“Together with
our leaders in the Catholic Church, the Ateneo de Manila University does not
support the passage of House Bill 4244 (The Responsible Parenthood,
Reproductive Health and Population and Development Bill),” Villarin said in a
memo posted on the university website.
But even as he
stressed the university’s full backing of the Church’s position, Villarin also showed
his respect on the differing views of the professors supporting the bill.
“Though the
University must differ from their position for the reasons stated above, I
appreciate their social compassion and intellectual efforts, and urge them to
continue in their discernment of the common good,” the Jesuit priest said.
“As there is a
spectrum of views on this ethical and public policy issue, I ask all those who
are engaged in the Christian formation of our students to ensure that the
Catholic position on this matter continues to be taught in our classes, as we
have always done,” he added.
The categorical
support of some faculty members of the Jesuit-run university for the passage of
the reproductive health bill has displeased the Catholic hierarchy.
Archbishop Jose Palma, Catholic
Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) president, in an earlier
interview by CBCPNews, said a Catholic school maybe stripped of its affiliation
with the Church if it goes against its teachings particularly on life issues
“If we are a Catholic school, we
should not teach anything contrary to the official teaching of the church,”
Palma said.
“In some of the universities, we say
that if you want to teach that idea, do not do it in a Catholic school because
we are confusing the students… do it in other universities,” the CBCP president
said.
Tagbilaran Bishop Leonardo Medroso in a
radio interview also called for investigation, as canon law prohibits Catholic
schools to teach subjects that go against Church’s doctrines.
Only recently,
some 160 faculty members have reiterated their support for the passage of the reproductive
health bill.
The professors first released this
statement in 2008, and reiterated their stand recently as the House entered
into the period of amendments on the RH measure.
As Congress begins the period of
amendments, Villarin urged the academic community to support removal of
provisions that are “ambiguous or inimical from a legal, moral or religious perspective.”
“Should the
bill with whatever amendments be passed, we should neither hesitate to bring to
the judiciary whatever legal questions we may have nor cease to be vigilant in
ensuring that no coercion takes place in implementation,” he said.
