CBCP eyes support for anti-repro health bill solons
Also plans to ask presidential bets to announce their stand

AN official of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) yesterday said there is a strong possibility that the Catholic Church will be strongly backing lawmakers who oppose passage of the reproductive health (RH) bill.  

Fr. Melvin Castro, executive secretary of the CBCP-Episcopal Commission on Family and Life (ECFL), said they want to make sure that oppositors of the bill will be seated in the 15th Congress.  

"Ito talaga planong gawin ito: for the election, gagawa talaga ng ‘block vote’. At kung sino lang talaga ang pipirma dTon (against RH) at magko-commit na mga kandidato, talagang yon lang ang susuportahan ng ECFL," Castro said.

The priest added that the "block voting" will not be limited to the CBCP only but also to other religious groups and civic organizations.

"Nanggaling naman talaga sa kanila ang idea na talagang mag-push ng broad coalition, inter-faith, multi-sectoral groups to safeguard na ang mai-pwesto lang sana natin yong kakampi natin sa family and life," Castro said.  

The CBCP has been the strongest objector to the RH bill saying the proposed law is already tantamount to legalizing abortion since it promotes artificial contraceptives.  

In the past, the Catholic Church has launched a series of prayer rallies, signature campaigns and audio-visual productions in a bid to dissuade the public from backing the bill.  

Last week, House Speaker Prospero Nograles ordered the expediting of the plenary debates on the RH bill by "simplifying" the process.  

The bill’s sponsor, Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman had said there are already 132 solons who have already expressed support to the bill along with 20 others who promised to favor it.

Aside from the lawmakers, the ECFL also said they will be looking to size up presidential candidates regarding their positions towards the bill.

  "One of the aims talaga nitong family and life caucus na ito is explicitly ask the candidates, especially the presidentiables, kung ano ang posisyon nila sa mga values na ito and we will encourage the voters to vote them base on those issues," Castro said.  

Unlike the Iglesia ni Cristo, the CBCP is not known to practice block voting saying they want to maintain the freedom of the faithful to choose their candidates.