Signature drive vs. anti-life initiatives of government planned

Members of the Pro-Life and Family Volunteers, Inc. of the Archdiocese of Cebu will organize a signature campaign against all forms of anti-life initiatives of the government.

The signature campaign, with resolution published in the “Bag-ong Lungsoranon”, is the group’s way of highlighting the observance of February as “National Pro-Life Month”.  The campaign will be conducted among parishes in the Archdiocese.

Signed by Pro-Life chairman, Brother Tony Valle, the organization resolved to organize a signature campaign to manifest the objection of the people to government programs on artificial family planning.

It also included the group’s objection to the use of public funds for such programs.

According to the resolution, the group strongly opposes methods of artificial family planning such as the use of condoms, pills, intra-uterine device, injectables like Depo Provera, and the like that would result to abortion.

It also opposes anti-life and anti-family House bills pending in Congress or Senate.

“Such family planning methods erode Christian moral and spiritual values and virtues of our people and families,” the resolution read.

The resolution also encouraged all signatories to join actively in the prayer rally to manifest objection to anti-life initiatives. The rally will be held at the Department of Health Compound on February 24.

Former President Corazon Aquino declared the second week of February as “Pro-Life Week” emphasizing Section 12, Article II of the Constitution which states that “the State should equally protect the life of the mother and the life, from the moment of conception, of the unborn.”

The celebration was then extended to last the entire month of February.

Further, the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines encouraged all parishes to celebrate and take advantage of the 20-year-old Presidential Proclamation 214 on the “Respect and Care for Life Month”.

CBCP said there is still so much work to be done since abortions is on the rise due to “sexual promiscuity, ignorance, contraceptive mentality, convenience, and consumerist lifestyle.”

It added that majority of the women who had abortion claimed that they would have chosen to give birth to their baby had someone been there during their time of crisis in order to offer them alternatives or give them moral support.  —  Ferliza C. Contratista/MEEV