Fight vs RH bill continues – Abp Lagdameo

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The fight against the Reproductive Health (RH) bill continues despite the sudden turn of events earlier this week, an influential Church leader reminds the Catholic faithful as he declared that “there is still hope.”

In an interview with YouthPinoy, Jaro, Iloilo Archbishop Angel Lagdameo encouraged Church leaders, pro-life groups and Catholic lay organizations pushing for the junking of the RH bill to carry on with their advocacy.

“Do not loose hope. Our campaign continues. I hope you do not surrender because of this challenge,” he told YouthPinoy, one of the youth groups involved in the Church’s Anti-RH advocacy, especially promoting it through social media.

As for the members of the Upper and Lower Houses of Congress, unto whose hands the fate of RH bill depends, Lagdameo urged them to “be discerning.”

“I hope that they will discern on what will truly bring about the common good for our country,” he said.

But in view of the prevailing torrential rains and consequential floods in Metro Manila and neighboring provinces in Luzon, the prelate called both pro- and anti-RH bill legislators to give their full attention to the needs of their displaced constituents than prioritizing the amendment of the bill’s provisions.

“Attending to their constituents who are left displaced by floods should be prioritized by the Congress. This is far more urgent than railroading the passage of RH bill into law,” he said.

It was recalled that the House of Representatives terminated Monday the interpellation over the RH bill ahead of the scheduled voting today, Wednesday. Due to the premature move, the period of amendment on the provisions of the RH bill is set to commence anytime soon.

The sudden turn of events has disappointed Church leaders, pro-life groups and Catholic lay organizations pushing for the junking of the RH bill. But Lagdameo, who is a former two-term president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), said the fight is far from over as he appealed to the proponents of the RH bill in the Congress and Senate to “reconsider their position” and “entertain second thoughts.”

But the prelate said both pro- and anti-RH factions in the Congress and Senate “should discuss amendments to the RH bill properly and with open minds.”

Aside from the legislators, Lagdameo also called on the lay faithful to help their countrymen in this time of calamity by volunteering in rescue and relief operations. (YouthPinoy)