The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) has canceled plans to hold a vigil outside the House of Representatives in Manila where debates on the reproductive health bill will be held this week.

Father Melvin Castro, executive secretary of the CBCP’s Episcopal Commission on Family and Life, said Filipinos should instead pray in front of the Blessed Sacrament for divine intervention to kill the controversial bill.

“Parishes will continue praying. We have also requested monasteries to pray for this because this is going to be a tedious battle,” said Father Castro.

Yesterday, around 1,000 pro-birth control campaigners held a protest action outside the CBCP headquarters in Manila to call on the Church to reconsider its position on the proposed bill.

The protesters, belonging to the Partido ng Manggagawa (Labor Party) and Reproductive Health Advocacy Network, lit 11 candles representing the number of women they claim are dying each day from complications that could have been prevented if such a law existed.

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