Message for the 3rd POPCOM Anniversary Celebration
Manila Hotel, November 25, 2009
As read by Mons. Elmer Abacajin
Over the past three years, the Archdiocese of Cagayan de Oro has been introducing and implementing a responsible Parenthood – Natural Family Planning Program.
Parallel to this, POPCOM and DOH agencies have also been implementing their Responsible Parenting Movement through Natural Family Planning. They have requested assistance from the archdiocese’s ALL-NFP team to provide training manuals and to give some of the initial and ongoing trainings to municipal health officers and barangay health workers. The archdiocese gladly extends this assistance because this is one area where church and government are working together, albeit through separate programs, for the same goals of Responsible Parenthood and Natural Family Planning.
These efforts have also been recognized by the local government units of the Provinces of Misamis Oriental and Camiguin and the city of Cagayan de Oro. The chief executives of these three local governments have each issued an executive decree setting aside a budget with specific goals for the promotion of RP-NFP in their areas of responsibility. Thus, from the perspective of the local church, the entire territory of the archdiocese has now become “NFP Country”.
It is my sincere wish that this model of church engagement with government agencies can be replicated in other areas. Engagement does not mean “wholesale collaboration”. Rather engagement connotes a “critical distance” from government agencies while assisting and maintaining separate programs for NFP. In this manner, the church retains its identity, independence, and integrity particularly in values formation-which has also been propitiously accepted by government and none—government agencies. In some cases, some volunteer workers of the church are also workers of the local government, facilitating the sharing of values principles.
In the final analysis, the challenge is for both faith-based and government organization to reach out to as many more couples as possible that need to be served and to hear the good news that indeed Responsible Parenthood is pro-life and pro-family and that the modern methods of NATURAL Family Planning are valid, viable and vital for the nation’s well-being.
Antonio J. Ledesma, SJ
Archbishop of Cagayan de Oro City
November 25, 2009
Hi i am irene. Glad i joined this community and hope to share some ideas with you. Responsible Parenthood, as a government program is based on several social and economic development and cultural and religious views. It is an outcome responsible parents attain after gaining experiences and skills in rearing and bringing up their children with love and care. First national security then family. If the nation isn't secure than no family can be secure.....