To show their opposing power to the controversial Reproductive Health Bill, 40,000 people gathered at Rizal Park last Friday.
The protest which called the prayer for life rally was organized by the Roman Catholic Church. The crowd, coming form Metro Manila and different provinces in Luzon, started to gather their force as early as 2 pm at the Quirino Grandstand.
Manila Bishop Broderick Pabillo and Vatican Secretary of State Tarcisio Cardinal Bertone read a statement from the church urging Filipinos to stand on their beliefs to defend life and the family against attempts of the government to devalue them.
In one of the statement, Bertone acknowledged that Filipinos are p(–foul word(s) removed–)ing through a difficult period in all that concerns life and its defense. But he said that what the church is undergoing right now is not different. “I believe that life is sacred a gift from God who calls man to cooperate with Him, aided by a deep sense of responsibility for his actions” Cardinal Bertone said.
He also made example the commendation of Pope Benedict XVI’s to the church in the Philippines for its defense to the integrity of marrieage and the family.
The use of artificial contraceptives and promote abortion are some of the measures that would propagate if the RH bill well be amended. This is according to the opponents of the RH bill.
Manila Archbishop Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales said in one of his m(–foul word(s) removed–) that Filipinos should give importance to the sanctity of life as God’s greatest gift to man. He also stressed out to the Filipino the sacredness of marriage and sex.
Cardinal Rosales also said that what the government should teach is the purity of conscience, cleanliness of the heart discipline and self-restraint rather than p(–foul word(s) removed–)ing the RH bill which would permit the killing of life.
“Obey God’s will no to RH bill” these are the words that 40,000 people are chanting in front of Rizal Park. They also prayed the rosary.
Rhodora Emping 56 years old, one of the protesters who was interviewed and said that she joined in the rally because she was against the RH bill. She said that the funds which could be used to uplift the economy by addressing poverty would be used to buy contraceptives.
“The RH bill does not go by the Lord’s teachings. The funds to be allocated for that should be used for providing jobs to the poor. It will also breed immorality,” Emping added.