Philippines: Bishop backs Communion ban for pro-abortion politicians

The leader of the influential Roman Catholic bishops in Philippines is backing moves by one of his peers to deny Communion to pro-abortion politicians.

Angel Lagdameo, president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines, said today that Archbishop Jesus Dosado was right to order priests in his southern diocese of Ozamiz city to deny Communion to Catholic politicians “who consistently campaign for permissive abortion measures”.

The unprecedented step, which so far covers only Archbishop Dosado’s diocese, comes as the bishops mobilise forces to campaign against birth control proposals pending in the Congress.

Abortion is illegal in the Philippines.