Pinay former contraceptives advocate speaks at US forum

A Filipina who was an avid promoter of contraceptives for 28 years was one of the speakers at a recent pro-life summit in Chicago in the United States last month, the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) said. According to an article on the CBCP news site, Dr. Ligaya Acosta, Human Life International Asia regional coordinator, said her transformation from being a promoter of contraceptives to being an anti-Reproductive Health (RH) bill advocate did not happen overnight. Before some 700 people at the pro-life summit, Acosta spoke about the RH bill pending in the Philippine Congress and how it goes against basic Catholic teachings. The Catholic Church is opposing the RH bill which promotes both artificial and natural methods of family planning. The Church accepts only natural family planning means. The July 16 summit was organized by Couples for Christ-Foundation for Family and Life. The summit officially started after the Mass presided over by the Most Rev. Francis Kane, Auxiliary Bishop of Chicago. Reaching out with compassion Meanwhile, another speaker during the summit, Fr. Frank Pavone, National Director of Priests for Life, spoke of the importance of reaching out to boldly "but with compassion" to people who are against the pro-life movement. “They are not our enemy. They are temporarily captive to the enemy and our goal is to set them free in Jesus Christ," he said, according to the CBCP. “Pro-life" is not a political or activist movement, Pavone said, is a "foundational aspect of our spirituality." Pavone explained that Catholics should see contraceptives advocates as fellow strugglers in the daily quest to choose right from wrong, the CBCP report said. Pavone also called for the "great need for humility" and "conforming our will to the One who gave us free will," the CBCP added. The other speakers during the summit included Susan B. Anthony List’s Marjorie Dannenfelser; and Joe Scheidler of Pro-Life Action League, the CBCP said. - VVP, GMA News