Tonight, we advocates of social justice and free and informed choice, come together in an expression of solidarity towards the passage of the Reproductive Health Bill.

Whereas the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines has repeatedly imposed its agenda upon the government, in clear violation of the principle of the separation of Church and State;

Whereas the CBCP has threatened to withdraw its support of politicians and legislators who endorse the Reproductive Health Bill;

Whereas the CBCP and its allies consider Catholics who support the Reproductive Health Bill as “oxymorons”, “dissidents”, and “not real Catholics”;

Whereas the CBCP and its allies equate the Reproductive Health Bill to abortion, when nothing in its provisions promotes such;

Whereas the CBCP and its allies have knowingly and wilfully disseminated misinformation in their attempt to stop the passage of the Reproductive Health Bill by sowing fear, uncertainty and doubt among its constituents;

Whereas the Catholic Church has continued to uphold edicts and dogma that result in bigotry, human suffering and loss of life;

And whereas legislators who support the Reproductive Health Bill have remained stalwart in their efforts to combat bigotry, human suffering and loss of life, despite the Catholic church’s threat of excommunication;

We hereby declare that if supporting the Reproductive Health Bill means excommunication…

Then excommunicate me!

By signing this document, we, Filipinos of various creeds and beliefs, express our full and unwavering support to our legislators who believe that social development transcends religious dogma.

We who believe in a just and free society, know that the immediate review and passage of the Reproductive Health Bill is a positive step in the alleviation of poverty in the Philippines.

And we who believe in free and informed choice call upon the hierarchy of the Roman Catholic Church in the Philippines, the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines, and its allies to stop imposing its agenda on the state in the name of social justice.

We will deliver the petition to the CBCP (in order for them to know our dissent) and to the legislators in the House of Representatives and the Senate (for them to fast-track the passage of the bill into law).