Campaign vs. anti-life bills set for launch

CEBU, Philippines - The “Red Ribbon” campaign of Human Life International-Philippines is set to be launched this Sunday, 9:30 a.m. at the Cebu Metro Cathedral with Cebu Archbishop Emeritus Ricardo Cardinal Vidal.

“We are sending a clear message to the people that the fight against any anti-life bills or laws are not over yet,” said Rene Josef Bullecer, country director of HLI-Philippines.

Pro-life advocates headed by Bullecer came out with a press release and a press conference as the Archdiocese of Cebu celebrates February as Pro-life month.

Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma, in his letter to the priests, religious and lay organizations and movements, emphasized this celebration as an opportunity to uphold the sanctity and dignity of life as a precious gift from God that is threatened by the prevailing anti-life issues in the country today.

The Red Ribbon campaign will be launched in all parishes.  Leaders and members of different lay organizations under the umbrella of the Council of Laity and Catholic Charismatic Communities of Cebu are expected to join the Sunday Mass launching the movement.

Bullecer, who is also the chairman of Pro-life Advocacy, Council of the Laity, said that distributions of red ribbons will follow after the Mass.

Simultaneously in all parishes, mass goers on Sunday are encouraged to wear red ribbons during the whole month celebration and hang red banners or ribbons in their homes and in their cars, as an expression of their love for life and love of God, the giver of life.

Bullecer added that the Red Ribbon campaign is intended to create a widespread awareness, especially among schoolchildren and the youth, that life is meaningful and precious to the people who love them.

The pro-life campaign will be initiated in school campuses, especially in Catholic schools.

The Pro-life month activities are in line with the Catholic Church’s celebration of the Year of Faith.

He added that it is an opportunity for the lay people, who compose the majority of the Catholic Church, to defend their faith on the truth of the gospel of life, from conception to natural death.   (FREEMAN)