Cubao bishop opposes proposed QC population policy
Cubao, Quezon City Bishop Honesto Ongtioco has expressed opposition to a reproductive health program proposed by Councilor Joseph Juico.
Fr. Aries Sison, spokesman of the diocese, said Church officials are campaigning during Mass against Juico’s proposed ordinance, which seeks to establish a “population and reproductive health management policy in the city” during Masses.
Sison said Ongtioco issued a directive against the proposal for being “against the teachings of the Church.”
“The Church will never favor the use of artificial birth control methods, which are being endorsed in the proposal, whatever objective it may have,” he added.
Ongtioco’s letter reportedly offended Juico and his parents, who are devout Catholics. The bishop is set to meet with them to explain that his message was “not a personal attack.”
Sison said officials of the diocese have already met with Juico and Councilor Bernadette Herrera–Dy, the co-sponsor of the proposed ordinance and explained to them the Church’s stand on reproductive health.
“Herrera archived her proposed ordinance while Juico didn’t do the same and instead just postponed the public hearing on his proposal,” Sison said.
However, Sison denied reports that the Church has decided not to give Juico communion or allow the councilor to wed in any Catholic church.
“That rumor is baseless. I think that was just raised by some priest based on what happened in the
Sison denied reports that the Church plans to excommunicate Juico for his persistence in proposing what the priest called an “anti-life” law.
“He (Juico) is taking it too personally… If he belongs to a family that is staunchly Catholic and was brought up well, he should understand,” he said.
“He should know that this is a big deal to the Church. In the first place, he shouldn’t have made such proposal. If only he sought our guidance and attended Masses regularly, then this would have not happened,” Sison added. – Edu Punay
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