40 Days for Life mimicked by Planned Parenthood with 40-day ‘prayer’ for abortion rights

While “knock-off” and “imitation” may have been associated more with luxury brands and consumer goods, the 40 Days for Life Campaign has experienced a “knock-off” of its pro-life activity by Planned Parenthood, which carried out a recent 40-day event obviously patterned after the successful pro-life prayer campaign but which offers “prayers” in support of abortion rights.

“Some say that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, but we’re not flattered when America’s largest abortion chain ‘prays’ for the destruction of innocent  children — while raking in over $487 million in tax dollars each year to fund its deadly operation,” Shawn Carney, 40 Days for Life Campaign Director, stated in the group’s website April 27.

The 40 Days for Life campaign is a pro-life activity that consists of 40 days of prayer and fasting, combined with vigils in shifts outside an abortion center. The first campaign took place in 2004 in Texas, organized by a local group and led by now-40 Days for Life National Director David Bereit.

The national campaign is active twice a year – in the spring and in the fall –but it may be carried all-year-round by local volunteer groups.

A Planned Parenthood facility in California carried out a 40-day “prayer” activity which ended April 27 and offered a “prayer” daily for a specific “intention.”

For example, Day 18 had the participants praying “Today we pray for all the staff at abortion clinics around the nation. May they be daily confirmed in the sacred care that they offer women.”  For Day 27, it was “Today we give thanks for abortion providers around the nation whose concern for women is the driving force in their lives.

Other invocations include “Today we pray for medical students who want to include abortion care in their practice” and “Today we pray for a cloud of gentleness to surround every abortion facility. May everyone feel calm and loving.”

The prayer for April 27, the final day, was “Today we give thanks and celebrate that abortion is still safe and legal.”

Liberty Council, a US legal and education non-profit organization, in a press release called Planned Parenthood’s “prayer campaign” a “desperate attempt to regain positive attention and funding.” The group’s Founder and Chairman Matthew Staver added that  “As much as they might not like the comparison, Planned Parenthood today is no different than the eugenics promoted by its founder Margaret Sanger who advocated the elimination of ‘undesirables,’ just like the most famous eugenicist, Adolf Hitler.”

The 40 Days for Life Campaign for Spring 2012, which ended April 1 – Palm Sunday – had the following record-breaking results according to the group’s website:

• 100,000+ participants from 4,000+ churches
• Campaigns were held in 261 cities across the U.S., Canada, Australia, England, Ireland, Poland and Spain
• 8 abortion workers quit their jobs
• 883 babies were spared from abortion during this campaign

And, another three abortion facilities closed down for good — where 40 Days for Life campaigns were conducted —  Storm Lake, Iowa; Knoxville, Iowa; and Allentown, Pennsylvania. (CBCP for Life)

Balanga pro-life symposium spurs doubled efforts to fight RH bill

More people yet again have learned the truth about the anti-life agenda and the need to act together to push pro-life legislation.

More than 400 lay people from various sectors in the Diocese of Balanga came from over 30 parishes to a pro-life conference, dubbed “Pro-life Activism: Call of the Hour,” Saturday at the spacious Saint Joseph Formation Center, Cathedral Compound, Balanga City in Bataan.

The Catholic Church in Balanga under the leadership of Bishop Ruperto Santos vowed to double efforts in sustaining the campaign against the entry of any anti-life ordinance in the entire province.

The event was organized primarily by the Diocese of Balanga through its Diocesan Family & Life Ministry (FLM), together with Human Life International (HLI) Pilipinas.

The FLM was also celebrating its 31st year of existence headed by Fr. Ronniel Loreto, the FLM Director, and Mrs. Luz Dispo, FLM Coordinator.

In his 3 ½ hour talk, HLI Pilipinas country director Dr. Rene Josef C. Bullecer discussed the origin of the anti-life agenda, providing a historical timeline from the era of Pharaoh in Egypt to the time of the 1994 Cairo ICPD (International Conference on Population and Development) — paving the way for the birth of the modern-day worldwide pro-abortion campaign through “reproductive health.”

Bullecer, a physician, also stressed the remarkable significance of demography, the reasons why poverty persists even after 43 years of population control in the country, and the untold medical dangers of artificial contraceptives.

The doctor likewise delved into the moral and spiritual aspects of the notion of legislating reproductive health.

Bullecer noted the strong pro-life position in the area, with the City Government of Balanga under Mayor Joet Garcia, the Provincial Government under Governor Enrique T. Garcia including the two Congressional Representatives Albert Raymond Garcia (1st district) and Herminia B. Roman (2nd district) standing firmly and united with the Catholic Church against the passage of RH Bill.

A bigger event is being planned for the third quarter of the year to reach out to the youth and to other sectors and deliver the pro-life message, with Bullecer as main speaker. (CBCP for Life)

Promotion of virtue missing in RH bill, says youth

While many young people who don’t even understand the Reproductive Health (RH) bill trumpet the message that the country’s youth need the measure, one recent university graduate has joined other students in declaring their opposition to the bill, saying it does not meet the needs of the youth for a brighter future.

“The RH Bill will dim that brighter future. In YUP! we anchor our vision for the youth on virtues. The RH Bill does not promote virtue but rather offers a technique precisely to get around not being able to exercise virtues,” said Mark Robert Baldo, spokesperson of Youth United for Life (YUP!) and a recent university graduate.

“Where the youth have to exercise temperance toward sex, the RH Bill implicitly provides a way for the youth to neglect the practice of that virtue but supposedly get away with the consequences. Emphasis on ‘supposedly,’ for there are more dire consequences than teenage pregnancy which escape our often narrow purview.”

According to an article in the Filipinos for Life website, Baldo, who recently graduated Magna Cum Laude from the University of the Philippines Diliman with a degree in B.S. Political Science, brushes off the notion that advocating an RH law is necessarily synonymous with critical thinking. In fact, given the remarkable flow of misinformation going around nowadays as regards the RH issue, Baldo’s observation that many simply “go with the flow” is hardly surprising.

Baldo points out that “It is not categorical that if I support the RH bill I am intelligent or if I do not support it I am stupid, and vice versa. But I can say that I sense a certain non-thinking among the youth I have encountered. By default, by pressure, by supposedly ‘common sense,’ they think the RH Bill is worthy of support.”

“Those I have mentioned are generally un-meditated, non-rational components in choosing a stand,” he continued.

“They do not involve thinking for one’s self. Indeed, in the academic life, when we take something to be given or common sense, that is usually a signal that we may be gravely mistaken and [are] just going with the flow.” (CBCP for Life)

RH bill denies freedom of religion, choice—lawyer

As pro-lifers in the United States gear up for another nationwide rally for religious freedom in June to protest the birth control mandate, numerous Filipinos still need to open their eyes to the fact that one of the Philippine government’s proposed measures violates the freedom of religion.

Atty. Ma. Concepcion Noche, president of the Alliance for the Family Foundation Philippines Inc. (ALFI) said that the Reproductive Health (RH) bill, which has divided the nation due to contradictory viewpoints and insufficient understanding of its implications, tramples on the people’s religious freedom, a freedom protected by the 1987 Philippine Constitution.

Based on the bill, healthcare workers and medical professionals are forced to provide RH supplies and services or participate in practices that go against their religious convictions. Employers also must either provide RH services to their employees or suffer the consequences as specified by the legislative measure.

“Dangling a criminal penalty of imprisonment and/or fine, believers will find themselves torn between fidelity to God and loyalty to their country. This unjustly limits the right to conscientious objection on the part of health care workers and medical professionals,” Noche explained.

“For the exercise of religious freedom to be truly meaningful, individuals should be allowed to profess and practice their faith by freely seeking and serving God in their hearts, in their lives and in their relationship with others, without fear of persecution or punishment. Only in this way can this right be truly guaranteed,” Noche pointed out.

The current set-up already allows respect for the religious beliefs of everyone, the lawyer said.

“But once a national policy on contraception is legislated, that changes the landscape altogether. Making it a matter of national policy or institutionalizing contraception via RH Bill and allocating billions of our scarce resources, will deprive us of our choice because the government will effectively have made that choice already for the Filipino families,” she explained.

What ‘separation of Church and State’ means

Much as separation of Church and State has been invoked by those who insist that the practice of one’s moral convictions has no place in the public square, this principle has often been misunderstood.

“Under our Constitution, the command against the violation of the separation of the Church and State is directed to the State — not to the Church — which is mandated to steer clear of the religious realm and give utmost respect to the exercise of religion. So, with the RH Bill, is the State poised to breach this wall of separation?” Noche remarked.

“The State exists for persons, as a guarantor and defender of their rights,” she continued. “In the face of ever-changing social conditions that confront us as individuals and as a people, the central question is: What are the requirements that government may reasonably impose upon its citizens and how far should they extend?”

Religious convictions have no place in the political process, some RH bill advocates have said. Noche, on the other hand, disagreed with this notion.

On the contrary, “As demonstrated by St. Thomas More when he defied the sovereign of which he was a “good servant” and chose to serve God first, religion has an important place in the political process. …It has been proven time and again that for democracy to be stable, it needs a foundation of moral principles based upon faith and religion.” (CBCP for Life)

150 young leaders join youth camp

More than 150 youth leaders participated in a camp for young people held at Don Bosco Technical Institute, Victorias City last April 15 to 17.

Spearheaded by the newly formed Victorias Vicariate Youth Council, composed of Youth Leaders from the parishes/chaplaincies of the Vicariate, the gathering aimed to instill among the young a sense of leadership and mission.

Fr. Lou-an Torrefranca, Victorias Vicariate Director for Youth Ministry said that “to be servant-leaders to our fellow youth, we need to become people of faith with a sense of mission“.

The activity had the theme “Leading the Young, Living the Faith, Growing in Mission” based on two important events in the Church this year—the CBCP “Year of the Pontifical Mission Societies” and the anticipated declaration of the “Year of Faith” by Pope Benedict XVI.

On the first day of the assembly, Ms. Juvy Pepello gave a situationer on the youth in the Philippines while on the last day, Fr. Deogracias Aurelio V. Camon talked about Servant-Leadership and the Sense of Mission. The Don Bosco Technical Institute (Victorias) Youth Organization Boys gave an interesting talk on the 7 Habits and also helped in facilitating the Camp.

The participants enjoyed an ‘Amazing Race’ around the VICMICO compound, and a cultural night showcasing the youthful creativity of the participants through singing and dancing.

The Youth Camp started with an Opening Mass celebrated by Fr. Arnold Deletina of the Diocesan Commission on Youth. The closing Mass was presided by Fr. Orlando Gargar, Victorias Vicar Forane, together with other priests in the Vicariate.

Gargar told participants that the clergy believed the young are the treasures of the Church that needed to be nurtured and developed so that they become ‘missionaries’ to their fellow young people in their respective parishes and chaplaincies. (Fr. Deogracias Aurelio V. Camon)

Catholic Youth network declares united stance vs. RH bill

 A network of Church-mandated youth groups and movement has come out with a solidified stance of the Filipino Catholic Youth for Life denouncing the anti-life component of the Reproductive Health bill.

The Federation of National Youth Organizations (FNYO), a network of mandated Catholic youth groups and movements recognized by the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines-Episcopal Commission on Youth (CBCP-ECY) has recently released an official statement of the Filipino Catholic youth for Life against the controversial measure.

Emphasizing four major points, the FNYO statement argued that the root of poverty in the country is corruption in government; strong family values are a great cultural trait of Filipinos; everything that prevents life is a violation of the human right to life and dignity; and promoting the RH bill with its anti-life component in a Christian nation such as the Philippines goes against the citizens’ Christian values and beliefs.

Under FNYO are 22 Catholic youth organizations that include Chiro Pilipinas, Salesian Youth Movement FMA and SDB, Student Catholic Action of the Philippines, Institucion Teresiana-Youth, Franciscan Youth Philippines, Canossian Youth Movement, Catholic Youth Organization, Junior Catholic Womens’ League, CFC-Youth for Christ, CFC-Youth for Family and Life, CFC-Singles for Christ, CFC-Singles for Family and Life, Christ’s Youth in Action, Christian Life Community of the Philippines, Columbian Squires, Filipino-Chinese Catholic Youth, Filipino Youth with a Mission, Mary Help of Christians Crusade, Society of St. Vincent de Paul, Tarcisian Adorers, Youth for Mary and Christ, and Youth for a United World-Focolare.

The groups denounced the claim of the bill’s proponents that poverty is caused by overpopulation, hence the need to pass the RH bill.

“How can the passing of RH Bill be a solution to this problem? Instead of funding efforts to pass such a bill, the government should direct the funds to the poor,” the groups declared in their statement.

“We cannot understand why even the funds for them should be pocketed by corrupt legislators. The government should continue exploring possibilities of partnership with the private sector in providing equal opportunities for our people like work and livelihood programs, helping them to stand on their own and uplift them from their miserable condition,” they said.

The need to empower families, parents

Their statement also noted that despite changing times, Filipino families remain true to their faith and beliefs, stating that “the high regard and respect to parents as first teachers to their children is a fact that influences the strong family ties.”

“Efforts then on how to educate children about sex and sexuality should start at home and should be done by parents,” the statement said.

The groups pointed out that parents should also be educated so that they would be better equipped teachers of life to their children.

“Let us fund programs to educate parents because Sex Education to pupils in Grade V up to students in High School is a threat to the Filipino families at large that will create more problems than solutions,” they added.

Exposing contraceptives’ ill effects, false sense of security

Noting that the bill promotes the use of contraceptives, the groups stressed that women should be empowered by educating them on the side effects of contraceptives which, according to scientific studies, have even resulted in deaths among women.

“Besides failure to prevent pregnancy, contraceptives have caused more serious threat to women’s reproductive health. Contraceptives are abortifacients that prevent life. Let us not turn the women’s life-bearing womb into a useless tomb,” the groups said.

Surveys and studies show that more and more young people engage in pre-marital sex, and statistics of sex-related crimes among teenagers that include sexual abuse and gang rape and also increases, where the rate of men getting into extra-marital sex also goes up.

“This also means that [incidence] of infidelity increases which results [in] separation and break-up, broken families, unwanted pregnancies, etc. These must be the results of “safe sex” culture that the use of condoms promotes,” they reiterated.

“Making contraceptives accessible allows people especially the youth to use them to their own pleasurable advantage. These and a lot more are expressions saying that with condoms and pills, it is okay to have sex with anyone, anytime, anywhere. With condoms [offering false] safety and protection, cases of HIV-AIDS also has increased in the Philippines,” they added.

The group further said that “free choice” is not a Christian value; [instead] being free to choose life is Christian.

“Hence today we announce our united stance for Life and in solidarity denounce the Anti-Life component of the Reproductive Health (RH) bill,” the groups stated.

The statement was released March 26, as the Church celebrated the Feast of the Annunciation. (Jandel Posion)

RH bill denies freedom of religion, choice – lawyer

As pro-lifers in the United States gear up for another nationwide rally for religious freedom in June to protest the birth control mandate, numerous Filipinos still need to open their eyes to the fact that one of the  Philippine government’s proposed measures violates the freedom of religion.

Atty. Ma. Concepcion Noche, president of the Alliance for the Family Foundation Philippines Inc. (ALFI) said that the Reproductive Health (RH) bill, which has divided the nation due to contradictory viewpoints and insufficient understanding of its implications, tramples on the people’s religious freedom, a freedom protected by the 1987 Philippine Constitution.

Based on the bill, healthcare workers and medical professionals are forced to provide RH supplies and services  or participate in practices that go against their religious convictions — referring patients to others who would provide the services concerned is participation nonetheless. Employers also must either provide RH services to their employees or suffer the consequences as specified by the legislative measure.

“Dangling a criminal penalty of imprisonment and/or fine, believers will find themselves torn between fidelity to God and loyalty to their country. This unjustly limits the right to conscientious objection on the part of health care workers and medical professionals,” Noche explained.

“For the exercise of religious freedom to be truly meaningful, individuals should be allowed to profess and practice their faith by freely seeking and serving God in their hearts, in their lives and in their relationship with others, without fear of persecution or punishment. Only in this way can this right be truly guaranteed,” Noche pointed out.

The current set-up already allows respect for the religious beliefs of everyone, the lawyer said.

“But once a national policy on contraception is legislated, that changes the landscape altogether. Making it a matter of national policy or institutionalizing contraception via RH Bill and allocating billions of our scarce resources, will deprive us of our choice because the government will effectively have made that choice already for the Filipino families,” she explained.

What ‘separation of Church and State’ means

Much as separation of Church and State has been invoked by those who insist that the practice of one’s moral convictions has no place in the public square,  this principle has often been misunderstood.

“Under our Constitution, the command against the violation of the separation of the Church and State is directed to the State — not to the Church — which is mandated to steer clear of the religious realm and give utmost respect to the exercise of religion. So, with the RH Bill, is the State poised to breach this wall of separation?” Noche remarked.

“The State exists for persons, as a guarantor and defender of their rights,” she continued. “In the face of ever-changing social conditions that confront us as individuals and as a people, the central question is: What are the requirements that government may reasonably impose upon its citizens and how far should they extend?”

Religious convictions have no place in the political process, some RH bill advocates have said. Noche, on the other hand, disagreed with this notion.

On the contrary, “As demonstrated by St. Thomas More when he defied the sovereign of which he was a “good servant” and chose to serve God first, religion has an important place in the political process. For indeed, it has been proven time and again that for democracy to be stable, it needs a foundation of moral principles based upon faith and religion.” (CBCP for Life)

Paranaque holds Squires Soar Camp 2012

Squires Soar 2012

MANILA, April 18, 2012—The Parañaque Diocesan Coordinating Council of the Knights of Columbus in the Philippines will host the Squires Soar 2012 to be held on May 11-13, 2012 at the Don Bosco Tabor House, Calamba City, Laguna.

This year’s Squires’ Summer Outdoor, Adventure and Reflection Camp (SOAR) themed “Columbian Squires: The Power of the Youth Serving Youth,” will also focus on teambuilding activities.

Circles are encouraged to experience the fun-full, enriching and interactive programs that will have Scouting-type outdoor activities and Squires faith-deepening modules.

Among others who have pledged to support the event are Luzon Deputy Arsenio Isidro G. Yap; Supreme Director Alonso L. Tan; and State Father Prior and CBCP Media Director Msgr. Pedro C. Quitorio III.

Meanwhile, the Diocesan Coordinating Council of Parañaque (DCCP) had a meeting on April 15, attended by the council representatives from Parañaque, Las Piñas and Muntinlupa Cities.

The DCCP explained their other impending projects such as "Labor day bingo for the youth" (a fundraising to support the SOAR camp) and the squires SOAR 2012, among others.

DCCP extends its gratitude to District Deputy Vince Duroy, Grand Knight Oca Delez, and Diocesan Executive Secretary Jun Autencio III, of Council 15139 for hosting the meeting.

The Squires’ Summer Outdoor, Adventure and Reflection Camp has always been a memorable and experiential summer event for the young Catholic men of the Columbian Squires, the youth counterpart of the K of C.

Pre-registration Forms and Fees must be submitted on or before April 27, 2012; councils or circles that will preregister will receive discounts.

For more details please feel free to contact the Camp Secretariat Mobile Number 09086058631 or email at dccparanaque@yahoo.com. [KC News]

Disregard parents’ authority so as to push youth’s “sexual rights” – abortion group

MANILA, April 9, 2012–The world’s largest abortion provider would rather ignore laws that protect parental rights if these hampered the youth’s access to “sexual and reproductive rights.”

The International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF) said in an official statement that “laws that restrict young people’s access to sexual and reproductive health services, including parental or spousal consent laws” must be either struck down or kept from being implemented, based on a Friday Fax report from the Catholic Family & Human Rights Institute (C-FAM).

This push by IPPF — which has lobbied worldwide for the legalization and for repeal of laws preventing legal access to abortion — to make parental authority irrelevant in the lives of their children particularly concerning access to reproductive health services, becomes more significant as the United Nations Commission on Population and Development  is considering giving “sexual and reproductive health and rights” to children as young as 10 years.

That the right to “sexual and reproductive health” will be defined as including access to abortion and contraception is a possibility, given developments that have been taking place on the international level as regards “reproductive health” services and comprehensive sex education.

“Clearly, under our Constitution, it is the primary right and duty of the parents to rear our youth especially in the development of their moral character.  This is in total opposition to the aforesaid position of the IPPF,” said Atty. Romulo Macalintal when asked about the prospect of such principles succeeding should some parties attempt to apply them to Philippine shores.

Macalintal, who specializes in election and political laws, explained that the 1987 Philippine Constitution is “very specific on this issue and cited Section 12, Article II:  “The State recognizes the sanctity of family life and shall protect and strengthen the family as a basic autonomous social institution.  It shall equally protect the life of the mother and the life of the unborn from conception.  The natural and primary right and duty of parents in the rearing of the youth for civic and efficiency and the development of moral character shall receive the support of the government.”

“Any law similar to that suggested by the IPPF shall be struck down for being unconstitutional or in violation of the said provision of our constitution. The use of the adjective ‘primary’ to describe the degree of ‘right and duty’ of the parents emphasizes and stresses the directive of our Constitution for our parents to look after the development of the moral values of our youth,” he pointed out.

Though the lawyer finds the IPPF statement “shocking and deplorable,” he said that “coming from an organization aimed at ‘promoting sexual and reproductive health… it is no longer surprising to hear and read such ridiculous and frivolous position.”

Recalling several incidents involving students which showed the young people’s lack of good judgment and which made for newspaper fodder for several days, Macalintal said that “at least for Filipinos, there is no rhyme nor reason to remove or refrain parents from exercising their parental control and extension of parental guidance to their young children. Our culture and tradition are so different from other modern countries and I am still hopeful that a great majority of our youth of today and their parents uphold a high degree of standards in their moral and family values.”

“Our Filipino youth should continue honoring and respecting their parents who remain the ‘wind beneath their wings’ as they continue to fly and aim for higher goals and endeavors,” he added. (CBCP for Life)

Bishop calls on the youth to stand against RH bill

MANILA, April 16, 2012—The newly installed head of the Archdiocese of Palo, Leyte, Most Rev. John Forrosuelo Du, D.D., called on the youth in the weekend to stand firm and oppose the RH bill.

“I encourage them (youth) to go and to join, to support all anti-RH [initiatives]. I assure them of my prayers and the prayers of our people. I am one with them. I am supporting them,” the prelate said.

Pope Benedict XVI named the 57-year-old Du on February 25 successor of Archbishop Jose Palma, who was transferred to the Archdiocese of Cebu in October 2010. Palma referred to the new Palo Archbishop as a “prayerful person” after the election.

“I am most happy with the appointment of archbishop-elect John Du because I know him to be a prayerful person,” Palma remarked.

Du reiterated that he will continue what Palma has started.

“Whatever [has been] started by bishop Palma I am going to continue. I stand for the Church against RH bill,” he said.

“We will have friendly conversations with our legislators. I really look for a peaceful, friendly and prayerful way of convincing our people to oppose the bill. If we are going to a rally we’ll make it a prayerful rally,” the prelate added.

“I ask people to pray and we’ll continue to educate our people through seminars or forums, even in small numbers, so that they can really understand why we are against the RH bill. We’ll do it especially in schools.”

A native of Bantayan, Cebu, Du was appointed Auxiliary Bishop of Cebu on Jan. 6, 1998 and Bishop of Dumaguete on April 21, 2001. (CBCP for Life)

Chiro Youth movement to hold national camp

The Chiro Youth Movement Philippines will hold its National Camp in Baguio City from April 28 to May 2 as part of the movement’s 60th anniversary celebration.

Around 400 participants are expected to attend the event at Camp John Hay with the theme, “Live! Chiro Rocks!’

Dubbed as Iskrambol 2012, the occasion will showcase new games, new adventures, new friends, new experiences and new stories for youth members and invited youth participants.

“Not just a time for newness, it is still important that this camp will be a time for sharing among the local groups, the leaders and the members. It is a time for members to enjoy their childhood through play. It is a time for them to learn, in a leisurely and relaxed manner, the many aspects of life, about teamwork, about what is going on in the world and his or her uniqueness as a person,” organizers said.

They also emphasized that the participants should be able to enjoy the company of young people of his or her own age who may speak a different language or dialect during the camp and also, it is a time for them to discover that indeed there are many kids from different places who are also playing every Sunday afternoon.

In a letter sent to Chiro regions and invited youth groups, organizers advised participants on what to bring for the camp.

Important things to bring are movement clothing, clothes for five days, jackets and blankets, scarf and bath towel, rubber shoes, slippers or sandals, small bag (backpack or slim bag), water bottle, lunch box (avoid disposables to reduce waste), spoon and fork, wash towel for lunch box, personal medicines and toiletries, 2 trash bags (1 big 1 small for water proofing and trash), hats or caps for sun protection, sleeping bag (we’ll be sleeping in tents), rain gear (just in case), flashlight or headlamps, notebook and ballpen, souvenirs for new found friends, lanterns (ask your leader about this), and Php 600.00 for fee.

Additional things to bring for 16 and above are trail food, 1.5 water bottle, trekking poles and camera (optional) and things not to bring are high tech gadgets such as PSP, mobile phones, iPod, iPad, laptops, and similar gadget, jewelries, too much money, pets, toys and junk foods.

Organizers are also inviting parents of the participants to visit the camp on May 1 from 5 p.m. onwards for a concert featuring composition of Chiro leaders and surprise presentation from different regions and Chiro supporters.

Chiro Pilipinas also invited the Federation of National Youth Organization (FNYO) to participate on the said camp, giving them five slots per organization.

Another activity slated for the year in celebration of the 60th anniversary is a pilgrimage in December. (Jandel Posion)

RH advocates don’t scare pro-life youth

This is in reaction to the article titled “RH bill foes face the wrath of student groups.” (Inquirer, 3/23/12)

The youth, as everyone knows, have a major stake in the Reproductive Health bill, and this is the very reason I find it very important for me to speak up about it. I am a concerned citizen, and I want my voice to be heard as well by our government officials, as it is only the best that I want for the Filipino people.

After studying the RH bill’s contents, I fully believe that this should have no place in our country. Its use of “reproductive health” is just a mask; its real purpose is to indoctrinate the youth to the idea of population control through contraceptives. And if passed, the RH bill will be a threat to the health of mothers and children: Studies show countless harmful side effects of contraceptives.

Also, those who have really studied the bill and read between its lines have come to realize that it is very divisive and harmful to our country, and we must be extra careful not to be affected by the multimillion-dollar enticements being dangled by the international organizations lobbying for its passage.

The proponents of the bill are very much free to present their views, but I want to firmly state that they do not represent the majority, or even close to the majority, of the youth. There are also a lot of youth who are against the passage of the RH bill.

It really struck me to see the word “wrath” in the March 23 article, as if the youth are furious about its not being voted upon. The pro-RH camp may be furious, but the anti-RH camp will choose the path of peace, though it will remain aggressive in its efforts to convince our legislators to oppose this divisive bill.

And we will support the pro-life legislators in the next election. The RH bill proponents mentioned in the article may be university leaders, but they do not intimidate us, even a bit. The fight to preserve our nation’s pro-life, pro-family, pro-God culture will continue, and we will carry on with this fight until the RH bill shall been totally cast into oblivion.

—JOHN WALTER B. JUAT,

link:http://opinion.inquirer.net/26539/rh-advocates-don%E2%80%99t-scare-pro-life-youth

CBCP youth commission affirmed by fellow youth reps during international meeting

The Episcopal Commission on Youth of CBCP headed by Fr. Conegundo Garganta, its executive secretary and Maria Victoria Tacderas, senior staff of NSYA was affirmed by fellow youth representatives around the world on their ten minute report during the international meeting and evaluation of the recently concluded World Youth Day 2011.

The international meeting was held in Rome last March 29-April 1 which was attended by 300 national representatives from different Episcopal Youth Commission in 200 countries.

Garganta emphasized that there were affirmations from other national representatives during the international meeting.

“We were affirmed of what we reported; other representatives affirmed that the WYD celebration was good to the Filipino youth which positively responded to the invitation to the challenges offered by the participation in the WYD,” he said.

“The positive response was being firm in the faith and how it is shown in the daily life or lives of the participants on the previous WYD celebration. It was also the challenged to continue to share the good news that was gained or heard from the WYD experience. These were the things that were affirmed during the meeting,” Garganta added.

Report

Garganta said the report was about the beautiful and positive results of the World Youth Day 2011 to the Filipino pilgrims.

“We shared on the pastoral gains that young people who participated in Madrid manifested that their spiritual growth bore their involvement in schools, parishes and dioceses on youth activities. Some of these young people had grown in their chosen vocation to the priesthood, religious life and their being lay. Such positive things were shared during the report in the meeting in Rome,” Garganta said.

Other than the report from five countries within five continents, Madrid and Rio de Janeiro organizers hared their gains and fruits as well as the preparations, respectively.

Representatives present were also officially invited by the WYD 2013 Rio organizers.

The priest also disclosed that details for the upcoming World Youth Day 2013 celebrations are yet to be finalized by May and hopefully by July, there will be more significant details that they will provide via e-mail so that those countries who will participate will be properly guided.

He added that on November, there will be an international meeting in Brazil as for the preparations for 2013.

“Country representatives are expected to come for official and final directions or guideline that will be shared during that meeting,” he also added.

Preparations

The Church official pointed out that preparation per country may now start because there are already initial data in the website www.rio2013.com.

“There are topics that were given, but the general schedule is yet to be produced by Brazilian organizers. Here in the Philippines, there is no official date when to start the preparation because it is yet to be discussed by the commission. We are still waiting on the general information from the organizer and still much to wait for the program, directions and guidelines of the upcoming celebration,” he explained.

He encourages those who are interested to join the WYD 2013 celebration to be ready on the requirements particularly the amount concerned for the trip.

Garganta disclosed that the commission thought to bring a big number to represent the country for many young people to participate, but still there are many practical things that they need to consider.

“We need also to be clear that participation in this international event for those we bring must have quality participation and involvement. So if we can have a small group that we can really offer, number is not a problem. What we need to consider is the quality of our delegates that represents our country to this international event. We are clear that this is a gathering in faith, sharing of faith and invitation to grow to oneself in one’s faith and to help others to grow in their faith. The representation is not because of the number but more on the quality on how the pilgrims will represent that richness or the wealth of our country as Catholics,” he furthered.

Guest speakers for the said event were Cardinal Stanislaw Rylko, President, Pontifical Council for the laity, Cardinal Antonio Maria Rouco Varela, Archbishop of Madrid (talking about the Pastoral Fruits of Madrid 2011), Yago de la Cierva, Executive Director of WYD 2011 (shared on the logistics of WYD 2011 in Madrid), Archbishop Orani Joao Tempesta, Rio de Janeiro (on the significance of WYD for the archdiocese of Rio de Janeiro), Bishop Eduardo Pinheiro da Silva, President of the Episcopal Youth Commission, Brazil (shared about the the Church and youth ministry in Brazil), Don Carlos Savio, Brazilian Bishops’ Conference Youth Sector (on the aspect of the pastoral preparation of Brazil), Bishop Joseph Clemens, Secretary, Pontifical Council for the Laity, and Rev. Fabio Attard, General Councilor for Salesian Youth Ministry for the youth ministry and the challenges for education today. (Jandel Posion)

Cabanatuan youth to hold vocation vigil

In preparation for the 50th Golden Anniversary of the Diocese of Cabanatuan, the Diocesan Commission on Vocation and Youth Commission will hold an overnight vigil for vocations at the College of Immaculate Conception on April 27-28.

With the theme ‘Vocation: the Spirit of the Love of God’, the organizers are expecting 500 to 600 participants who will join the event.

Joannie Bolisay, diocesan youth coordinator, said the inspiration for the theme was taken from the message of the Holy Father for the World Day of Prayer for Vocations, which is “Vocations, the Gift of the Love of God” to be celebrated on April 29, the Fourth Sunday of Easter.

Dubbed as Vocation 50/50, the activity aims to send 50 seminarians in the 50th year of the diocese in 2013.

“As of now, the overnight vocation vigil will be the first program for the upcoming celebration, we wanted to know the response of the youth in order to make vocation and youth programs suitable for their needs,” Bolisay said.

Bolisay pointed out that the vigil aims to deepen vocation awareness among the young people, to promote the vocation to priesthood and religious life and the launching of vocation programs within the diocese.

The diocesan vocation director, Fr. Sedfrey Calderon hopes that through the vigil, young people may spend and keep watch with the Good Shepherd through prayer, sharing of stories and showcasing of talents for them to discern more fully their life direction.

The vocation vigil is a program of the vocation commission with the help of the youth commission of Cabanatuan diocese. (Jandel Posion)