Promote church teaching on the sanctity of marriage, says CBCP president
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MANILA, Promote Church teaching on the sanctity of marriage, said the president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) today.
“While we consider population growth as a valid concern, which should be addressed more directly with socio-economic methods, all men of goodwill are tasked to promote completely and clearly the teaching of the church concerning the sanctity of marriage and the regulation of birth,” said Jaro Archbishop Angel Lagdameo in his homily during the Mass to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Encyclical Humanae Vitae ((human life), at the Manila Cathedral. on July 9, 2008,
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Pope Paul VI issued the encyclical Humanae Vitae on July 25, 1968.
The 40th anniversary of the Encyclical Letter on the Regulation of Birth, “Humanae Vitae” is an opportune time for Catholics to recall the salient doctrine of this authoritative and controversial but prophetic encyclical.
At its publication, this letter of Paul VI has caused much discussion and aroused much opposition, which the Pope foresaw.
Against the prevailing expectation of liberalization in the sixties and seventies, that the Catholic Church would change her traditional teaching on conjugal morality and allow all forms of birth control, Pope Paul VI in Humane Vitae instead re-affirmed the Church’s traditional teaching, regarding birth control and responsible parenthood, said Lagdameo.
Although Humanae Vitae is not an infallible pronouncement, what Pope Paul VI as Universal Shepherd and Teacher said is true and what he laid down is right, the CBCP president said.
Humanae Vitae does not prohibit family planning. However, family planning should be done in a right way and not in a sinful way. Humanae Vitae condemns direct and deliberate prevention of conception, he added
Accordingly, direct abortion must be rejected as a means of regulating birth or even therapeutic means. Likewise direct sterilization of male (vasectomy) and of female (legation) must be rejected as well as all acts that attempt to impede to impede procreation.
It is a serious error to think that a whole married life of normal sexual relations could justify a contraceptive act of sexual union, he said.
“When we observe today how marriage and human sexuality are de-valued and treated lightly and with disrespect, how population growth and responsible parenthood are linked with the regulation of birth and how we should promote natural family planning against artificial birth control, it is time again to consider the moral legacy of Pope Paul VI in Humanae Vitae,” Lagdameo said.
Quoting St. Josemaria Balaguer, Jaro prelate said, “Attacks on large families stem from a lack of faith and the product of a social atmosphere incapable of understanding generosity, trying to conceal selfishness and unmentionable practices under apparently altruistic motives.”
CBCP Episcopal Commission on Family and Life has identified many of the proposed bills in the Philippine Congress as D.E.A.T.H. Bills because they ultimately lead to the promotion of Divorce, Euthanasia, Abortion, Total Reproductive Health, Homosexuality (same sex marriage).
“May our recollection of and reflection on Pope Paul VI’s Encyclical Humanae Vitae lead our couples and Christian communities to be pro-family and pro-life, and of course and above all pro-God,” Lagdameo said.
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