The Dumaguete City Diocese will campaign against candidates in the 2013 election who support the Reproductive Health bill, its administrator, Msgr. Gamaliel Tulabing, said yesterday.

He said the withdrawal of support for pro-RH politicians is being urged by Archbishop Jose Palma of Cebu, president of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines.

Tulabing said he was told by Rep. George Arnaiz (Neg. Or., 2nd District) and Rep. Pryde Henry Teves (Neg. Or., 3rd District) that since the questionable provisions of the bill have not been amended, they are against the RH proposal.

He added that he disagrees with the statement that the concern on whether the bill is pro-abortifacient or not, is a debatable issue. It is no longer debatable as far as the Church is concerned, he said, citing that life starts at fertilization.

He said members of the House of Representatives who are pro-RH are the ones saying it is still a debatable issue. They admit that most contraceptives are abortifacient and it is not impossible that it can kill the fertilized ovum before implantation. It is this reason that pro-RH congressmen want a change in the definition as to when life really begins, Tulabing added.

He said the church will make its voice heard in the 2013 elections and will conduct a massive campaign against politicians who are for what it calls as the “Death Bill.*JG

back to top