Objectives of prayer rally on Humanae Vitae stated
The Episcopal Commission on Family and Life (ECFL) of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines co-organizer with the Archdiocese of Manila of the prayer rally/celebration dubbed “HUMANAE VITAE @ 40: BIYAYA NG BUHAY, BIYAYA NG PAMILYA” has stated the objectives of the event to be held on July 25, 2008 at the Parade Ground of the University of Santo Tomas (UST) at España, Manila.
The three objectives as conveyed by the Central Coordinating Committee headed by Ambassador Henrietta T. de Villa are:
- To thank His Holiness Pope Paul VI for his clarity and courage in proclaiming the inviolable truth on the responsible transmission of life within the family in his encyclical Humanae Vitae.
- To prayerfully rally Filipino citizens to promote and protect the sacredness of family and life, in adherence to Humanae Vitae.
- To express the Filipino families’ fidelity to the values of Humanae Vitae and their strong opposition to the anti-life Reproductive Health bills in the legislature which will weaken the family, society’s basic unit.
The prayer rally will gather lay people, religious, priests and bishops from more than 45 lay organizations, several Religious congregations and schools and dioceses especially those in the National Capital Region. According to ECFL, archdioceses and dioceses all over the Philippines are holding similar prayer rallies on separate dates.
The archdioceses and dioceses which have earlier signed on to the event are: Archdiocese of Manila, Archdiocese of Lipa and Archdiocese of San Fernando, Pampanga, Dioceses of Antipolo, Caloocan, Cubao, Novaliches, Pasig, Malolos, Imus, San Pablo, Balanga, Tarlac and Legaspi.
The lay organizations include: CBCP Sangguniang Laiko ng Pilipinas and its 45 affiliate national lay organizations (specifically Christ Family Mission Movement, Couples for Christ, Catholic Women’s League, Familia, Federation of Free Farmers, Focolare Movement, Knights of Columbus, Legion of Mary, Ligaya ng Panginoon Community, Marriage Encounter Enhancement & Team Services Foundation, Marriage Encounter Foundation), Alliance of the Two Hearts, Anawin Forum for Life, Bukas Palad Foundation, Catholic Nurses of the Philippines, El Shaddai, FLA Mindanao, Friends of Mary Mediatrix, Kilusang Kabataan Kay Kristo (San Pablo), Neo-Catechumenate, Prolife Philippines Foundation, Inc., SAFE, Salt & Light for Christ Community, and Teresiana Association.
Among the Church offices involved are the CBCP Office for Women, and the Archdiocese of Manila’s Lay Formation Center, Ministry for Family and Life and the John Paul II NFP Center.
Those attending the prayer rally will be converging from several parts of the metropolis among them Sto. Domingo Church in Quezon City, Loreto Church and St. Anthony Church in Legarda, and Plaza Lawton.
The Humanae Vitae was issued by Pope Paul VI on July 25, 2008 and was also titled as the Encyclical on the Regulation of Birth. It was controversial from the beginning because of its unwavering stand on the prohibition of the use of artificial contraception and its reiteration of the Church’s downright condemnation of abortion. It is a controversy that goes on to this day in the Philippines where the Catholic Church in the Philippines has staunchly opposed proposed legislation on reproductive health that promotes the use of artificial contraception.
(Program for July 25, 2008 event is attached.) - click here
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