The inviolability of the person which is a reflection of the absolute inviolability of God, finds its primary and fundamental expression in the inviolability of human life. …the common outcry, which is justly made on behalf of human rights-for example, the right to health, to home, to work, to family, to culture- is false and illusory if the right to life, the most basic and fundamental right and the condition for all other personal rights, is not defended with maximum determination. (St. John Paul II, On the Vocation and Mission of the Lay Faithful [Christifideles Laici. . .], no. 38)
On February 16, 2019 the Christian faithful will hold another Walk for Life- in an act of solidarity- to uphold the dignity of life. We stand by the universal truth that human life is the apex of God’s creation thus the need to uphold, protect and defend it at all cost. We must discern and expose deceptive ideologies and actions that seek to destroy life. The right to life and human rights are universal. It is for all and should be defended especially for the most vulnerable in our society such as the poor, the children and the sick.
Recent local and global developments have prompted this urgent call to action. We strongly condemn any and all policies, programs and actions that destroy and minimize the value of human life:
• The unabated loss of human lives in the anti-drug war
• The senseless acts of bombing and terrorism done in Jolo and Zamboanga
• The proposed lowering of the Minimum Age of Criminal Responsibility
• The loss of work opportunities for Filipinos due to the influx of millions of Chinese laborers
• The persecution of people all over the world in the name of religion and religious rights;
• The proliferation of substance abuse that lead to addiction;
• The proposed re-imposition of the Death Penalty that should not have a place in a democratic society;
• Abortion in all its forms, including the use of artificial contraceptives that have abortifacient effects;
• The systematic pillage of our natural resources through mining and development projects that destroy our oceans, rivers, land, forests and other sources of life;
• The imposition of taxes in the name of development but at the expense of the poorest of the poor;
• The use of our people for experimentation of treatments (like dengvaxia) that have not passed thorough studies of their adverse effects;
• The poor implementation of genuine land reform;
• The abuse of labor through contractualization, and inhuman working conditions and wages;
• The weak policies against trafficking of persons; and
• The meager provision for shelter for the homeless and the urban poor.
We cannot accept being governed by laws and policies that deceive and were crafted based on manipulated facts. We cannot agree with the premise that solutions to our social problems require that some of us should die.
This walk is for the life of every person who has been a victim of this culture of death. As Christians we stand together because we have the responsibility to care for our fellow human beings and to ensure that common good and justice must prevail.
We walk not only to condemn the wrong that is being done; but also to pray that the hearts of those who pursue such wrongs may be touched and softened by our collective action.
We walk to uphold truth and righteousness and to proclaim that upholding the primacy of human life is a choice we must all make.
With these, the CBCP Episcopal Commission on the Laity through its lay arm, the Sangguniang Laiko ng Pilipinas wants to have a yearly “grand procession” a “Walk for Life” to institutionalize the expression of our choice.
We encourage everyone to join the simultaneous nationwide Walk for Life at 4:00 in the morning to 8:00 A.M. on February 16, at the following Venues:
MANILA – Venue: Liwasang Aurora, Quezon Memorial Circle, Quezon City
CEBU – Venue: From Fuente Osmeña Circle to Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral, Cebu City
PALO – Venue: Three (3) Sites:
Eastern side: Palo Metropolitan Cathedral
Western side: Ormoc City and Palompon Leyte
MINDANAO – Venue: Provincial Capitol Grounds, Cagayan de Oro City
NORTH LUZON – Venue:
Tarlac City Plazuela
St. John the Evangelist Cathedral, Dagupan City
Bring your own placards with slogans, white and yellow flaglets & ribbons, tarpaulin banners, if you must. Bring the whole family and walk for the protection of life and the next generation.
+ MOST REV. BRODERICK S. PABILLO, D.D. MA. JULIETA F. WASAN, PhD Chairman, CBCP Episcopal Commission on the Laity LAIKO President
