Prayers for Today (updated)

This prayer will remain on top of the blog until the end of December 12, 2012. Newer posts will be below the post immediately after this. 

The following prayer comes from Human Life International:

The following prayer comes from I Oppose the RH Bill on Facebook:

URGENT PRAYER FOR OUR CAUSE AGAINST THE RH BILL

(+ In nomine Patris et Filii et Spiritus Sancti. Amen)

Almighty God, we thank You for You willed for us to be the People that the Devil cannot trick, as it did tricked Eve. We thank You for You gave us a Spirit-guided conscience that knew how the Ancient Enemy works, so we can distinguish the works of the Devil from what You want. We are battling today against the RH Bill that promises the bounty of worldly life, the selfish bodily satisfaction and to the delightful heights of personal freedom, but is a sure road to the meltdown of our morality and of the righteous and noble picture of sexual intimacy and the holiness of the body, which is the temple of the Holy Spirit and an inseparable aspect of our personhood. It cannot give us the life that You desire for us, a life of self-giving and self-restraint, of sacrifice and of good virtues. Most especially, the FULLNESS of Life promised by Your Son Jesus Christ, a blessed life that remains in Your Love for us, and in our Love for You. We realized that happiness cannot help us. Riches cannot help us. Comfort cannot help us. Personal choices cannot help us, if all of these are received without Your favor and blessings.

We had been outwitted by the Devil again and again, but we acclaim that in every earthly battle against the Devil with You, we can never loose. If it even goes to the point of hurt, offense, getting ridiculed and destroyed, our earthly battle promises a heavenly reward and cheers of the chosen ones from age to age. Whatever happens Lord, as long as we do and follow Your will, in the end we believe we shall receive the glorious crown as victors of the faith.

May our Mother, The Lady of Guadalupe, protect us and meet us along the way, as she meet the worried Juan Diego. May she assure us of the Blessing of Heaven, which comes from her Son and Your Only Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ, from your company of the Most Holy Trinity. 

This we ask through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Promoting a contraceptive culture

Contraceptive Culture Vis a Vis Other Issues Related to RH Bill

by Hans Marasigan, I Oppose the RH Bill Facebook page member.

This controversial bill has been a subject of many debates for almost a year. It created several instances of fraction in different religious or secular sectors of our society. Some would even end mocking each other, using offensive alias as their counter argument or protest to those parties that have an opposing views from them, and sad to say, these do not excuse Catholic Christians. At some point, both opposing parties have been showing creativity to assert their dispute in a convincing manner, even to the point of spreading lies and controversy that might affect the reputation of the other. This kind of tactic is very common in Philippine political set up, to gain support one has to destroy the credibility of the opposing party, which is not the proper way of discussing things as delicate as this propose bill. Despite some differences on view regarding the said issue, one has to act in norms of civility.

I will divide my writings into two parts, the legality and morality issues concerning the bill. The controversial bill raised many good points on how to answer and give solutions to some of the current issues that our country is facing, especially maternal and clinical services for poor mothers and access to education. However, there are provisions in the bill that are questionable and subjected to further revisions. After listening to some of the arguments presented by the proponents of the bill, I was able to distinguish some of the important points often times exploited against the Catholic Church that needs clarification.

Are you really on the side of the Church, Fr. Bernas?

From the I Oppose the RH bill Action Group in Facebook:

An Open Letter to Fr. Joaquin G. Bernas, SJ

Prof. Marvin Julian L. Sambajon Jr. 

Your Reverence:

Peace.

This is in reference to your article posted at the Philippine Daily Inquirer (PDI) last Monday, May 23rd, 2011. But, first and foremost, I would like to sympathize with you if ever a high-ranking ecclesiastical authority labeled you as ‘Judas’ and that you were considered by others a heretic. I understand your position and from that understanding, I am addressing this open reaction letter to Your Reverence for the sake of those who have been listening to your discourses and/or reading your write-ups.

In the same article, you embodied your first position this way:

“First, let me start by saying that I adhere to the teaching of the Church on artificial contraception even if I am aware that the teaching on the subject is not considered infallible doctrine by those who know more theology than I do. Moreover, I am still considered a Catholic and Jesuit in good standing by my superiors, critics notwithstanding!”

Your Reverence, how do you adhere to the teaching of the Church on artificial contraception? When we adhere to certain teaching, we devote ourselves in the observance of such teaching. Moreover, said teaching is made manifest in our gestures, in our dealings, in our principles, and in our advocacy. If we say, we adhere but not observe it, then, adherence is devoid of what it truly means. We become like a “tingling cymbal”. And as a priest adhering to the teaching of the Church on contraception, even common sense dictates that you are one with the Church in teaching that contraception is evil and in enabling people to understand what makes it evil. Are you, truly, one with the Church in this crusade, Your Reverence?

How to eliminate maternal deaths

From I Oppose the RH Bill Facebook page:

Federation of Free Farmers versus the RH Bill

(Posted on the I Oppose the RH Bill Facebook page)

STATEMENT ON THE REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH (RH) BILLS IN CONGRESS

The Federation of Free Farmers, meeting at its national convention on 3 May 2011 in Quezon City, reaffirms its commitment to uphold the sacredness of human life and the integrity of the Filipino family as the bedrock of Philippine society. These long-held and deeply cherished values are also enshrined in the Philippine Constitution and many existing laws.

Consistent with this position, the FFF registers its vehement opposition to the so-called RH (reproductive health) bills pending in both Houses of Congress. The main reasons are:

1. Filipinos in general and farmers in particular consider their children as blessings to their families and as assets to society. In contrast, the RH bills seem to treat pregnancy as a disease and child-rearing as an affliction, both to be prevented or even eliminated.

2. The massive promotion and provision of pills, implants and other artificial means of birth control will likely expose our women to greater, rather than less, risks to their health. The bad side-effects of these methods are medically recognized and have been validated by actual experience, especially among rural women, who face the daily reality of extremely limited medical supervision and facilities in the countryside. (On the other hand, natural family planning - such as the Billings ovulation method - is easily affordable, protects women’s health and the life of the unborn, enhances husband-wife interaction, and respects the religious faith and cultural sensitivities of the overwhelming majority of Filipinos.)

3. The RH bills assume mistakenly that lowering population will lead to a significant drop in poverty. Actually, history teaches that it is the opposite that holds true. Hence, the limited resources of government are better invested in economically and socially productive programs on food security, education and skills training, and improved governance, among others.

4. The provisions on mandatory sexuality education will likely bring about a tectonic shift in the youth’s mind set against our traditional and constitutionally protected values on the individual, marriage and the family. For instance, some of the RH bills apparently will recognize the right of adolescents to a satisfying sex life even outside of marriage, provided that the right is exercised “responsibly”.

Why do we keep saying that the Pill is abortifacient?

From I Oppose the RH Bill:

How to waste three billion pesos

Wrong Priority

RH bill supporters - what do they have in common?

If the RH Bill is passed... what kind of "sex education" will Filipino children get?