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Cardinal Rosales’ March 25 Homily against the
RH BillPAHALAGAHAN ANG BUHAY
The Lord God spoke to Moses and those who believe in Him the following words: “I call heavenand earth today to witness against you: I have set before you life and death, the blessing and thecurse. Choose life, then, that you and your descendants may live, by lving the LORD, yourGod, heeding his voice, and holding fast to him.” (Dt 30:19)
Let us start our reflection on the principle that life is the greatest gift given by our Lord God toanyone. This is the fundamental belief and teaching of the Catholic Church that human life,though weak or suffering, remains the greatest gift of God’s goodness (Familaris Consortio, n.30).
If you do not give value this life in any way or at any point in man’s life (baby, fetus, old age,strong or weak), any man’s life will not be respected–and here if life has no more value or is notgiven value, there is no one who shall defend it, human life will be cheated, dominated,kidnapped, perjured, and robbed.
That is why how beautiful is the Church’s teaching–take care, defend, and promote life. Do notput barriers to life through any surgery or artificial contraception. To debase this human life,whether strong or weak, that we always value is against the Filipino culture’s view on human life(Pastoral Letter, CBCP, 30 January 2011).
Poverty or overpopulation has real solution and the answer to this is also taught by our LordJesus Christ. First, the world’s wealth or the product of man’s labor is enough or more thanenough for all. “Love one another” and be compassionate with each other in the name of love.Second, there are natural ways designed by God in the human body that must be known orstudied in order to identify the days when sexual intercourse would lead to new human life. Ineach sexual intercourse, the married couple cooperates with God in the creation of new humanlife. (Humanae Vitae, n. 11)
Married life is holy, and because it is holy, God provides joy and happiness in each maritalintercourse, because they shall spend their whole life rearing their children to good values, a holylife where there is compassion and respect to others until old age.
There is a natural way to prepare for that important life. And that is called NATURAL FAMILYPLANNING. And this is given by God naturally to each man, male or female. The AlmightyGod knows that the days are coming when we must strive to study and responsibly undertake thenoble preparation for such life. That is why God naturally placed in man’s body–male orfemale–the right and sure way and times when the the woman is fertile and ready to give birth toa new human life, which is created in the image and likeness of God (Genesis 1:27)
In studying the ways to determine these special days when the woman is fertile, anyone can usethese information in order to know when not to engage in sexual intercourse. This is man’ssacrifice. There are times that discipline is needed. If there is discipline in bed, then surely therewill be discipline in the streets, in the wallet (credit cards). Here we shall appreciate the “values”that are taught by the Church.
My brothers and sisters, the labor of a married couple is holy, that is why God blesses them withjoy and happiness not only in the sexual intercourse, but also in the rearing of their children togood manners and right conduct, and help them grow in holiness. In this endeavor, God is withthe married couple. And God never abandons a faithful couple.
Married life is holy; sexual intercourse is holy because this is part of giving forth a new life thatis from God. This is not a toy that must be taught to children how to use rubber condoms, inorder to prevent the spread of disease? Why are children taught these kinds of plays? Is it notwhat should be taught to children are the good examples of the elders and the importance of life,the holiness in restraining oneself that is called discipline? Before it was taught that if there isself restraint, there is discipline, respect, and human character. Now what we now wish to teachour young is this: use the condom, and play! That is how cheap human life is now.
It is a good thing there is still the Church and there is still the Faith that reminds us (even thoughthere are some lawmakers or elders that have morally depraved minds, who are incapable ofteaching the good values and laws that would bring back the slowly vanishing and weakening ofthe beautiful gem that is our Filipino civilization.
At why should the young be taught elders and lawmakers on how to escape from responsibility,without regard to reason and purity. (They say that it is in the name of cleanliness and health).False reasons are what few lawmakers want to teach to our young–that is what will be the futureof the Philippines–a nation of false reasons, all knowing only how to bribe. There is a dangerthat we are losing the Christian and Filipino values. What should be taught to the young arepurity of the soul, purity of the heart, discipline, self-restraint, and respect for other people’smoney.
What kind of proposed law is this RH Bill which when becomes a law, if the Church and itsministers teach or explain things based from the Bible, Faith, and conscience of each Christianon Life and Purity, which are contrary to the RH Bill, shall be asked fined or jailed. Shall allwho follow their conscience and Faith be punished? This is not the Philippines. Let us notanymore mention any country, but this is not the Philippines that was loved at offered with thelives of our heroes, three of the ten priests–Padre Mariano Gomez, Padre Jose Burgos, and PadreJacinto Zamora. In El Filibusterismo, the first page is offered by Jose Rizal to these threepriests. (And what others wish to remember is DAMASO who is not even a Filipino!)This is what the Church stands for:
1. The compassion for the poor multitude, especially those women who suffer and strive tomake their lives better and those who go abroad to achieve it or enter into indecent work.The Church deeply feels for them.
2. The Catholic Church is for life and human life must be defended from conception to itsnatural end.
3. The Church believes in responsible parenthood though Natural Family Planning. Herewhat is needed is strong character that requires sacrifice, discipline, and respect for thedignity of marriage. Without sacrifice, there is no character.
4. All men are just caretakers of their bodies. Our responsibility to our bodies must followthe will of God who speaks to us through our conscience. If we do not heed God’s voicein our conscience, it is not the mountains the seas will be shaken but own conscience.
5. We believe that in our choice regarding the RH Bill, our conscience is a sure guide whichmust be guided by one’s Faith.
6. We believe that freedom of religion and the right not to do things contrary to the dictatesof our conscience. The penalties and punishments stipulated in the proposed RH Bill isthe reason for our disapproval of the Bill. (Pastoral Letter, CBCP, 30 Jan 2011).
There is still time to avoid the moral tragedy that would be caused by the RH Bill.Change that bill, or repudiate it entirely which is the nesting place for irreverence for life, loss ofresponsibility and discipline which is what is truly needed by our people and nation.If the children can still be taught by the Church, we also remind our lawmakers. All of you,today and tomorrow, are part of our prayers.
May God bless you and this Nation of God.
We are all loved by God and cared for by theMother of Jesus!
+Gaudencio B. Cardinal Rosales
Prayer RallyFeast of the Annunciation
25 March 2011
