
In
a speech delivered to a group of Brazilian
prelates present in Rome for a regularly-scheduled
visit, Benedict stated that "in defending
life we should not fear opposition and
unpopularity, refusing any compromise
and ambiguity that conforms us to the
mentality of this world."
Calling
abortion "an intrinsically evil act"
that is "morally unacceptable and
incompatible with the dignity of people,"
the pope added that "when political
projects contemplate, openly or in veiled
fashion, the decriminalization of abortion
or euthanasia, the democratic ideal --
which is only truly such when it recognizes
and safeguards the dignity of every human
person -- is betrayed at its foundation."
"Any
defense of political, economic, and social
human rights that does not include the
energetic defense of the right to life
from conception to natural death is totally
false and illusory," the pope also
said, adding that "regarding efforts
on behalf of the weakest and the most
defenseless, who is more helpless than
an unborn child or a sick person in a
vegetative or terminal state?"
Benedict
also stressed the importance of educating
Catholics about their faith, and their
social obligations, particularly with
regard to the right to vote, noting that
"on certain occasions, pastors should
remind all citizens of the right, which
is also an obligation, to freely use the
vote itself for the the promotion of the
common good."
The
pope's words are likely to be read as
an affirmation of Brazilian bishops and
other religious leaders who have raised
their voices in recent weeks against the
ruling Labor Party and its frontrunner
presidential candidate, Dilma Rousseff.
Rousseff
and the Labor Party have publicly endorsed
the decriminalization of abortion in Brazil,
but during the election Rousseff has backpedaled
from her previous stance. She now says
that she is "personally against"
abortion and even calls it an act of "violence"
against women. She has signed a public
statement stating her personal opposition
to decriminalizing abortion, but has refused
to say that she will veto pro-abortion
legislation.
The
vocal and very explicit opposition of
some bishops in the Brazilian episcopate
such as Luiz Gonzaga Bergonzini of the
diocese of Guarulhos, has been denounced
by other Catholic bishops, one of whom
accused Gonzaga Bergonzini of violating
campaign laws. His letter encouraging
people to vote against the Labor Party
was removed by the National Conference
of Brazilian Bishops from its website
during the campaign. The pope's words
are likely to bolster such prelates in
their conflict with their more timid colleagues.
Previous LifeSiteNews coverage:
Pro-Abort
Frontrunner for Brazilian Presidency Fights
Rising Tide of Pro-Life Sentiment
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2010/oct/10101401.html
YouTube
Censors Pro-Life Sermon Seen by Millions
of Brazilians
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2010/oct/10100701.html
Brazilian
Government Threatens Catholic Church over
Opposition to Pro-Abort Presidential Candidate
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2010/oct/10100809.html
Brazilian
Presidential Front Runner Declares Herself
'Personally Against' Abortion
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2010/sep/10093001.html
Brazilian
Pastor Threatened by Government for Opposing
Pro-Abortion Policies
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2010/sep/10091713.html
"For
to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain."
(Phil 1:21) |