Support for RH bill

According to this article, there is an increasing support for the Reproductive Health bill in Cebu.

I find it strange that a predominantly Roman Catholic area would choose to go against the Church teachings.

Aren't devout Catholics supposed to follow the Church?

Are they saying that they know more than the Church, who is tasked to continue Jesus' legacy and is supposed to be the expert on morals?

I know that there are people who detest atheists. Atheists cum skeptics (myself included) have simply chosen not to believe in God. But by choosing not to believe in Church teachings, aren't these Roman Catholics also atheistic?

Comments

[Paks]

I don't agree. I myself am a Catholic, but I also support the RH bill. Atheism is a belief that there is no God. I'm very sure the Catholics in Cebu still believe in Jesus and in God, they are still Christians. There are Christian sects/groups that allow contraceptives under certain conditions, such as the Anglicans. Catholics who are pro-RH would most likely have the same manner of thinking as the Anglicans regarding this matter. And still, one thing common to both groups is that, undeniably, they still have faith in God and in his son Jesus.

[lam-ang]

Going against the church isn't necessarily contradicting (or denying) God. Not believing the church does not equal to not believing God. The church is not God. It's the same as saying that your fans' club is not you.

Buwayahman: Please note that I am referring to Catholics. In the Roman Catholic bible, Jesus gives the Church the supreme authority to dictate the laws of heaven on earth. "Whatver you bind in earth is bound in heaven" was told to Peter. So if you believe in God, you believe in Jesus and thus must abide by what he says.

Using your fan club analogy, this is tantamount to asking your fans to cheer for you. If they don't, then they shouldn't consider themselves a member of your fan club.

[lam-ang]

It is indeed written in the bible that divine and infallible authority was given to the church and its leaders. But numerous church leaders have erred and still might err, some directly contradicting Christ's teachings. In these cases who would you follow, the pope with the Christ-given authority or Christ Himself? Some Petrine texts might not even be statements of authority but statements of responsibility. Well, understanding the scriptures and God's will, e.g. papal infallibility, complexly involves morality, ethics, faith and social responsibility not just some bible passages and deductive reasoning. Or else, we just end up caught in a never-ending debate like one between Dating Daan and INC.

So amidst all confusions and schisms, the Roman Catholic church came up with the 2nd Vatican ecumenical council, saying "enough BS, let's just do good things.. that's what God really wants anyway..". It does not anymore condemn or excommunicate non-followers, it does not even impose strict adherence to the scriptures. Roman Catholicism now emphasizes on its members (even non-members) to live a life of holiness and just be "good"; even regardless of Roman Catholic dogmas and traditions. And this respect for free-will is one of the things I admire most in the modern Roman Catholic church.

[watcher]

the people are making a voice so that the bill wouldn't be a law because it would kill a lot of innocent lives especially babies.

for the side of the church that opposes the making of the bill
in the bible it said in the 10 Commandments that thou shall not kill. to KILL is a MORTAL SIN.

for the side of the politics that opposes the making of the bill
Article 3.
* Everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of person.

for me this bill WOULDN'T EXIST if the PEOPLE in our country THINKS TWICE before they DO SOMETHING, we ALWAYS have a CHOICE, it only depends on us if we WANT to CHOOSE the right thing.