Church not joining pro-life rally

CEBU, Philippines - Church officials—priests and bishops— will not be seen participating in the national Pro-Life rally on April 13, exactly a month before the elections.

Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) president and Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma said they have agreed that they will let the lay workers initiate their activity independent from the voice of the Catholic church.

“The CBCP will not meet and discuss about it. It is an activity of the lay people and we respect that they are free to discern especially on the coming elections,” Palma told reporters.

The prelate explained that the lay community is free to express their opinion especially on the coming elections but the church has decided not to directly involve itself on the matter, with due respect to the Archdiocese of Bacolod.

This, he added, is to maintain the balance amid controversies involving the church due to the nation-dividing controversy on the Reproductive Health (RH) Law signed by President Benigno Aquino III.

Pro-Life group, composed of Catholic lay and charismatic workers, earlier announced a big gathering next month formally announcing their list of endorsed candidates based on their position for or against the RH Law.

“There is more to these candidates than their participation on the RH Law. People should also look into other qualifications and advocacies like on the protection of the environment, the delivery of basic services to the poor,” Palma explained. — (FREEMAN)