Cebu pro-life groups join protest vs RH

CEBU, Philippines - Members of the Lay Initiatives for Elections (Life 2013) will join other lay movements in Manila in holding prayer vigils and festive gathering to celebrate life while the Supreme Court will deliberate on the petitions against RH Law today.

The Cebuano lay group flew to Manila yesterday to attend the scheduled oral arguments on the (RH) Law in the Supreme Court. One of the Pro Life supporters who will attend the oral argument is Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) President and Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma.

Palma appreciated the laity’s initiatives and expressed his approval to the activities.

He also expressed his moral support to the laity’s endeavor and said that the lay people are in the best position to raise the issue because in principle, they are the ones adversely affected by the law.

Dr. Rene Bullecer, chairman of the Human Life International, said that they are going to witness the oral arguments in the higher court tomorrow to show support in the efforts against the RH-Law.

Petitioners who will also join are Valeriano “Bobit” Avila of The Freeman publications and the Task Force for Family and Life.

“All the petitioners will meet and discuss the next move in case the Supreme Court’s decision is not favorable on our side” Bullecer said.

He also said that they are asking a little prayer from the public so that the petitions would be supported.

In a report from the CBCP News website, Palma said that in the event the court will decide on the implementation of the RH Law, the laity must not consider it as a defeat.

He then echoed Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle’s statement found on the CBCP website that “it’s not the defeat of life, it’s not the defeat of the sanctity of marriage; it’s not the defeat of our respect for the family.”

Palma added that the Church will continue to remind the people on the sacredness of life and will keep on encouraging them that regardless of the law, both the human instinct and the Christian values should live up to one’s conviction that life is sacred.

On the other hand, Palma said that the Church will also continue to remind the parents that, “there’s a privilege to proclaim the goodness of the Lord, the love for one another and the vocation to raise a family and that is how we make the world a better place to live in.”

He added that parents must have a loving family where the values of the gospel are seen in their lives.

To recall, debates on the constitutionality of the RH Law was moved to July 9 from the original schedule last June 18, because of the several interventions and many other petitions that have been filed.

Meanwhile, the Cebu Pro-life Alliance held a rally yesterday morning in front of the Marcelo Fernan Hall of Justice in relation to today’s judgment on Reproductive Health (RH) Law.

Earlier, the Pro-life Philippines Foundation Inc. et.al filed a petition for certiorari and prohibition with prayer for a temporary restraining order and/or writ of preliminary injunction before the Supreme Court seeking for the nullification of Republic Act 10354 or RH Law.

Dr. Rene Bullecer told the media that the rally was part of preparations for today’s judgment day.

“We are hoping that the 15 justices will be enlightened that this is against the supreme law of the land,” he said referring to RA 10354.

The pro-life group called the said law unconstitutional for “violating the religious freedom and violating the inherently pro-family nature of the Constitution.”

“We are hoping that God will make a miracle (today),” Bullecer added.

Last December 21, 2012 President Benigno Aquino III signed the RH Bill into law. However, the said law was not yet implemented pending the decision of the Supreme Court.

Bullecer said they will be attending today’s judgment before the Supreme Court and hope that the justices will rule in their favor. (FREEMAN)