Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Manila (Agenzia Fides) - To intensify efforts to promote a culture of life in this new year 2007 the Catholic Bishops of the Philippines hosted an International Conference on Bio-Ethics in Manila with the participation of world famous experts in theology and medicine. The event was organised by the Bishops’ Conference new Office for Bio-Ethical Issues directed by Bishop Jose B. Oliveros. Among those invited Prof. Elio Sgreccia, President of the Pontifical Academy for Life; James Sherley, professor of bio-medical engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology; William Lee Saunders, director of the Centre for Bio-Ethics and the Council for Research on the Family in Washington; Dr John Wilke, President of the International Federation for the Right to Life; Fr. Fausto Gomez, President of the South East Asian Centre for Bio-Ethics and numerous other scholars from various parts of the world.
“The initiative helped focus attention on the dangers threatening life and the family today”, said Bishop Angel Lagdameo, President of the Bishops’ Conference who opened the conference. Speakers included Bishop P. B. Aniceto, President of the Philippines Bishops’ Commission for Life and the Family, and Archbishop Orlando Quevedo of Cotabato secretary general of the Federation of Asian Bishops’ Conferences FABC, who spoke about the future of the family in Asia. Also present was Apostolic Nuncio in Manila, Archbishop Fernando Filoni, who delivered a message of good wishes from Pope Benedict XVI.
The Catholic Church in the Philippines confirmed its front line position to protect life from conception to natural death. The participants also discussed tnew forms of families and unions: one parent, separated parents, families with one parent in another country for years; same sex unions. Noting that people today appeared to be losing the sense of the sacredness of the human life and the family, the Church is committed to reaffirming and protecting this sacredness valid not only for Christians but for all believers.
With regard to the sensitive issue of population growth the Bishops affirmed that the cause of poverty and social inequity is not over population but inadequate economic policies and widespread corruption. The Bishops’ Commission for Life and the Family will continue to increase awareness among the faithful that the Catholic mission “by nature includes protection of life and the family”. In 2006, after years of fierce anti death penalty campaign, Catholics in the Philippines had the joy of seeing capital punishment abolished in their country. (PA) (Agenzia Fides 15/1/2007 righe 31 parole 322)
