CBCP to Aquino: Fight moral, spiritual corruption

The Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) on Saturday called on President Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino to continue the moral legacy of his mother the late President Corazon Aquino by combating moral and spiritual corruption in the society. "In spite of all the foreseeable opposition of politicians and powerful lobby groups, we pray that President Aquino's moral legacy could be finally and fully realized during the term of her son, President Benigno Simeon C. Aquino III," CBCP President Tandag Bishop Nereo Odchimar said in a pastoral letter. Odchimar said: "The fight against moral and spiritual corruption in our society is not only the duty of the Church. It is also the duty of the government." The CBCP brought to the attention of Aquino two issues that bring serious implications on the good of the faithful - the sex education program of the Department of Education and the reproductive health or House Bill 96. "We reiterate that the Church is not against sex education. But for reasons of morality and religious faith, we strongly object to the proposed sex education program. The program is devoid of any substantive moral and religious value formation," the letter said. "In the family, the lessons of love through human sexuality can be learned with respect and awe for the 'wonder of God's work.' Such setting and such manner of teaching will not be found in a classroom sex education program designed simply to inform and not form," the bishops said. Sex education, the CBCP said, has to impart a sense of the sacredness of the gift of human sexuality by integrating proper conscience formation, moral and spiritual guidance into the whole process. The CBCP also expressed strong opposition to HB 96 convinced that it is substantially the same with Reproductive Health Bill formerly known as HB 5043.