TACLOBAN CITY, Philippines—The Archdiocese of Palo hailed the decision of the Supreme Court to stop the implementation of the controversial Reproductive Health (RH) Law for 120 days.

“This is a victory for the truth. We thank God for inspiring the justices to vote against the RH Law,” said Father Amadeo Alvero, spokesperson of the archdiocese of Palo, in a text message.

“This has been our prayer that people may realize the evil of RH Law. It has been heard. And we are praying and hoping that it be soon declared as illegal,” Alvero said.

He said the archdiocese was “grateful” to the justices who voted against the implementation of the RH Law. “And we ask all the faith to continue to pray that the Supreme Court ruling on RH Law will be permanent.”

He said that the decision of the high court was an indication that there was “something wrong” with the law, often described by the Church as “ant-life.”

THE Archdiocese of Palo confirmed that it would not come up with a “hate list” as to whom the voters should not vote in the May 2013 elections, according to a church official.

However, media coordinator Father Amadeo Alvero said they would still support lay groups who would make their own list of candidates.

“There’s no plan of our Archdiocese of Palo to make a list of candidates, whom the faithful would vote or not. But the lay faithful or group of lay faithful are free to make their own list of candidates,” Alvero said.

The Archdiocese of Palo houses more than 1.2-million Catholic faithful.

Earlier, the diocese of Bacolod came up with its list of candidates who should not be voted and who should be elected.

The “hate list” stemmed from the support of the senatorial candidates on the approval of the controversial reproductive health (RH) bill, which the Church strongly opposed. President Benigno Aquino III signed the RH bill into law.

“In our Archdiocese, the faithful are asked to vote according to their informed conscience. The faithful knew that the Church has openly opposed the Reproductive Health Law. It is now up to the faithful if they would not vote the proponents of the RH Law,” Alvero said.

Commission on Elections (Comelec) assistant regional director Veronico Petalcorin said the Church has the right to come up with their own list of favored candidates, because “the Church is considered a private group. They can also endorse. There is no prohibition there. That’s their right.”

“We respect their decision. The Church people are also individuals who can exercise their right of suffrage; they can vote and even be voted upon,” the poll official added.

Petalcorin also said that the act of the Church is not a violation on the principle of the separation on the state and the Church

On January 26, 2013, some 250 leaders of Faith & Ecclesial Communities, Mandated Organizations and Renewal Movements (FEMORM) in the archdiocese of Palo, gathered for one day at  the St. Joseph Seminary, Palo (Tacloban).

The aim of the conference were the following:

1. Formally express their desire to take an active part in the Archdiocese’s thrust in implementing BEC
2. Discuss among their respective community the BASICS of BEC based on the input
3. Develop a 1 year plan on how to implement/ integrate BEC with respect to each faith communities’ charism

These were the activities during the day:

1. Opening Liturgy
2. Presentation of pre-conference workshop results
3. Talk on BEC and the Role of FEMORM in BEC formation
4. Open Forum
5. Sharing of experiences
6. Planning workshop
7. Summing up

Msgr. Jimmy Villanueva, the vicar-general of the archdiocese, was the presider and homilist at the opening Mass. Fr. Amado Picardal, CSsR, was the guest speaker who talked about the BECs and the role of the FEMORM in BEC formation.

The conference was organized by Fr. Oscar Florencio.