MANILA, PHILIPPINES (ANS) - The Roman Catholic Church in the Philippines is not relenting on its decision to put to a stop the passage of the controversial Reproductive Health Bill before the House of Representatives.

The Bill also known as House Bill (HB) 5043 and right now in its second reading, if passed the Church said would be against God's plan for mankind, and as such must be stopped from seeing the light of the day.

Condemning the Bill, the President of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), Bishop Angel Lagdameo, called on all Catholic faithfuls in the country to oppose the passage of the Bill by being part of the intended one million signatories being mobilized by the Church to stop its eventual passage into law.

He said that the Church is also intensifying its effort in educating its members of the disadvantages of the Bill and the need for them to adopt the natural family planning method hence the intended Bill is anti-life.

Bishop Lagdameo further stated that though most people believe that the reproductive health and population development are good, but they frown on the manner at which it's being pursued.

He described as sinful the proposed use of vasectomy, Intrauterine Device (IUD), condoms, and ligation, which are part of the provision of the Bill in population control, "The way they want to achieve the end is just wrong, through the use of artificial contraceptives and that is what we are trying to make the public to understand."

Though other religious groupings in the country have given their support to the proposed Bill, describing it as a good development, but the Catholic Church noted that they're not disturbed by it, stating that everyone is entitled to his/her opinion, and that the Catholic Church in the Philippines has resolve to stop the Bill and that nothing will stop it from achieving its set goal.

It is estimated that so far about 7,000 worshippers have pledged their support against the Bill, and the Church is hopeful that in no distant future more of its faithfuls will affix their signatures in opposition to the Bill.

Source: Christian Today Australia