A reading from the book of Leviticus

So says Garcia

As taken from the May 24 transcript of the interpellation of Deputy House Speaker and Cebu Representative Pablo Garcia during the plenary debates on the Reproductive Health bill.

Every one of us is a servant of God. Whatever we do is in the service of God. Every minute, every minute of our life. God is everywhere. God is not situationary.

Are you accusing CBCP (Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines) of religious intolerance? You’re not only accusing CBCP of religious intolerance, you’re also accusing them of living in the dark ages. For as long as we live in the Philippines, for as long as we profess as Catholics, then we must abide by and follow the precepts of the Catholic Church, as declared by our Catholic authorities or bishops, our cardinals.

It would seem you are allergic to God. It has been a practice to start our sessions with a prayer, do you mean there is no place for God in our sessions? The distinguished sponsor should not begrudge me for asking questions like this.

This bill offends God. You’re saying contraceptive is popular? Let me tell you that the matter of right and wrong is not a popularity contest. You are trying to right a wrong by citing other countries, just because it’s right there does not mean it’s right here. May I remind you that we are not living, nor moving to Ireland.

Don’t interrupt me because you are trapped in your own words. If you are a Catholic, then you are a Catholic congressman.

This measure is detrimental not only to the moral values of the Philippines.

This is US imperialism in disguise. We will spend millions to buy these American products. These cause-oriented groups are being used in order to promote the advocacy.

The evil of RH bill is that it leads mostly Catholic women to temptation because the government will help them and supply them contraceptives.

The poor do not need contraceptives. They need food, clothing, shelter. They don’t need condoms. They need education.

The gospel of the condoms should not apply to those who profess a Catholic religion. My question is, do you believe in the words of God?

So says Bagatsing

As taken from the May 24 transcript of the interpellation of Manila Fifth District Rep. Amado Bagatsing during the plenary debates on the Reproductive Health bill.

The RH bill is a direct attack on the teachings of the Church.

There is no compelling reason for a new law specifically just to give funds to contraceptives. They are already available. Population is not the problem, but programs that can generate money.

Sexuality education of children can be handled by parents. Parents could take seminars.

The use of contraceptives is abortion. It prevents pregnancy. It stops the egg from meeting the ovum. We’re only playing with semantics. You prevent them from meeting. When you prevent, in English, the word is abort. When you stop something from fulfilling its obligation, it is as if you are stopping life. It is as if you are aborting life.

Is that so hard to understand? Abortion is hidden somewhere in the RH bill and may be legalized. Contraceptives have ill-effects on women.

I cannot be wiser than the Creator. The Lord said, “Go forth and multiply.”

So says Golez

As taken from a 2010 personal interview with Parañaque Rep. Roilo Golez and from the plenary debates on the RH bill.

I have a very systematic presentation on why I am against the Reproductive Health bill. The most major element here is the definition of conception.

What is conception? Ah, I consulted the Internet ah, one of the major medical websites in the Internet, medicinenet. com, it defines conception, the number one definition of conception is as follows: the union of the sperm and the ovum, which is synonymous with fertilization. That is the medical definition of ah, of conception and that is how I define a conception also in my bill.

The medical definition, the prevailing medical definition as far as this presentation is concerned as provided by medical dictionaries available in the website, is the moment of conception, is the moment of fertilization.

If you look at the Reproductive Health bill, by definition reproductive means reproduction, but the bill in fact prevents reproduction. It’s an apparent misnomer.

It’s in fact an oxymoron. It’s the opposite.

We have here the definition of conception as defined by the most accepted encyclopedia right now in the world, Wikipedia.

There should be no confusion about what is a conception as medically defined. If you search the word “conception” in Google, this is the first item that comes out. Here is the sperm, and here’s the egg. This will be my documentary presentation.

It’s a question of religious conviction. There’s no conflict. If you look at the concept of the separation of Church and State, it is basically that the state should not interfere in church matters and not the other way around. It is not the church interfering in a state matter but the state should not interfere in church matters, that is the more fundamental definition of ah, separation of Church and State.

For example, if the church would like to have Masses on a Sunday, the state cannot interfere. That is a matter of a religious conviction.

The moment you become a member of a church, you have to comply with the guidelines from the church and in the case of the Catholic Church, the principal interpreter of a Catholic doctrine would be the bishops.

I comply with the doctrine of the church.

As taken from the book of Leviticus, Chapter 24, verse 19-20, 21-23

And if a man cause a blemish in his neighbour; as he hath done, so shall it be done to him; Breach for breach, eye for eye, tooth for tooth: as he hath caused a blemish in a man, so shall it be done to him again.

Ye shall have one manner of law, as well for the stranger, as for one of your own country: for I am the LORD your God.

And Moses spake to the children of Israel, that they should bring forth him that had cursed out of the camp, and stone him with stones. And the children of Israel did as the Lord commanded Moses.