THE CARETAKER of the Archdiocese of Manila said legalizing divorce in the country would weaken families, and urged pro-life groups to oppose it during the Eucharistic celebration for the annual “Walk For Life” at the Quezon Memorial Circle last Feb. 15.
“Sa halip na patatagin ang pamilya, mas lalong nanghihina ang pamilya… Sa halip na isulong ang divorce, pangalagaan natin ang mga pamilyang may problema. Lahat ng mga problema ay masosolusyunan,” Manila Auxiliary Bishop Broderick Pabillo, the apostolic administrator of the Manila archdiocese, said.
Pabillo, also the chairman of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines Episcopal Commission on the Laity, called on the faithful to continue to stand for justice and promote peace.
“Ang Simbahan ay hindi lang [binubuo ng mga] obispo at pari dahil kabilang din ang mga lay faithful. [W]e continue this advocacy to protect life, promote love, protect the family and to take care of our own common home,” he said.
(The Church is not just made up of bishops and priests because it also includes the lay faithful. [W]e continue this advocacy to protect life, promote love, protect the family and to take care of our own common home.)
“Real peace can’t come without justice. Justice is not just punishing the culprit but helping the victims [b]y giving them comfort and support,” he said.
An estimated 2,000 participants marched against bills seeking to legalize divorce, same-sex marriage and the death penalty. They also spoke out against extrajudicial killings and called for measures to reduce cases of suicide and depression.
Walk for Life is organized annually by the CBCP Episcopal Commission on the Laity and the Council of the Laity Philippines.
This year, similar Walks for Life were held in Cebu, Tarlac, Lingayen-Dagupan, Leyte and Cagayan de Oro. Ma. Alena O. Castillo
