Movement for all seasons

One of the changes being repeatedly announced by this administration is the implementation of the population control program under the Reproductive Health (RH) Law particularly the distribution of artificial contraceptives especially to poor families for purposes of limiting the number of their children. While it is true that our Supreme Court has already declared the RH Law as “not unconstitutional,” said court has likewise issued a temporary restraining order prohibiting the distribution of artificial contraceptives until the Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) has determined and certified that they are not abortifacients or such artificial contraceptives that primarily and/or secondarily induce abortion.

In issuing the TRO, the SC has categorically rejected the theory advanced by the proponents of the RH law that life begins only upon implantation of the fetus to the mother’s uterus and not upon conception or formation of the fetus. Under this theory contraceptives may still be allowed when the woman is already pregnant as long as the fetus has not yet been implanted in the mother’s uterus. So by rejecting this theory, the SC ruled that contraceptives primarily inducing abortion by killing a live fetus or secondarily inducing abortion by preventing the implantation of the fetus in the mother’s uterus are considered abortifacients and therefore not allowed.

Despite this ruling and the existing TRO however, this administration seems to be still bent in implementing an alleged population control program by proceeding with the distribution of artificial contraceptives without any certification from the FDA that they are not abortifacients. Its supposed purpose in this regard is to limit the size of the family and prevent population growth as a means of solving our poverty problem. Obviously, this is another clear example of the “end justifying the means,” and of intruding into the life of married couples in the exercise of responsible parenthood.

There is no doubt therefore at this stage that under this administration several practices are being introduced which greatly devalues human life, seriously undermine the solidarity of the Filipino family as a basic autonomous social institution, and desecrate marriage as an inviolable social union which is the foundation of the family. These are the times indeed when we should be more vigilant in protecting core values and principles especially those enshrined not only in our Constitution but in our Christian Faith. And for this purpose, we can be more effective if we join organizations or act as a group protecting life, marriage and family.

In this connection, it is heartening and worthy to note that in our country there are already some organizations actively involved in protecting human life, strengthening marriage and promoting the solidarity and total development of the Filipino family. Prominent among these organizations are the Alliance for the Filipino Family (ALAFI) which is at the forefront of the fight against the patently harmful provisions of the RH law; and the Christian Family Movement (CFM) which is a person oriented, family centered and parish-based cell type organization existing for 61 years in our country now to protect the sanctity of life, marriage and family.

The CFM was introduced in our country last 1956 by Pat and Patty Crowley of the United States of America. It is composed of married couples and their children, and even solo parents who have been widowed or whose spouses are forced to work abroad to earn a living for their family, or the overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) considered as our modern day heroes. Its main purpose is to meet the challenges and cope with the major changes occurring in our family lifestyles and values, in our social and political environment, and in the Church itself. The first CFM President was couple Tony and Teresa Nieva. Other stalwarts and pioneers of the movement who sustained its growth through the years, are Sito and Sony Sison, and Joe and Annie Meily.

Members of the CFM units meet regularly twice a month under a format requiring them to observe events and developments in their communities; judge or discuss and determine whether these developments are detrimental or beneficial to their families and to society; then act and take steps or adopt measures that will protect human life, preserve the sanctity of marriage and strengthen the family as a basic social institution, as well as undertake other religious and humanitarian projects for the poor in their community.

Through the years, the CFM has already come up with various projects. Notable among them are: (1) Advocacy Program to get CFMers involved in major issues threatening the integrity and solidarity of their families and their core values like addressing and helping solve the problems of victims of domestic violence, promoting good governance in the grassroots level by electing local officials with good moral values, and fighting and trying to help in getting rid of the evils in our politics such as the political dynasties and the pork barrel; (2) Youth Development Program by incorporating into the CFM, the sons and daughters of CFMers and other youth of our land and training them to be leaders of the community where they belong; and (3) Family of Overseas Filipinos Program which addresses in calibrated steps the psycho-social and other problems of millions of families with single parents due to overseas employment of spouses who significantly help support their family whil at the same time keeping our country’s economy afloat.

On Sept. 29 to Oct. 1, 2017, the CFM Philippines will hold its 34th Biennial Convention in  Manduriao, Iloilo City with a timely theme entitled “A Spirit-led Community of Families Promoting Communion in the Parish. The main purpose in this convention is to “widen the circle of friends in the service of the Lord by interacting with fellow CFMers from the different regions in the Philippines by reaching out with love for one another.”

The incumbent President Couple for 2016-2017 is Jorge and Josie Santamaria while the incoming President Elect Couple is Elliot and Grace Kam who will also act as Convention Co-Chair Couple together with Mulong and Josie Lumbo of the Diocese of Iloilo. The convention will be held at the Diversion 21 Hotel in Manduriao. Registration fee is P2,000 on or before May 31, 2017; P2,500 up to July 15, 2017, P3,000 up to August 30, 2017 and P4,000 on site.

My wife Josie and I who have been CFMers since we got married 51 years ago hope to see all other CFMers there to help our organization become a more effective and stable movement in our country especially during these challenging times.

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