Reports banning communion to RH supporters angers women’s group

Press Release
By DSWP
February 18, 2011

A group of women advocates working with the grassroots communities is angered over reports that a certain parish has initiated banning communion to Reproductive Health (RH) supporters.

The Democratic Socialist Women of the Philippines (DSWP), a group of more than 300 organizations nationwide, cried foul over this initiative and called on Catholic RH supporters to act on the call.

Elizabeth Angsioco, DSWP National Chairperson expressed grave concern that the anti-RH Roman Catholic hierarchy is again using people’s faith to hostage the RH bills.  “Using the pulpit and the sacrament of communion to block the passage of the RH bill in Congress is an act of desperation,” Angsioco said.

The Catholic hierarchy says that it is unfazed by the passage of the RH bill in the House Committee on Appropriations and that they have the numbers to block it in the plenary, yet it resorts to desperate measures laments Angsioco.

“This is totally unfair and detestable,” said Angsioco.  “Many of our members are practicing Catholics who religiously hear mass every Sunday. These poor women do not see any inconsistency between their religion and active advocacy for the RH bill. Today, upon learning of this ban, one of our leaders said that she will no longer go to mass if she is not welcome there. She also said that she can always directly pray to God.”

“Moreover, people are now talking of ways to make the Catholic hierarchy feel their resentment. Some say they have walked out and will continue to walk out of masses where the RH bill is vilified; others call for total boycott of masses; there are those who engage their priests in discussions; and there are Catholics who vow to stop giving donations to the church,” added Angsioco.

“As a woman RH advocate, I urge other pro-RH catholics to act on this call of the Catholic church to NOT receive communion. This is religious bigotry plain and simple. This is coercion in the guise of religion  Do not let the Catholic hierarchy’s arrogance deter us from our work of making RH information and services available especially to those in poverty who need these the most,” she continued.