Jose Rizal is behind bars. Or at least someone who looks like him (give or take a few pounds). [The audacity to compare himself with the famed hero.]
This afternoon, Carlos Celdran was arrested for disrupting an Ecumenical Mass [Idiot! There is no such thing! It is a Mass for an ecumenical movement, that is a group of Christians, Catholic and not, who give away free Bibles for poor families.] in Manila Cathedral. During one of the readings, [It was during the Proclamation of the Gospel. Obviously, they do not know the parts of the Mass. Makes you think, if they are lapsed Catholic or not at all!] he went in front of the altar wearing a faux Spanish era costume — black pants, black suit, black hat.
He held up a sign that said “Damaso,” first for everyone to see then for those seated in the first row — a few Cardinals and Bishops, including Archbishop Cruz. Also in attendance was Mayor Lim. They didn’t get what he was trying to do, so he helped them out.
“Damaso!” he shouted.
Eyes opened, mouths gaped. “Stop interfering in politics,” Carlos shouted. “Stop meddling in government!” [I will deal with this in a while.]
They finally got it. [So he was asking, begging for attention...] Mayor Lim ordered the policemen in attendance to take him away (a warrant-less arrest). [You think? After what this mayor is going through? Warrant-less arrest? Did you not hear of such things? See what an idiot these people are.] He was to be taken to the Police Community Precinct in Intramuros, where he was held until he was transferred to Ermita Police Station 5 in UN Avenue, where we met him at around 7pm.
Carlos, who’d been under arrest for almost three hours, welcomed us with a smile. He was being held in the juvenile delinquent cell. [I think he had a great time in THAT cell!] Although five other prisoners were with him, he was impossible to miss – he was still in the Rizal outfit.
He told us the whole story, which brings us to now. There were reports [rumors, innuendos...] that Cardinal Rosales wants him in jail for embarrassing the whole Church. [Jailed for embarrasment? Come on. Cut the cardinal some slack! The guy caused public scandal and you want it bygones?] Rosales is thinking of filing a case against him. Carlos is willing to make a public apology, but he wants to emphasize that he is apologizing for the manner of his protest – not for its meaning. “The CBCP threatened civil disobedience. This is my version of it.” [He is indeed an idiot! This is NOT civil disobedience nor is this the kind of protest that would merit the sympathy of the bishops!]
Carlos started a protest that is long overdue. But he is not alone. Friends, family and fellow advocates of secularism [And BINGO was his name-o!] and Reproductive Health continue to arrive to show their solidarity. Tomorrow there will be bigger demonstrations near Malacañang and the CBCP headquarters. And as long as the Church continues to block RH progress and meddle in politics, there will be many more.
In the same way that Jose Rizal stood against the oppressive friars of his time, we must take a stand against the CBCP. I’m not suggesting we do civil disobedience of any sort. Let’s just keep the spirit of Rizal’s protests alive in whatever way we can. Costume not required. [Thank goodness for that!]
***
Now let's rant on this stupidity...
Atheists, secularists, whatever you call them...all want the Catholic Church in particular to stop meddling in politics:
What do they mean by this? The Church must not influence policy making? The Church must not tell the government what to do?
This is one of the rallying cries of those who are anti-Catholic, especially those of the Masons. Remember that this principle of separation of Church and State? Theprinciple espoused during the French Revolution and Masons, who are the founders of America? The ultimate goal is to take out religion from the public arena, the very same thing that the Holy Father, Benedict XVI, is fighting for in Europe.
Religion is part of who you are as a person. Religion WILL NEVER BE LEFT OUT OF POLITICS because as long as Catholics, Muslims and Buddhists, be they be cleric or lay, WILL ALWAYS BE PAYING TAXES AND VOTING, AND THAT GIVES THEM THE RIGHT TO EXPRESS THEMSELVES AGAINST GOVERNMENT ACTIONS AND POLICIES THAT GO AGAINST THEIR CONSCIENCES AND THEIR RELIGIOUS CONVICTIONS
What is so disdainful about this perverted activist is that he makes a living as a tour guide around old Manila which includes, you're right, Catholic sites and heritage!
Celdran thinks his cause is just because a "lot of Filipinos believe that we should have artificial birth control."
So, if majority of Filipinos would want to execute gays, transvestites, illiterates, street rats...
AND THEY CALL THEMSELVES FREETHINKERS!!!
If you and your lot are so against the Catholic Church "meddling" in politics,then...
...what will your reaction be against the Muslim Imams of the Philippines who are ALSO against the RH Bill?
Will you have the same testicular fortitude to stand up in the middle of a mosque and protest the opposition of Muslims towards the RH Bill?
I guess not.
...what do you have to say to the Iglesia ni Cristo Administration's forcing its members who and what group to vote for EVERY ELECTION? They call it endorsement...They call it a show of unity...It's the same banana. Its grave coersion. Members who do not heed the Administration's call are expelled...aka their form of excommunication.
To my fellow Pinoy Catholics, the attacks on the Church are not verbal anymore.
There are a new breed of Filipinos who would want our country to head down the road of perdition just as Europe and America are in now.
DO NO LET THIS HAPPEN.
THIS IS THE MOMENT TO BE PROUD AS CATHOLIC!
May I know if they excommunicated the priests who were proven to be pedophiles, rapists and even had wives and children?
ReplyDeleteClick here to know what excommunication means.
ReplyDeleteSome of the priests you mentioned were sent to jail and kicked out of the priesthood. If you want to know more about excommunication, click this link:
http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/05678a.htm
By the way, try asking Baptists, Mormons and Muslims the same question. They have the same case of sexual abuse. Try googling it.
Don't ever think that it is isolated with the Church.
i'm sorry... but throwing him behind bars instead of showing him courtesy and charity despite his "abrasive" action is not something to be proud of.
ReplyDeleteI see. So I guess it doesn't matter if I'm Catholic, Baptist, Mormon or Muslim. Each religion has it's own screw ups anyway. No religion is perfect, right?
ReplyDeleteSo, why should I continue to be Catholic?
So following your line of reasoning Charo...
ReplyDeleteYou were born to a family or have a family...
Is your family perfect?
If not, then why be born or belong to one?
If impeccability of members is what you are looking for in ANY institution, then I guess you can have an IMPERFECT island of your own.
For one thing, I cannot choose to be born into a family. But I can choose to belong to one.
ReplyDeleteIn both cases, I can still choose to leave the family if I feel that it is broken for me. But the family may not necessarily think that way. Hence like all families would normally do, they would strive to help me see why it is still worth staying in.
So, I respectfully repeat my question, if you are family. Why should I continue to be Catholic?
Because the fullness of salvation is found in the Catholic Church, the only Church that Jesus Christ Himself found.
ReplyDeleteIt has gone through victory and celebration, trials and scandals, the gravest of all is Christ's own apostle, condemned Him to His death.
It is the only existing institution in the world that has shaped modern society as it is today.
I invite you to watch this video.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vs6qZd_xP1w
Will give you a picture of WHAT THE CATHOLIC CHURCH REALLY IS AND WHY I REMAIN A FAITHFUL SON OF THE CHURCH, SINNER WORKING HARD TO BECOME A SAINT.
May I know if anyone in the Italian Government, where the Vatican is located, was excommunicated when abortion became legal in 1978? If none, why?
ReplyDeleteI am against abortion and the use of abortifacients. But I am for the use of contraceptives as a choice.
I can't believe the Church says contraception is abortion when the very root of the word, contra + conception says that contraceptives prevent contraception from happening. I also wonder why the Church threatens our duly-elected government with excommunication when the Vatican did not even excommunicate anyone in the Italian Government when abortion was legalized there?
Indeed. I will have to admit. I used to be a faithful Catholic when our parish had foreign priests. Because they were very nice and very considerate of the people under their care.
ReplyDeleteUsed to, until the local priests took over the parish and just simply made projects just so people can remember what kind of a good priest they were.
I do not think all priests are like that, mind you. I find the priests in the provinces I went to were very much like the foreigner priests I've encountered here in Metro Manila. Very much like the ones on the video you shared. But yes, so much damage has been caused by those errant priests even to this day that it is so hard to be convinced to stay. Until now, our parish church, which should already have enough money to be built properly, is still not started. Because the priests decided they needed to have their home built first next to the church. The seminary where they are staying in is only a 5-minute walk away from where the place of worship is located. It is for this reason that our family has refused to continue the funding. Where is the church promised that the poor people around our barangay has been waiting for? Where these same people can attend mass without worry of getting wet in the rain because there's no more space in an area that's more chapel than church?
I have to rant, because this is my current experience. Not like what I see in the video you shared. Not like 25 years ago when we helped build another church while expatriate priests led the parish. I am disillusioned because of other people's actions.
What would you suggest should be done?
First of all, Celdran is not gay. He is happily married to his wife named Tesa. (And IF he is, it does not lessen the significance of his actions. Are are you a homophobe too, Mr. Pinoy Catholic?) Nor is he against Catholicism, he is against the meddling of the CBCP with political and social matters that should not be concerned with.
ReplyDelete"The Church can always protest; that is the right of the Church. But the people have already spoken that they are in favor of the RH bill. Let the Church take care of saving our souls but let the State pursue unhampered a policy of saving lives." (Edcel Lagman, 2010)
The church has been threatening the state with civil disobedience and excommunication, and as a democratic country, the people are answering back. It's about time.
And please, do not refer to Celdran's actions as "perverted." The sense of propriety that people associate with a church is based on a centuries-old irrational superstition. The church is an institution, just like a city hall or a school, and Celdran is only right to protest his advocacy in a place where the people will finally listen. You obviously have a very lopsided sense of what "perverted" means. Carlos Celdran is in jail for "offending religious feelings." So, what is the CBCP doing about bishops and priests offending the dignities of women and children? You say SOME are jailed. Who? When? All we have are these statistics: http://www.likhaan.net/content/overview-reported-cases-philippine-clergy-sexual-abuse-children-and-young-people. Is this not the perversion that should be brought to justice?
Religious leaders and you religious followers do the same: divert the issue to the insignificant side stories. In fact, you are even doing worse: you are flinging blame unto other religious sects that are not involved in this issue.
"Because the fullness of salvation is found in the Catholic Church, the only Church that Jesus Christ Himself found."
ReplyDeleteThere are many ways of serving, but only one god is being served. I am an atheist, but I respect everyone's right to choose their religion, if any. It is shamefully immature for you to refer yours as the supreme religion.
Mr. Ivan Henares has a point. Besides, (as stated in an article in Filipino Freethinkers) what is the difference between ejaculating sperm in latex and ejaculating it in a uterus in its monthly off period? The intent of artificial and natural contraception is the same.
ReplyDelete@Dawani, I think a friend who knows Mr. Celdran told me so. But to be fair...I corrected it.
ReplyDelete"...shamefully immature to refer yours as the supreme religion."
Have you been to Mindanao? I lived there for more than 10 years. Tell that to the Muslims.
This is my religion's view as well as the INC, the Muslims and others. The difference lies in how we treat others based on this view.
Dear Charo,
ReplyDeleteI am in the same situation as you do.
Believe it or not.
But I do not let it get the best of me.
Why?
Because Jesus Christ persists in the Catholic Church. I am a Catholic because of Him and not of the priests who make a living with endless renovations.
I know a lot of ugly facts about priests and bishops but I remain faithfully Catholic because the priests and bishops are like us...part of the Church. We all need salvation, lay or cleric alike.
I will be very happy to support and help you get back home to the Catholic Church.
For those making a martyr out of Celdran, he is charged with violation of Section 4 of the Revised Penal Code:
ReplyDeleteSection Four. — Crimes against religious worship
Art. 132. Interruption of religious worship. — The penalty of prision correccional in its minimum period shall be imposed upon any public officer or employee who shall prevent or disturb the ceremonies or manifestations of any religion.
If the crime shall have been committed with violence or threats, the penalty shall be prision correccional in its medium and maximum periods.
Art. 133. Offending the religious feelings. — The penalty of arresto mayor in its maximum period to prision correccional in its minimum period shall be imposed upon anyone who, in a place devoted to religious worship or during the celebration of any religious ceremony shall perform acts notoriously offensive to the feelings of the faithful.
"Have you been to Mindanao? I lived there for more than 10 years. Tell that to the Muslims."
ReplyDeleteI have been to Saudi Arabia. I lived and studied there since high school. I know Muslims. And I know Muslims who respect other people's religions, and also acknowledge my view of "there are many ways of serving, but only one god is being served." They are very educated and compassionate people.
"This is my religion's view as well as the INC, the Muslims and others. The difference lies in how we treat others based on this view."
I beg to disagree. There are people from all walks of life, from all different religions in the world, who are open-minded enough to realize theirs is just another way of serving. These are people who take teachings of unity and humility by heart, thus living it in practice.
Celdran is not a martyr. He is an activist, and I believe in his cause. He has publicly apologized for his method, but remains unapologetic for his message.
ReplyDeleteHonestly I Have Pragmatic View on RH Bill,but this guy needs to STOP MAKING DRAMATIC PROTESTS!(It won't make me support the bill fully or vice versa The "excommunication threat" was just a possibility)
ReplyDeleteIf Only this Guy sticks to his tours,then the church will pull out of politics!
I repeat my question: May I know if anyone in the Italian Government, where the Vatican is located, was excommunicated when abortion became legal in 1978? If none, why?
ReplyDeleteMuslims of Saudi Arabia...respecting other people's religion...
ReplyDeleteNow that is the joke of the century!
Even if Celdran sticks to his tours, the Church will never pull out of politics
ReplyDeleteRemember that the RPC is a remnant of our postcolonial history, when friars abused their powers and instilled in the Filipino that he was less than them.
ReplyDeleteAnd also remember that Art. 133's "notoriously offensive" qualification of the crime is a point of uncertainty in the Supreme Court. Who will say which acts are notoriously offensive? Relativism at its finest.
STD (HIV) cases, abortions, premarital sex, annulments, broken families-- they are proof that either 1) there's something wrong with the people, or 2) there's something wrong with the Church. Again, relativism at its finest.
Lastly, most, if not all our heroes have been imprisoned and/or killed for committing "crimes." What is a hero if not a rebel of the status quo?
i think the unequivocal message of Celdran is clear. the Church has to uphold the Constitutional mandate of separation of church and state. you may definitely participate in policy debates and fora- representing yourselves. i think, in retrospect- we should be able to strike a delicate balance of religious tolerance with respect to public policy- after all, our republic was borne out of revolt from the Sword and the Crucifix.
ReplyDeleteOh, of course, Mr. Pinoy Catholic. I close-minded religious individual such as you will NOT understand.
ReplyDeleteI wonder how miseducated one has to be to include and generalize other people of diverse backgrounds in one's simple-minded theories, just as you have.
ReplyDeleteBlasphemy -- the only victimless crime!
ReplyDeleteAll other arguments aside, the man broke the law. No more, no less! Even in other countries, it is illegal to disrupt a "religious ceremony" even to inhibit the people from celebrating one especially in their designated places of worship!
ReplyDeleteThe funny thing that I've noticed is that some, even outside the country would fight for the LAW but only when the law is to be used according to what they intend it to be. When they use that said law against the church, it's all and good, but when the church, PROTECTED in the same extent, uses the same law for its own protection, proponents would raise an upheaval and even say it contradicts the Christian message! HILARIOUS! The separation of Church and State is a must and rightly so! BUT, there comes great responsibility! The moral issue which pertains to society is not always the central issue that the state advances, but what the majority issue is, may it be good or bad!
The Church, in her mission is to stand firm and guide the spiritual and moral essence of the social sphere. Without Her, chaos at whim will rule at the behest of appropriating the standards of those who find fault and nuisance at every corner of society!
It also strikes me that people who claim to have no prejudice against any kind of religion would always use the abuse cases against the church. YES, the CHURCH IS facing this terrible SIN but She will face it! On the other hand, She is not the only one at fault with the same sin! All walks of society and religion has it too may it be the Jewish, Islamic, or other Christian Communions. Why have a double standard? If your reasoning is fair in any bit, the government itself is facing its own ills, should we also abolish its right? The Military too! I guess what some people are just looking for is not only a scapegoat but also a pincushion where they could all blame their ills!
The church in the Philippines has always been there for her people, but when she needs the people she herself protected, they turn a blind eye! Ironic isn't it! Aren't we Pilates in our own little ways!
Abortion is MURDER, CONTRACEPTION is an accessory to it. If you allow contraception, it's another bar lowered just to satisfy the urgings of the majority who in their own little worlds would think that it could solve the population problem. IT WILL NOT! If contraception became the norm, it would only give you the EXCUSE to live in the way you want to! SEX is not a sin but the use of it other than for PROCREATION is!
@ Charo: The Church is and always will be but, the people around her are not always the best kind of people and will never be but rest assured that She has Her loyal and faithful ones. As you and Mr. Pinoy Catholic stated, you have seen good and faithful clergy around you, comfort yourselves that you can pray for them that they may remain the same and to also pray for the conversion of the clergy that are leaving you uneasy. Remember that you are not alone in your struggles. A lot are in the same spot as you, but if you waver and doubt Her, She can never turn her back on you. I will pray for you that you remain strong in the faith.
Governance without Christ at it's center is not governance at all! - Jaime Cardinal Sin
Charo posted:
ReplyDeleteMay I know if they excommunicated the priests who were proven to be pedophiles, rapists and even had wives and children?
As explained, depending on the crime, these priests would be defrocked and reported to the authorities. If unrepentent they would be defrocked. Statisticaly, with over 400K priests in the world you will always find criminals. However, the percentage of criminal priests is far lower than in other professions. But that it is not what it is about is it? That a tiny minority of priests have lived unvirtuously is a non-sequiter to Celdran's criminal actions and a non-sequitor to the argument for the wrongness of artificial contraception. You are just using it as a stick to attack and divert attention from the original topic.
Sakurainthesky says:
i'm sorry... but throwing him behind bars instead of showing him courtesy and charity despite his "abrasive" action is not something to be proud of.
He blatantly broke the law and his actions were disgraceful. If someone were to pull a stunt like this in lets say a federal court, would you feel the same way after he was arrested?
Dawani says:
The church has been threatening the state with civil disobedience and excommunication, and as a democratic country, the people are answering back. It's about time.
The people. Is "Celdran" the people to you? Aquino is a Roman Catholic. When he acts publicy in ways contrary to his professed faith then the bishops have every right to rebuke him. If not than when the rest of the population sees that a high profile politician can defy the church without consequence and remain in good standing, then the church appears meaningless and weak. People will think that if he can disobey publicly, then we can neglect church teaching on all sorts of manners. Belonging to a religion requires adherence to its articles of beliefs.
ivanhenares said...
May I know if anyone in the Italian Government, where the Vatican is located, was excommunicated when abortion became legal in 1978? If none, why?
Weakness and worldliness on the part of the bishops. Politicians should have been excommunicated as a result of this. The church is now paying the price for this inaction in Italy at this time.
Ivanhenares said...
ReplyDeleteI am against abortion and the use of abortifacients. But I am for the use of contraceptives as a choice.
I would recommend reading Humanae Vitae and as well the various arguments for it by Janet Smith. After 31 years the results are in, the worldview of sex anytime, anywhere, and with everyone has shown its bad fruits. For many western people, sex is not viewed as a beautiful procreative act between a male and female lifelong union. It is looked as no more then a recreatonal act. Unheard of STDs, divorce, pornogogrphy, and abortion are just some of the terrible fruits of this. Don't that with the contraceptive mentality, abortion is just backup contraception.
Dawani says:
There are many ways of serving, but only one god is being served. I am an atheist, but I respect everyone's right to choose their religion, if any. It is shamefully immature for you to refer yours as the supreme religion.
As there are many religions not all of them can be based on truth. I cannot speak for the Pinoy Catholic but through much study of philosophy and theology I believe that Catholic Christianity is the source of truth in completeness. Don't put yourself above religious believers. We all have worldviews. Secular humanist atheism is also a religious worldview.
Dawani says:
Besides, (as stated in an article in Filipino Freethinkers) what is the difference between ejaculating sperm in latex and ejaculating it in a uterus in its monthly off period? The intent of artificial and natural contraception is the same.
A big difference. Using condoms is part of the contraceptive mentality of sex anywhere any time without consequences (but let us not forget there are always consequences). Using natural family planning requires the man and woman to respect each other and follow the natural rhythyms of the women's bodies. It is still open to the miracle of life and it teaches the man and woman to restrain from sex at certain periods of time. Not ownly is it not sex anywhere and anytime but it is not sex with anyone. Could you imagine a guy just meeting a girl at a bar or party and asking her before they leave if this is her infertile period?
By the way. I do not want to appear harsh but these are the harsh facts. We are a mixed Pinoy Catholic living in Canada and the results of the failures of 40 plus years of the contraceptive mentality are visible for everyone to see. Pinoys who arrive here see it right away and are disgusted by what they see.
There is nothing new are innovative about Celdran's beliefs or actions. At least the radicals 40 years ago could not visualize the results of their actions. We all know them now and people such as Celdran should know better. Perhaps he does and is only acting as a paid lackey for the pharmaceutical industries or western secular atheist groups.
I do not agree with anyone disrupting religious services. However Celdran should have been thrown out of the Cathedral and that was it. Filing charges at him made him into an icon of Rizal and that is really preposterous. It gave mileage to Ryan Tani and company.
ReplyDeleteI am for secularism but this is of the humanist kind that the Holy Father Benedict XVI supports. This secularism grants religion its voice in the public sphere.
Bishop Odchimar should be censured for using the word "excommunication" quite irresponsibly given the political situation. The e word has to used very carefully especially on a head of state.
With "Damaso" The culture wars have come to our shores. The kind of Freethinking the Pinoy Freethinkers hold is a Western import and I have pointed that out many times. The Catholic Church has to engage with this in a proper manner displaying wit, logic, humor, compassion, understanding of people's situations while sticking to Apostolic teaching. I believe the Bishops are not ready with this. Bp Odchimar is a prime example They can learn from the Pope and the Bishops of England and Wales.
Also the Pro Lifers should present evidence (which means leveling up the debate beyond cliches and stereotypes) that the government is kowtowing to pharmaceutical industries who make more from drugs to treat respiratory ailments (due to our flagrant disregard for environmental laws) than from contraceptive pills. Again the Pro Lifers are not prepared!
The next salvo will be child sex scandals involving Pinoy Catholic priests. Sadly there are cases and some people have put them in their memoirs.
Are Pinoy Catholics ready for this?
But my warning to atheistic secularists. Take out freedom of religion then your freedom to Freethink will be next to be taken!
These people have freedom. If you disagree with what the Catholic Church teaches - that Outside the Church there is no salvation, opposition to the RH Bill, our interference with politics, etc. - then get out and leave. It is a great sin against God and human reason to persist in remaining a Catholic when you firmly defy the teaching of the Church. I consider these people HYPOCRITES. Get out of the Church if you don't believe in what she teaches. No one is forcing you to remain. But do NOT, do not force the Church to follow your heresies.
ReplyDeleteWill the REAL CHRISTIANS please stand up!
ReplyDeleteI woke up this morning and found this in the news, sadly those who claim to have the scriptures as their rule of faith just violated it. If man is left to choose alone without Christ's Church to guide him, this is what you get. I will pray harder for them that the merciful Lord will enlighten them.
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/nation/view/20101206-307267/Protestant-churches-back-RH-bill
Will the REAL CHRISTIANS please stand up! I woke up this morning and read this: http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/nation/view/20101206-307267/Protestant-churches-back-RH-bill
ReplyDeleteWhy do our Protestant brethren agreed to support the RH Bill when the scriptures are against any form of birth control? I took out my notes and this is what I found:
Gen 1:28, 9:1,7; 35:11 - from the beginning, the Lord commands us to be fruitful ("fertile") and multiply. A husband and wife fulfill God's plan for marriage in the bringing forth of new life, for God is life itself.
Gen. 28:3 - Isaac's prayer over Jacob shows that fertility and procreation are considered blessings from God.
Gen. 38:8-10 - Onan is killed by God for practicing contraception (in this case, withdrawal) and spilling his semen on the ground.
Lev.18:22-23;20:13 - wasting seed with non-generative sexual acts warrants death. Many Protestant churches, which have all strayed from the Catholic Church, reject this fundamental truth (few Protestants and Catholics realize that contraception was condemned by all of Christianity - and other religions - until the Anglican church permitted it in certain cases at the Lambeth conference in 1930. This opened the floodgates of error).
Lev. 21:17,20 - crushed testicles are called a defect and a blemish before God. God reveals that deliberate sterilization and any other methods which prevent conception are intrinsically evil.
Deut. 23:1 - whoever has crushed testicles or is castrated cannot enter the assembly. Contraception is objectively sinful and contrary, not only to God's Revelation, but the moral and natural law.
Deut. 25:11-12 - there is punishment for potential damage to the testicles, for such damage puts new life at risk. It, of course, follows that vasectomies, which are done with willful consent, are gravely contrary to the natural law.
1 Chron. 25:5 - God exalts His people by blessing them with many children. When married couples contracept, they are declaring "not your will God, but my will be done."
Psalm 127:3-5 - children are a gift of favor from God and blessed is a full quiver.
Hosea 9:11; Jer. 18:21 - God punishes Israel by preventing pregnancy. Contraception is a curse, and married couples who use contraception are putting themselves under the same curse.
More follows...
More below...
ReplyDeleteMal. 2:14 - marriage is not a contract (which is a mere exchange of property or services). It is a covenant, which means a supernatural exchange of persons. Just as God is three in one, so are a husband and wife, who become one flesh and bring forth new life, three in one.
Matt. 19:5-6 - Jesus said a husband and wife shall become one. They are no longer two, but one, just as God is three persons, yet one.
Matt. 19:6; Eph. 5:31 - contraception prevents God's ability to "join" together. Just as Christ's love for the Church is selfless and sacrificial, and a husband and wife reflect this union, so a husband and wife's love for each other must also be selfless and sacrificial.
Acts 5:1-11 - Ananias and Sapphira were slain because they withheld part of a gift. Fertility is a gift from God and cannot be withheld.
Rom.1:26-27 - sexual acts without the possibility of procreation is sinful. Self-giving love is life-giving love, or the love is a lie.
1 Cor. 7:5 - this verse supports the practice of natural family planning ("NFP"). Married couples should not refuse each other except perhaps by agreement for a season, naturally.
Eph. 5:25 - Paul instructs husbands to love their wives as Christ loved the Church, by giving his entire body to her and holding nothing back. With contraception, husbands tell their wives, I love you except your fertility, and you can have me except for my fertility. This love is a lie because it is self-centered, and not self-giving and life-giving.
Eph. 5:29-31; Phil. 3:2 - mutilating the flesh (e.g., surgery to prevent conception) is gravely sinful. Many Protestant churches reject this most basic moral truth.
Deut. 22:13-21 – these verses also show that God condemns pre-marital intercourse.
Rev. 9:21; 21:8; 22:15; Gal. 5:20 - these verses mention the word "sorcery." The Greek word is "pharmakeia" which includes abortifacient potions such as birth control pills. These pharmakeia are mortally sinful. Moreover, chemical contraception does not necessarily prevent conception, but may actually kill the child in the womb after conception has occurred (by preventing the baby from attaching to the uterine wall).
And Catholics do read scriptures and put it to action!
Christ founded a Church and is the Pillar and Ground of Truth!
Excellent quotes from the Bible, Pierre!
ReplyDeleteKeep it up!
Why compare the pedophile bishops and priests with Carlos Celdran?
ReplyDeleteThe bishops did their mistakes in "secret." Some can't even be proven, whereas Carlos Celdran's actions were made in front of a crowd attending a religious service.
Period.