CATHOLIC BISHOPS’ CONFERENCE OF THE PHILIPPINES

Pastoral Moral Guidance on the

Congress of the Philippines is poised to pass into law that was earlier known as the Sexual
Orientation and Gender Identity bill, which is now more generally referred to as the anti-
discrimination bill. We are grateful that the CBCP was earlier asked by the relevant committees
of the houses of Congress to submit its comments, and we did so. But now, we deem it
opportune to express ourselves collectively on the matter.

Non-Discrimination is a Christian Imperative

If discrimination means that certain individuals, because of sexual orientation or gender identity,
are systematically denied fundamental human rights, then any measure that counters
discrimination of this kind is a gesture of charity, one that reaches out to all and recognizes them
in their inherent dignity as sons and daughters of God, called to new life in Jesus Christ.

This then is also the propitious time for us to call on all pastors throughout the country to be as
solicitous of the pastoral welfare of all our brothers and sisters regardless of sexual orientation
and gender identity. Their exclusion from the life of the Church, their treatment as outcasts, their
relegation to the category of inferior members of the Church worthy only of derision and scorn
certainly does not conform to Pope Francis‟ vision of the Church as the sacrament of Divine
mercy and compassion.

In this regard, the Church has much to contribute towards the education of Catholics to be more
accepting of others and to see through appearances the Lord present in each brother and sister.
There can therefore be no more approval of parents who imbue in their children the loathing and
disgust for persons with a different sexual orientation or with gender identity issues. In Catholic
institutions, there should be zero-tolerance for the bullying and badgering of persons in such
personal situations.

Christian Anthropology and Consequences for Pastoral Care

The Church remains firm in its teaching however that reason discerns in the process of human
evolution, the perpetuation of humankind, and the complementarity of the sexes, as well as from
the very nature of sexuality itself that God‟s image and likeness is found in either man or
woman. The Church therefore compassionately reaches out to persons with orientation and
gender identity issues so that they may clearly discern, with a well-formed conscience, and in
the light of the Divine plan for humankind, how they ought to live their lives.

In this regard, a common fallacy has to be contested. Today, it is not uncommon to hear the
assertion that the way a person chooses to live his or her life and with which gender to identify
is purely a matter of personal sovereignty and choice. Much is left to choice, but much is also a
matter of human given-ness, a matter of human facticity. From the perspective of Divine
Revelation, much is not of the person‟s doing but must be counted as God‟s gift. Among these
are sexuality and gender.

While contemporary psychology and psychiatry are far from unanimous on the causes of
orientation and identity issues, it is as clear that the individual is not helpless in this regard.
There are decisions a person can and must make. There are mind-sets a person must either
acquire or discard.

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GENERAL SECRETARIAT: 470 Gen. Luna St., Intramuros, Manila P.O. Box 3601, 1076 Manila, Philippines
 (+632) 527-4054, 527-4138 ●  (+632) 527-4063 ●  www.cbcpwebsite.com ●  [email protected], [email protected]
 CATHOLIC BISHOPS’ CONFERENCE OF THE PHILIPPINES

On the basis of its understanding of the human condition, the Church cannot encourage persons
to “choose” their gender, orientation, and sexual identity as if these were matters at the free
disposal of choice. The Church therefore looks to mature parents, school counselors, community
workers, professional psychologists and personality experts, as well as to her own priests
engaged in pastoral counseling, to help in the resolution of what, it must be admitted, are very
difficult personal issues, always with understanding, compassion, acceptance of the inherent
worth of the human person and attentiveness to what has been revealed to us about the human
person.

We must also insist on the distinction between “orientation” and overt acts. No one may be
excluded from the life of the Church and its sacraments merely because of avowed orientation or
identity. However, the disapproval of homosexual acts remains part of the Church‟s moral
teaching, a consequence in fact of its understanding of human dignity. If “gay rights”
movements, for instance, encourage free and unbridled sexual relations between persons of the
same sex, the Church cannot lend its support, for in its view, they ultimately do a disservice to
our brothers and sisters. What gay rights can legitimately champion is justice for all, fairness
that must extend to all persons regardless of sexual orientation and gender identity.

The Proposed Law

Before anything else, CBCP must ask whether or not the proposed non-discrimination bill is
itself a manifestation of that pernicious form of “colonization” to which Pope Francis referred in
his recent visit to the Philippines. Is this the “importation” into our country of values, behavioral
norms and attitudes that the West has championed and peddled?

To the legislators who consider through future legislative initiatives giving legal recognition to
same sex unions, the Church declares there is no equivalence or even any remote analogy
whatsoever between marriage between a man and woman as planned by God and the so-called
same sex unions.

Insofar as the proposed piece of legislation renders illegitimate the relegation of persons with
sexual orientation and gender identity issues to citizens of a lower category enjoying fewer
rights, the CBCP cannot but lend its support to this proposed legislative measure.

However, there are certain matters that the Church considers to be within its exclusive sphere of
competence such as determining who should be admitted to priestly or religious formation, who
should be ordained and received into Holy Order, or who should be professed as members of
religious communities and orders. The Church asserts its exclusive right to determine its own
criteria and to exclude even on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity if it finds these
to be hindrances to the fidelity that is expected of ordained or consecrated persons. We believe
that the Constitution of the Republic guarantees this under the “free exercise” clause of the
fundamental law of the land.

In respect to Catholic schools and the guidance and counseling that it extends to its students, the
CBCP herewith expresses its position that our Catholic schools remain at liberty to determine
their own admission and retention policies on the basis of the manner in which the Supreme
Court of the Philippines has developed the constitutional guarantee of academic freedom. We
must however reiterate that none must be demeaned, embarrassed, or humiliated for reasons of
sexual orientation and gender identity.

___________________________________________________________________________________________
GENERAL SECRETARIAT: 470 Gen. Luna St., Intramuros, Manila P.O. Box 3601, 1076 Manila, Philippines
 (+632) 527-4054, 527-4138 ●  (+632) 527-4063 ●  www.cbcpwebsite.com ●  [email protected], [email protected]
 CATHOLIC BISHOPS’ CONFERENCE OF THE PHILIPPINES

Persons with homosexual orientation are sons and daughters of God; no less than any of us is.
Discrimination against them is contrary to the Gospel spirit. Verbal and physical violence
against them is an offense against the good Lord Himself. Through honest dialogue and pastoral
accompaniment, it should be our goal to assist them to respond to the demands of chastity and
that purity of body and heart that Jesus, in the Gospels, calls „blessed‟. When they wish to make
an offering to the life of the Church according to their talents, abilities and gifts, the Church as
mother provides for them.

Conclusion

We foresee that CBCP will be reproved for not going “all out” in its approval of homosexual
and transsexual orientation and identity. But we pray that all will understand that the deposit of
faith is not owed to us, nor is it something we are free to modify or tailor to suit fad and fancy.

We conclude by reiterating our position that your bishops and priests welcome all of God‟s sons
and daughters, that there is room in the Church for all, whatever our personal conditions, gifts as
well as burdens might be, and the Church will be tireless in extending its support and care for
those in the midst of personal conflict who must make crucial decisions for themselves in the
light of the new life Christ offers us all!

From the Catholic Bishops‟ Conference of the Philippines, March 3, 2015

+SOCRATES B. VILLEGAS
Archbishop of Lingayen Dagupan
President, CBCP

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GENERAL SECRETARIAT: 470 Gen. Luna St., Intramuros, Manila P.O. Box 3601, 1076 Manila, Philippines
 (+632) 527-4054, 527-4138 ●  (+632) 527-4063 ●  www.cbcpwebsite.com ●  [email protected], [email protected]