Lito Atienza to priests: Devote 3 minutes of homilies to RH bill

Former Manila Mayor Jose Atienza Jr., former chairman of Pro-Life Philippines, urged priests to devote at least three minutes of their homilies in explaining the Catholic Church's stand against the controversial reproductive health (RH) bill. “I agree that priests should practice their responsibility to guide their flock in their parishes on the basic issues on moral and spiritual issues," Atienza said in an article posted on the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) news site. Another lay anti-RH bill advocate, election lawyer Romulo Macalintal, said priests should preach about the Catholic Church’s stand against the bill. “I am appealing to our priests to always include in their homilies the issue on the RH bill," he said. “Without the support of our priests, the lawmakers will not feel our strong opposition to the RH bill," he said. He noted some priests are reportedly not comfortable discussing the controversial issue with their flock. Macalintal said priests can also get lay leaders and experts to talk about the bill. “I think the fight against the RH bill will be stronger if priests will discuss it in their homilies so that people would understand," he said. – VVP, GMA News