Church groups start 9-day ‘vigil for life’

With nine days to go before Congress resumes session, Catholic Church-allied groups started Sunday evening a nine-day “vigil for life" in a bid to oppose the Reproductive Health bill’s passage. The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines media office, Church-run Radyo Veritas, Sangguniang Laiko ng Pilipinas and youth groups are leading the novena. “The Vigil for Life is scheduled from 6 to 9 p.m. daily at the chapel of the Arzobispado in Intramuros, Manila," the CBCP said in an article posted on its website Sunday night. It said similar vigils will be held also in several dioceses, where participants will pray against the Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health bills. Catholic Church officials have vehemently opposed the RH bill for its provisions allowing artificial means of contraception. It allows only natural family planning methods. The CBCP noted the last day of the novena, May 9, coincides with the resumption of session at the Senate and the House of Representatives. - KBK, GMA News