Fr. Ranhilio Aquino

Our stance on the reproductive health bill debate stems from secularism. Our stance in this PCSO issue is likewise rooted in secularism. The Philippine Constitution guarantees that the separation of church and state shall be inviolable but when the bishops actively solicit funding from our government and our government hands them that money, Father, the secularism of our country has undoubtedly been violated.

It's not everyday that a Catholic priest impresses me with his pragmatism and honesty when speaking about controversial issues like contraception and especially with his guts in defining the limits of the moral authority of his superiors, the bishops. I am talking about Fr. Ranhilio "Rannie" C. Aquino.

"...if we cannot come up with any such argument (that will be convincing on the unacceptability of artificial contraception), then let us humbly admit that our opposition is sectarian in nature and credal in origin. Then we will also realize what we can and cannot rightfully demand of the State."

When citizens and politicians start publicly opposing the Church on an issue as serious to the Catholic doctrine as contraception, one cannot help but imagine that the Age of Reason is finally coming to our country.