CBCP gives highest award to pro life lawyer

Dr. Noche

Pro Life Month begins today. It must be noted that with the guidance of the CBCP- Episcopal Commission on Family and Life (CBCP-ECFL), the month of February has already been adopted as Pro Life Month throughout the entire Catholic nation.

The theme for this year’s observance is “Ang Parokya: Daluyan ng Pag-ibig at Buhay” (Parish as Cradle of Love and Life) which is in line with the CBCP’s theme for this year, “The Parish as a Communion of Communities” as preparatory to the celebration of 500 years of Christianity in the Philippines.

The CBCP ECFL is the commission entrusted with the following mission:

1. Shall promote the transformation of Christian families into true “domestic churches” as God intends them to become and upon which the future of evangelization will depend in great part, periodically making the necessary recommendations to the Conference for the achievement of this fundamental objective.
2. Shall assume the responsibility in the formation of diocesan Directors, Coordinators and other key personnel dedicated to the Apostolate of Family and Life, providing them with periodic updating, appraising them of standing policies and guidelines for the exercise of the Apostolate in the Country and facilitating the flow of communication among them and with their respective Bishops.
3. Shall advise and coordinate Church Movements, Organizations and similar groups having apostolic work in favor of family and life, in order to integrate their goals and objectives with the National and/or Diocesan Pastoral Plan.
4. Shall offer theological, pastoral, organizational and orientation sessions on the Apostolate to the Clergy and Religious, to the Seminarians and the Laity.
5. Shall enter into collaborative activities with other Commissions with functions relevant to the promotion and development of the Apostolate.

The chairman of the CBCP’s Commission on Family and Life, Daet Bishop Gilbert Garcera, was one of the speakers during a Pro life Symposium held in Davao City last June 16- 18, 2016,which was spearheaded by the Doctors for Life, Society of Catholic Social Scientists, and the Davao Archdiocesan Family and Life Apostolate.

Bishop Garcera talked on the topic:”The Three Women Doctors of our Church: Our Source of Inspiration” (i.e. St. Catherine of Sienna, St. Teresa of Avila and St. Therese of Liseux).

Also one of the speakers during the forum was Atty. Maria Conception Noche who talked on “RH Law and the Supreme Court Decision: Implications for Physician Responsibility”. It is interesting to note that on January 28, 2017 the CBCP conferred its highest award, the Jorge Barlin Golden Cross, to her.

The bishops cited Noche for her “outstanding and genuine service” to the Church, “exemplifying the ideals” of the first Filipino bishop Barlin. The CBCP, led by its president, Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Socrates Villegas, gave the award to Noche at the Pius XII Center in Manila where the bishops held their 114th plenary meeting.

Bishop Gilbert Garcera said, the Church recognized the “missionary disciple” for her efforts to protect the sanctity of human life.

“She has been steadfast in the defense of the Catholic teaching and Filipino values in particular with the rights of every Filipino from conception to natural death,” Garcera said.

Noche heads the Alliance for the Family Foundation Philippines, Inc. which was among the groups that questioned the provisions of the RH law before the Supreme Court. She also served as the counsel of various anti-RH groups during the hearing at the high court.

In 2014, the SC upheld the constitutionality of the RH law but struck down several “unconstitutional” provisions of the measure that pro-life advocates found highly objectionable.

The anti-RH groups particularly lauded the SC for declaring unconstitutional part of Section 7 which requires health facilities owned by religious groups to provide family planning methods.

The court also junked contraceptives that may cause or induce abortion and the prohibition against health care providers who refuse to perform RH services. In her acceptance speech, Noche recalled the difficulties they’ve been through in defending a “popularly unpopular position” on the RH law.

“I’m truly grateful to God for the singular opportunity to put my legal knowledge and skills at the service of life,” she said.

“This recognition comes as the most welcome consolation and a much needed boost and inspiration to spur me on,” said Noche. (Manilee Araune, M.D. with reference to CBCP news and CBCP–ECFL FB page)