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Knights of Columbus protest contraceptives

Updated: March 23, 2010 04:57 AM GMT
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Protesters in the anti-contraceptive protest march
Protesters in the anti-contraceptive protest march
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MANILA (UCAN) -- Thousands in major Philippine cities joined the Knights of Columbus (KC) to protest the promotion of contraceptives in a special “Walks for Life” program. The largest Catholic organization of men in the country rallied in Manila, Baguio, Bayombong, Tuguegerao, Tarlac, Cebu, Iloilo, Davao and San Fernando, Pampanga province, last Saturday. In Manila, the rally began with a 6 a.m. Mass at San Augustin Church in the Intramuros, downtown Manila, presided by Bishop Honesto Ongtioco of Cubao. Monsignor Pedro Quitorio III, Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines media director, in his rally speech, questioned Department of Health (DOH) figures on people infected with HIV, the virus that causes AIDS. “Where are they? Where are these thousands [of victims] that the DOH cited?,” the priest asked, claiming that the Department of Health’s “hyped-up figures” were intended to “panic” people. “They are telling us that there are already thousands of victims of this HIV virus here in the Philippines. The next thing is they [people] will buy condoms so as to stop its spread and I’m sure it [money] will be in millions of dollars,” Monsignor Quitorio said. He called for vigilance. “If we don’t study and talk, we’ll lose in this fight” against companies and organizations making a business out of contraceptives, he added.

‘No such thing as safe sex’

Since the health department started recording cases of HIV infection in 1984, the numbers have reportedly risen to 4,424 with 832 cases of full-blown AIDS. Up to 318 people are said to have died of AIDS. National Epidemiology Center records show a 232 percent increase in new HIV cases in December 2009 from the previous year. During the recent rally, some of the 3,000 KC members, priests, Religious, lay Church workers and students carried banners and placards while walking from the church to Rajah Sulayman Park in Malate two kilometers away. Participants also distributed flyers to motorists and pedestrians about responsible love. Alonzo Tan, KC Luzon Deputy, who organized the activity said the “walk” was a protest against the health department’s aggressive campaign on the use of condoms and contraceptives. “We believe that there’s no such thing as safe sex,” and “widespread and indiscriminate promotion of condoms is an immoral and misguided weapon in our battle against AIDS,” Tan said. The Knights of Columbus is a Catholic organization of men with over 1.7 million members worldwide and 250,000 in three territorial divisions in the Philippines. PR09193/1594 March 23, 2010 44 EM-lines (405 words) Catholic forum creates Church HIV network Bishops snub workers’ party condom march
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UCA News Catholic Dioceses in Asia
UCA News Catholic Dioceses in Asia
UCA News Catholic Dioceses in Asia