A reminder to Catholic politicians who are tempted to turn pro-RH

Today's column by Fr. Bel San Luis SVD in Manila Bulletin:

Word Alive

GOD FIRST

By FR. BEL R. SAN LUIS, SVD

IN light of the voting in Congress on the RH Bill, it is timely and proper to remind our congressmen and senators of St. Thomas More, patron saint of lawyers and politicians, whose exemplary life and firm conviction were highlighted in the multi-awarded movie “A Man For All Seasons.”

* * *

A devout layman and brilliant lawyer, Thomas was appointed High Chancellor of England by King Henry VIII. At a crucial point, Thomas was made to choose between friendship and loyalty to the king and his faith and conscience.

He chose the latter when he opposed King Henry’s decision to divorce his wife Catherine of Aragon, marry Anne Boleyn, and make himself supreme head of the Church of England

* * *

Rather than approve what he believed was against God’s will, he resigned from his prestigious and wealthy position as Lord Chancellor and lived a life of poverty. Because he would not give his support to the king, Thomas More was arrested, convicted of treason, imprisoned in the Tower of London in 1534, and beheaded in July of the following year. On his way to public execution, Thomas More encouraged the people to remain steadfast in the faith. His last recorded words were: “I DIE THE KING’S GOOD SERVANT, BUT GOD’S FIRST.”

* * *

In the name of political loyalty, some Christian politicians today have surrendered their consciences to their party leaders or the President. A good example is the RH Bill’s voting. Certain politicians favor the RH Bill because of their loyalty to the President or they may risk losing their pork barrel and crucial projects in the coming election year.

* * *

The indomitable spirit and religious conviction of Thomas More should be an inspiration to our congressmen and senators to reject a bill that is ethically unacceptable and contrary to the will of God.

As Christians, whether politician or citizen, we should be loyal to our country indeed – but loyal citizens of God’s Kingdom FIRST.

* * *

SOMETHING FISHY? In her column last Dec. 5, 2012 entitled “A Day to Remember at the House of Representatives,” Belinda O. Cunanan reports, “Last night, people power in red ‘occupied’ the House of Representatives at close to midnight, after waiting for the House leaders who failed to show up after ‘suspending’ session supposedly for ‘a few minutes.’

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“The uproar that caused the ‘suspension for a few minutes’ came after the nominal voting that Cebu Rep. and Deputy Speaker Pablo Garcia Sr. had sought on his amendment. Garcia wanted the provision unequivocably inserted in the substitute RH bill that would define as the beginning of life the moment of conception – not at ‘implantation’ as the pro-RH bloc wanted…

* * *

“Garcia’s amendment on conception was ruled lost in the nominal voting after the secretariat said there were 57 votes for the amendment, vs. 81 against it. Earlier it was announced that 150 House members present assured quorum (a quorum needs 146 members).

 * * *

“But when the total number of votes came in, there were only 139 members, and Zambales Rep. Mitos Magsaysay quickly stood up to question the quorum.”

Belinda Cunanan remarked that the night ended in confusion, suspension, and frustration.

UPDATED: Cardinal Tagle and 15 bishops: don't rush the passage of the RH bill. (Full text of the actual declaration.)

Statement of the Bishops of the Ecclesiastical Province of Manila

In their pre-Christmas gathering held on December 4, 2012, the bishops of the Ecclesiastical Province of Manila reflected on the discussions on the RH Bill in Congress yesterday, December 3, 2012. We are appealing to the Honorable Representatives to give ample time to the deliberations and discernment and not to unduly rush them. We also appeal to them to conduct the deliberation and decision with transparency through nominal voting and respect for the diversity of views. 

 + Luis Antonio G. Cardinal Tagle Archbishop of Manila
 + Gabriel V. Reyes Bishop of Antipolo
 + Honesto F. Ongtioco Bishop of Cubao
 + Deogracias S. Iñiguez Bishop of Kalookan
 + Jose F. Oliveros Bishop of Malolos
 + Antonio R. Tobias Bishop of Novaliches
 + Jesse E. Mercado Bishop of Parañaque
 + Mylo Hubert C. Vergara Bishop of Pasig
 + Leo M. Drona Bishop of San Pablo
 + Leopoldo S. Tumulak Bishop of the Military Ordinariate
 + Pedro D. Arigo Vicar Apostolic Puerto Princesa
 + Edgardo S. Juanich Vicar Apostolic of Taytay
 + Francisco M. de Leon Auxiliary Bishop of Antipolo
 + Bernardino C. Cortez Auxiliary Bishop of Manila
 + Broderick S. Pabillo Auxiliary Bishop of Manila
 Fr. George A. Morales Diocesan Administrator of Imus

***

From CBCP News:

Cardinal Tagle: Don’t rush RH bill

MANILA, Dec. 4, 2012— The head of Manila’s Roman Catholic Church has joined calls for lawmakers not to rush the passage of the reproductive health (RH) bill.

In a statement, Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle and 15 other bishops of the ecclesiastical province of Manila said that there is a need to discuss the proposed legislation thoroughly.

“We are appealing to the Honorable Representatives to give ample time to deliberations and discernment and not to unduly rush them,” part of the statement reads.

In their pre-Christmas gathering held on Tuesday the bishops reflected on the discussions on the population control measure in Congress yesterday.

Antipolo Bishop Gabriel Reyes said they agree that the bill will promote harm than its supposed benefits to the country.

“They should not hurry up the bill because it is the future of Filipinos that is at stake here,” said Reyes who also chairs the CBCP’s Episcopal Commission on Family and Life (ECFL)

Transparency 

The church leaders also called for transparency if the controversial measure will be put into a vote.

“We are appealing to them to conduct the deliberation and decision with transparency through nominal voting and respect for the diversity of views,” they said.

According to Reyes, the people have the right to know the position of their respective representatives on the RH bill.

And if the lawmakers would continue with the “viva voce” scheme of voting, he said it only means the issue will affect their election chances next year.

“They know that they will have a problem in the coming elections if they voted for RH bill because there are so many people who are against it,” he said.

Among the signatories of the statement are Bishops Honesto Ongtioco of Cubao, Deogracias Iñiguez of Kalookan, Jose Oliveros of Malolos, Antonio Tobias of Novaliches, and Jesse Mercado of Parañaque.

Bishops Mylo Hubert Vergara of Pasig, Leo Drona of San Pablo, Leopoldo Tumulak of the Military Ordinariate, Pedro Arigo of Puerto Princesa, Edgardo Juanich of Taytay also signed the statement.

Auxiliary Bishops Francisco De Leon of Antipolo and Broderick Pabillo and Bernardino Cortez of Manila and Fr. George Morales, Diocesan Administrator of Imus also joined Cardinal Tagle’s appeal.

Earlier, the ECFL called on lawmakers to make known their position on the RH bill instead of hiding under the cloak of “ayes” or nays”.

Last August, lawmakers in Congress had voted to end the plenary debates on the measure through the viva voce vote. 

Denial 

Reyes belied a newspaper report quoting a member of the House majority that he attended a supposed meeting between lawmakers and some bishops on the RH bill.

The bishop also denied giving inputs to the “substitute bill” of the HB 4244.

He said Speaker Feliciano Belmonte could attest that he was not part of any meeting on the measure.

“This is a malicious misrepresentation by the anonymous member of the House majority,” Reyes said. (CBCPNews)

CBCP-ECFL statement on the voting process for the RH bill

Bp Reyes Statement on RH Voting Procedures



From CBCP for Life:

Demand nominal voting if RH bill put to a vote, says bishop

MANILA, Dec. 3, 2012—Despite the public outcry against the highly controversial population control bill, it looks like Malacanang is doing what it can to influence the legislature and speed up action on House Bill 4244, prompting Antipolo Bishop Gabriel V. Reyes to enjoin Filipinos to demand transparency from legislators should they insist on putting the measure to a vote.

“Let us demand from our Congressmen, specially the leaders of Congress, that the voting be nominal, whenever a vote on a part on the whole of the Substitute Bill of the House Bill 4244 is taken,” the bishop, who heads the CBCP Episcopal Commission on Family and Life (ECFL), said in a recent statement on the voting procedure on the bill.

“It is the right of the people to know how their respective Congressmen voted on this important bill,” Reyes pointed out.

Solons averse to nominal voting?

The apparent lack of transparency in the process of legislation involving the highly controversial reproductive health (RH) bill has been noted twice particularly in the last three months.

The period of interpellations was suddenly halted at the Lower House when, on the afternoon of August 6, majority of the lawmakers voted viva voce for the termination of the debates on the bill, following their meeting with President Benigno Aquino III earlier that day. The vote had originally been scheduled for August 7.

On November 26, the House accepted – again through viva voce voting – individual amendments by way of substitute bill as the new one under consideration. Viva voce (live voice) voting refers to voting by speech – saying “aye” or “nay” (yes or no) instead of by written or printed ballot (nominal voting refers to a scheme in which lawmakers cast their votes one by one and will be allowed to explain their votes on the bill).

Seconds later, after Cebu Representative Pablo Garcia made a motion for nominal voting, ALAGAD Party-List Representative Rodante Marcoleta moved for adjournment.

Deputy Speaker Crispin Remulla hence declared session adjourned till the following day.

Social analysts and pundits have pointed out that highly controversial measures – of which the RH bill has proven to be one – ought to be dealt with in legislative proceedings not by shouting one’s preference, which viva voce essentially involves.

Reyes also issued a statement on December 2, calling on all believers to a day of prayer and fasting today to uphold the sanctity of life, as a meeting in Malacañang between President Benigno Aquino III and his allies in Congress takes place noon, followed by the expected push for the RH bill’s passage at Batasang Pambansa in the afternoon.

Pro-life and pro-family organizations from different parishes and dioceses, as well as life advocates from secular groups are expected to troop to the House of Representatives today to express their anti-RH sentiments and show their support for the anti-RH lawmakers. (CBCP for Life)