Knights of Columbus rallying against ‘immoral' Philippines contraception campaign

Manila, Philippines, Mar 21, 2010 / 05:50 am

Knights of Columbus in the Philippines are preparing to rally against the government’s pro-contraceptive campaign as lawmakers debate population control programs that promote condoms and birth control pills. One organizer said the program is “an immoral and misguided weapon.”

Last year thousands of knights filled the streets of major cities from Luzon to Mindanao. This year, protest organizers expect participation to be higher, the CBCPNews reports.

“We challenge the government to redefine its attitude to contraceptives,” said Alonzo Tan, the Knights of Columbus’ Luzon Deputy, whose group is organizing a rally in Manila.

He said he expected between five and six thousand protesters to march on this morning, though the size is still “difficult to say.”

The “Walk for Life” will begin with a 6 a.m. Mass at San Agustin Church, presided over by Bishop of Cubao Honesto Ongtioco.

Simultaneous rallies will be held by Knights and their allies in other cities.

The Philippines’ Department of Health has been advocating contraceptives and condoms to stop unwanted pregnancies and to stop the spread of HIV/AIDS.

“Like what others are saying, we believe that there’s no such thing as safe sex,” Tan added, according to CBCPNews.

“Widespread and indiscriminate promotion of condoms is an immoral and misguided weapon in our battle against AIDS.”

The Knights of Columbus is a Christian fraternal and charitable order founded in the United States in the late nineteenth century. It has 250,000 members in the Philippines and over 1.7 million members worldwide.