Thousands expected to join Church-led protest vs divorce in Baguio

Thousands of the Catholics in the Diocese of Baguio are expected to join a march against what pro-lifers call “death” bills pending or being mulled in Congress.

Chief among these, they said, is House BILL 7303, or ‘An Act Instituting Absolute Divorce and Dissolution of Marriage in he Philippines’.

Organizers said the march is scheduled on April 28, Saturday from 8:00 to 9:40 a.m. and traversing through a number of city streets.
 
The diocese’s Commission on Family and Life lead couple lawyer Ramon and Vicky Bayan said that D.E.A.T.H bills stand for divorce, euthanasia, total population control and homosexual marriage, “which are anti-life concepts already being implemented in other countries.

Any anti-life legislation will automatically be countered by the Church, said Fr. Manny Flores, head of the Commission on Social Action of the Diocese of Baguio.

Baguio Bishop Victor Bendico called for the protest action as the House of Representatives recently passed on third and final reading HB7303.
 
The march, dubbed Walk For Life, will start at four strategic parishes of the diocese at exactly 8 am. These parishes are: the Cathedral of Out Lady of Atonement (Baguio Cathedral), which will pass through Session Road and then up Assumption Road; from Don Bosco Church to Bonifacio Street up General Luna; from St. Joseph Church through Leonard Wood Road to General Luna (south end) and; St. Vincent Church through Naguilian Road and Magsaysay Avenue and then up General Luna.
 
All the contingents will converge at the University of Baguio (Cardinals) gym where a Mass will be celebrated at 10 am. Bishop Bendico is expected to lead the liturgical celebration.
 
“Let us stand for life as an expression of opposition to legislation that is anti-family and anti-life. This is because we love life, we love our country, we love the gift of life,” the Bayans said.
 
Organizers added that everyone is invited to join the protest action and are advised to join the contingent closest to their point of origin.