|
|
Bishop twits pro-choice groups, solons for using rice to push population control
|
|
MANILA, Philippines - A senior Catholic bishop twitted pro-choice groups and lawmakers Friday for using the rice problem to push for population control measures, including the use of contraceptives.
|
Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Oscar Cruz said the food crisis should not be a reason for the government to enact laws that will curb the spiraling population.
"Until now it's so impossible that the population is behind the country's food crisis. The real culprit is the continuing and rampant corruption in government," Cruz said in a statement posted Friday night on the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines Web site (www.cbcpnews.com).
Cruz added the problem is more related to what he called a "crisis of management" on the part of the government.
He added that instead of blaming the population, government officials should rather focus on their jobs of managing their people well.
"Mahirap naman sabihin na komo wala kayo makain e patayin niyo yung kumakain. Mali. Kung wala kayo makain, magparami kayo ng pagkain.
Hindi sagot yung kung walang bigas, ililigpit yung kumakain ng bigas (When there is nothing to eat, it's ridiculous to think of killing the mouths to be fed. The obvious solution is to increase food production)," he said.
On the other hand, Cruz said the Church had never been against the idea of population control, only that they are against artificial family planning methods.
The Church favors natural family planning and is educating the people about the right framework of procreation, he said.
"Ang Simbahan naman hindi sinasabi sa tao na mag-anak kayo ng mag-anak. Ang sabi ng Simbahan ang mag-asawa dapat lang magkaroon ng supling na kaya niyang buhayin at kaya niyang suportahan at hubugin (The Church never forbade anyone to reproduce. The Church merely says that when you reproduce, make sure the offspring can be supported and educated)," Cruz said.
The CBCP cited reports that Rep. Edcel Lagman had been calling anew for family planning measures, after government pegged the population at 88.57 million.
Meanwhile, the Church in Eastern Visayas said 18 Church-based National Food Authority (NFA) rice outlets are now operational in the region.
The "Bigasan sa Parokya" program, launched in May 2006, involves parishes as cooperators and serves as NFA accredited and dedicated rice retailers with stores located inside the compound of churches.
In Southern Leyte, four outlets are already operational. In Samar province, about five outlets are already serving the poor constituents and parishioners.
source::
|
|
|
| JOIN MAILING LIST |
 |
|
|
| |
| |
|
|
| Letters to the Editor |
|
|
|
|
| Letters by Sr. Pilar |
|
|
|
|
| Love Life TV |
|
|
|
| MAGAZINE |
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
| HOT TOPICS |
|
|
|
|
|
| ANTI LIFE ISSUES |
|
|
| |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
