MANILA, July 24, 2008─Bells in all Churches in the Archdiocese of Manila will ring simultaneously as a protest against the Reproductive House Bill at 6 p.m. on July 25.

According to Manila Auxiliary Bishop Bernardino C. Cortez, this will express the Catholics firm belief in life and their commitment to stand up for life, said.

House Bill 812 or known as the “Reproductive Health and Population Development Act of 2008” is now pending in Congress. The bill is authored and sponsored by Albay Representative Edcel Lagman and Iloilo Representative Janette Garin and supported by other legislators. Lagman says the bill might be passed by December.

The simultaneous ringing of bells will also be part of the commemoration of the 40th year of the Encyclical “Humanae Vitae” (in Regulation of Birth) issued by Pope Paul VI on July 25, 2008.

Humanae Vitae 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.

The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) has been lobbying against lawmakers of the country to dump the House Bill. CBCP is opposing it on ‘moral ground.’

Sections 3, 10, 11 and 12 of the consolidated House bill promote abortion and promiscuity and threaten to eliminate the Filipino race by promoting artificial birth control methods.

The Church supports only natural family planning methods such as the Basal Body Temperature and Billings Ovulation Method.

The House Bill would push the free distribution of artificial contraceptives such as pills, condoms and IUD. The use of contraceptives is against the teachings of the Church.

The proposed legislation is also termed as "DEATH Bills because they eventually lead to Divorce, Euthanasia, Abortion, Total Reproductive Health and Homosexuality."

In a circular letter, Bishop Cortez asked all priests in the archdiocese to make this activity their act of thanksgiving for the encyclical.

He also enjoined all in the parishes, Christian communities and schools to participate in the prayer rally for Humanae Vitae “40” on Friday (July 25) at the Parade Ground of University of Santo Tomas in España, Manila.

Manila Archbishop Gaudencio B. Cardinal Rosales and his auxiliary bishops will lead the delegation of priests, religious, parishioners, youth and students to the Humanae Vitae “40” prayer rally.

There are 84 parishes and nine shrines, basilicas and chapels in the archdiocese. (Santosh Digal)