The principal author of a population and reproductive health ordinance in Quezon City said yesterday that Catholic lay leaders have begun calling him a “devil’s advocate” for promoting a measure that includes artificial family planning.
“Critics of the ordinance reached the point of calling us kampon ni Satanas” or devil’s advocate, Councilor Joseph Juico told reporters during a weekly forum.
He clarified that while there was no actual threat to deny him communion at the Cubao diocese, “there was a plan” by some priests and lay leaders. He refused to name those involved.
Juico also said that at the height of the debate over the ordinance, some sectors of the Church, particularly in the Cubao diocese, distributed flyers during Mass calling city officials “abortionists” and anti-life.
“We told the people that the Quezon City government is not only pro-life but a proponent of quality life,” he said, noting that the Catholic Church and other religious groups were consulted before the ordinance was approved by the city council and signed into law by Mayor Feliciano Belmonte Jr.
Juico said the ordinance established a population and reproductive health management policy for the city to address the fast-growing population and speed up the delivery of basic services to the people.
Belmonte said it is up to the couples to decide on the size of their family, and the government just provides guides and the necessary support. He also vowed to continue promoting the welfare of women and children as part of the city government’s agenda over the next two years.
Juico said the ordinance has no penal provision but will provide couples and individuals with access to relevant information and resources on natural and artificial family planning methods to enable them to make sound and responsible decisions.
He also said the ordinance does not promote abortion, which is illegal in the country. – Perseus Echeminada