Saturday, July 19, 2008

Bishop still won’t give communion to ‘anti-life’ politicians

Bishop Jesus Dosado has remained steadfast in his stand to bar Catholic politicians, who openly support and advocate "anti-life" legislations, from receiving communion, a source from the Archdiocese of Ozamiz said Friday.

The source’s statement was reinforced by the online CBCP News, which quoted Dosado as reminding a July 15 gathering of Catholic educators in Misamis Occidental that one cannot be called "a Catholic in good standing" if one "publicly hold views that are contradictory to the Catholic faith."

Dosado was also quoted as saying: "And if you are legislators in my territory then I have the right to refuse [you Holy] Communion."

Last week, Dosado stirred the country's Catholic community with his pastoral letter, which prescribed a no-communion policy for politicians promoting reproductive health and artificial birth control.

The pastoral letter came amid a renewed campaign to push for legislated national policy on the burgeoning population of the country.

The source, who requested anonymity for lack of authority to speak on the issue, hinted that Dosado was not taking back his order.

The source said the prelate might even come out with "a sterner pronouncement if only to drive home its message."

Dosado's diocese, principally through its Family Life Apostolate (FLA), has been actively campaigning against "anti-life" legislation.

In 2003, it pushed for the rejection of House Bill 4110, dubbed as the "pro-abortion bill."

During that time, Dosado first spoke officially about population management in relation to the Catholic faith in a pastoral statement against HB 4110. He considered the argument for promoting reproductive health as a disguise to promote abortion.

In trying to shoot down the bill, Dosado urged the laity to exercise their voting power to keep Catholic politicians "faithful to moral principles" by withholding support to those who go against the Church teachings on the matter of protecting the unborn.
This made population management an issue during electoral contests in Misamis Occidental, especially for congressional bets.

Dosado later said he was able to convince Misamis Occidental Representative Herminia Ramiro to junk HB 4110.

"Today as a result of his recent pastoral letter, Bishop Dosado had earned the assurance of a leading senator that scrutiny of population management bills will seriously consider the Church's views," the source said.
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