2 bishops to back civil disobedience if RH bill is passed

MANILA, Philippines - Catholic bishops would back civil disobedience if the Responsible Parenthood (RP) Bill is passed into law.

Speaking over Catholic Church-run Radio Veritas, Sorsogon Bishop Arturo Bastes said they would tell the people to disobey immoral laws.

“We bishops are willing to be imprisoned together with our priests and protest the immoral things,” he said.

“We are willing to show our part, to be firm with our teachings. Let them imprison us.”

Earlier, Tandag, Surigao del Sur Bishop Nereo Odchimar, Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) president, said they might pull out from their dialogue with Malacañang if they prove that the government has speeded up the passage of the RP Bill.

Lipa, Batangas Archbishop Ramon Arguelles, CBCP-Episcopal Commission on Family and Life vice chairman, said it was possible that many Filipinos would march against a law promoting the use of contraceptives and abortifacent drugs.

However, Arguelles said if they would hold a protest, they would not single out any particular person.

“We are not against the government,” he said.

“We are saying that what is right, we are going to proclaim wherever it is.”

Arguelles said those pushing the RP Bill are backed by funds from foreign agencies.