INITAO, Misamis Oriental, May 25, 2011””Emphasizing the sacredness of life, the primate of the Territory of Southeast Asia and Europe of the International Communion of the Charismatic Episcopal Church (ICCEC) urged the flock in the Diocese of Northern
Mindanao to reject the reproductive health bill and protect the sanctity of the
unborn.
Wearing a black shirt emblazoned with the words in white “All Life is Sacred. CEC4Life”, Archbishop Loren Thomas Hines, D.D., said that the issue of the RH Bill is more than just a moral or as some sectors say, emotional, issue.
“It is a spiritual issue and thus the fight for the rights and sanctity of life is a spiritual battle,” he said.
Hines, who heads the Cathedral of the King in Mandaluyong City, was here recently for the 2nd Family Convocation of the Diocese of Northern Mindanao of the Charismatic Episcopal Church (CEC) at the Midway Beach Resort hosted by the Gingoog City-based Cathedral of Christ the Redeemer, which is headed by Bishop Raymundo Abogatal Jr.
“Life is God’s gift to man so that we may make visible His glory and manifest His image and likeness in a world corrupted by sin. Let us make a stand for righteousness and truth and not be deceived by the wiles of men,” he urged his flock.
Hines disclosed that unscrupulous and evil men are behind the RH Bill, whose main purpose is to wipe out the Filipinos in the Philippines so that foreign nations can take over its vast mineral resources for their own enrichment.
He said that the Philippine government is kowtowing to the desires of this foreign nation because of some backroom deals which will only benefit a few high-ranking government officials.
“My wife has once had a television program. But when she revealed this in her program””that a foreign country is interfering in our government through the RH Bill, government censors immediately banned her from airing her program again,” he said.
“Material gain and wealth are the main motives behind the RH Bill, which shows how degenerate man has become. This is a disease cause by sin and this plagues all men of all nations. This is the reason why we as Christians must make a stand together and fight this battle,” he added.
Hines’ revelation was confirmed by the recent admission of National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Secretary Cayetano W. Paderanga Jr. that the RH Bill is part of the Philippine Development Plan (PDP) for 2011-2016 and is being used by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) to “hostage” the Aquino administration into passing the bill in exchange for US assistance to the Philippines.
Paderanga said that the Aquino administration’s PDP is aimed at creating a 7-8 percent growth in the economy for at least six years ”” growth that generates mass employment, reduces poverty, and achieving or even surpassing the country’s Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
He also said that the PDP targets to reduce poverty incidence by 16.6 percent in 2015, from 33.1 percent in 1991; create one million jobs yearly and thus reduce unemployment rate by 6.8 ”“ 7.2 percent yet growing the labor force by 2.75 annually.
It is also aimed at reaching a Gross Domestic Product (GDP) rate of 7-8 percent; foster investments in the country by 22 percent; and implement other MDG goals.
The MDGs are a set of specific and time-bound development goals committed by international governments to be achieved by 2015.
Earlier, Senate Majority Leader Vicente Sotto III said the RH Bill has many hidden agenda directed by USAID, the United Nations Population Fund, or by manufacturers of condoms and oral contraceptives. (Bong D. Fabe)