[here are today's headlines]
SHOWDOWN ON RH BILL / VIDAL TURNS 75, RESIGNED; POPE APPOINTED PALMA
MANILA, OCTOBER 17, 2010 (BULLETIN) The Senate is ready for a "showdown" between "pro-life" and "pro-choice" advocates when it starts its initial hearing on the controversial reproductive health measure President Aquino had officially endorsed on Monday, October 18.
Sen. Pia Cayetano, chair of the Senate committee on health and demography, said "it's an all systems go" for the upper chamber's first hearing that would be jointly conducted with the Committees on Youth, Women and Family Relations, and Finance.
Despite an existing "ceasefire" between two perceived warring camps, the "pro-life" group would be headed by top officials of the Catholic clergy particularly from the Catholic Bishops of the Philippines.
The debate will center on Senate Bill No.2378, "An Act Providing for a National Policy on Reproductive Health and Population and Development," Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago had introduced.
Heading the list of "Pro-Life" resource speakers invited by the committee include Archbishop Paciano Aniceto, Chairman of the Commission on Family and Life of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP); Lawyer Jo Imbong, CBCP Legal Counsel.
The anti-RH bill group is also comprised of former Senator Francisco Tatad, a known critic of the measure; Feny Tatad of the Bishops-Legislators Caucus; and Eric Manalang, President of Pro-Life Phils. (Hannah Torregoza)
Finance aid for infra projects Residents in provinces torn by war in Mindanao could use donations like the construction of hospitals and schools as well as roads and bridges more than high-technology armaments from the United States (US) government, Cagayan de Oro Rep. Rufus Rodriguez said on Friday.
Filing House Resolution No. 187, Rodriguez wanted the House of Representatives to urge the Department of National Defense (DND) in asking for financial assistance that will fund infrastructure projects instead of reported precision-guided missiles amounting $18.4 million.
The veteran legislator explained that it would be more responsible for the Aquino administration to ask for donations, which will be used to build schools and other facilities because of conflicting reports on what the US government would really donate to the Philippines.
"A US Embassy official stated that there are indeed funds allocated for the Philippines but it was not yet clear as to what these funds would represent. There have been reports that the Unites States of America will donate $18.4 million worth of precision guided missiles to the Armed Forces of the Philippines," he said.
"(But) these missiles would inflict irreparable damage to life and property areas not only against combatants but also innocent civilians including women and children," Rodriguez added in his resolution.
He also expressed worry that the precision-guided missiles amounting to $18.4 million may fall in the hands of the insurgents, making the donation counter-productive against the armed forces and the country. (Rio Rose Ribaya)
St. Margaret Mary Alacoque feast marked this Sunday Manila Auxiliary Bishop Broderick S. Pabillo will celebrate a high mass at 5 p.m. this Sunday at the National Shrine of the Sacred Heart in San Antonio Village, Makati City in celebration of the feast of St. Margaret Mary Alacoque, the Apostle of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
Feast masses in honor of the well-venerated French nun will also be held at 6 a.m., 6:45 a.m., 7:30 a.m., and 6:30 p.m.
The veneration of her sacred relic follows the 7:30 a.m., 5 p.m., and 6:30 p.m. masses.
St. Margaret, with Sts. John Eudes and Claude dela Columbiere, popularized the devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
According to tradition, St. Margaret had visions of Christ starting on Dec. 27, 1673, and for 18 months thereafter, inspiring her to establish the Holy Hour. Calling her the "beloved disciple of the Sacred Heart," Jesus invited her to spread devotion to His Divine Heart and to offer sacrifices to repair the offenses inflicted by men.
Devotion to the Sacred Heart was officially recognized and approved by Pope Clement XIII in 1765.
Born on July 22, 1647 in France, St. Margaret was a nun of the Order of the Visitation. She died in 1690 and was canonized by Pope Benedict XV in 1920. (Christina I. Hermoso)
Pope Benedict Accepts Vidal Resignation By LESLIE ANN AQUINO October 16, 2010, 12:48pm
MANILA, Philippines - Pope Benedict XVI has accepted the resignation of Cebu Archbishop Ricardo Cardinal Vidal and appointed Palo, Leyte Archbishop Jose Palma, the current vice president of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), as his replacement.
The news of Palma's appointment was relayed by Papal Nuncio to the Philippines Archbishop Edward Joseph Adams to Monsignor Pedro Quitorio, Media Director of the CBCP.
"I wrote to inform you that the Holy Father Pope Benedict XVI has appointed His Excellency Most Rev. Jose S. Palma until now the Archbishop of Palo, as Archbishop of Cebu," the letter of the Nuncio dated Oct. 14, 2010 read.
It would be recalled that Vidal submitted his retirement paper to the Pope, February 2006, when he turned 75 years old, the retirement age for priests.
The Code of Canon Law requires that Catholic bishops tender their resignation on their 75th birthday.
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