Bishop backs bill accepting illegitimate children

MANILA, Philippines - A Catholic bishop on Monday expressed support to a bill aiming to legitimize children born out of wedlock, stressing the need for society to accept illegitimate children. Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines Episcopal Commission on Canon Law chairman Bishop Leonardo Medroso said it is high time discrimination is stopped. "Alam mo naman sa society natin... Sana ay wala na lang legitimate at illegitimate children (You know our society. I hope there will be no more dividing line between legitimate and illegitimate children)," Medroso said in an interview over Church-run Radyo Veritas Monday. Excerpts of the interview were posted Monday night on the CBCP website. A consolidated bill filed by Valenzuela Rep. Magtanggol Gunigundo seeks to amend Article 177 of the Family Code passed committee level at the House Committee on Revision Laws. Under the bill, children born out of wedlock will now be deemed legitimate despite the presence of "implements for either or both parents to enter into marriage." Medroso said the bill is necessary to give illegitimate children their right to avoid legal discrimination. "Sa ating civil law, kinakailangan talaga ang legitimization because of the civil effects sa marriage, ibig sabihin about sa properties, ang pangalan, edad at etc (Under our civil law, legitimization is needed because of civil considerations)," he said. He said even the Roman Catholic Church has already recognized this necessity of legitimizing every child. "Kasi sa pagkuha ng mga vocation sa priesthood, ang mga illegitimate ay hindi puwede noon, pero ngayon ay puwede na (Even in the priesthood, even illegitimate children who were not allowed to join now have a chance of being priests)," he said. - GMANews.TV