Prelates laud survey showing more Pinoys buck same sex marriage

“This shows the deep religiosity of the Filipinos, they still are closed knit families, who value the sanctity and stability of marriage as just a man and a woman joint together in marriage, not just union or partnership of same sex,” Bataan Bishop Ruperto Santos said in an interview over the weekend. (PNA photo)

MANILA — Catholic prelates welcomed the result of a recent survey showing that majority of Filipinos do not support the legalization of same sex union in the country.

Bataan Bishop Ruperto Santos noted that the survey, conducted by Social Weather Stations (SWS) from March 23 to March 27, showed that more Filipinos are pro-family and only support marriage between a man and a woman.

“This shows the deep religiosity of the Filipinos, they still are closed knit families, who value the sanctity and stability of marriage as just a man and a woman joint together in marriage, not just union or partnership of same sex,” he said in an interview over the weekend.

The Catholic prelate reiterated that the family is composed of a man, woman and their children.

“Family is a husband, a wife and the children.

Family builds up the society. A strong and united family makes the country peaceful and progressive,” Santos said.

“Same sex union does not make a family. It is union because of common likes and dislikes. Supreme Court (SC) must rule against same sex civil union” he added.

For his part, Sorsogon Bishop Arturo Bastes said the survey is a good argument against those who are pushing for same sex union in the country.

“I am elated to know that the majority of Filipinos are opposed to a nonsensical same sex marriage. This is a very good argument against the proponents of this idea when oral arguments are to be presented at the SC,” Bastes said in a separate interview.

“The SC should be sensitive to the voice of our good people who follow our Constitution that marriage is defined as union of man and woman! Filipino culture abhors the marriage of two men or of two women! It is unthinkable in our way of life, which is our culture!

Besides, Same sex marriage is a great infraction of our Constitution which we Filipinos must uphold, based on our culture and on our faith in the true and living God,” he added.

Based on the results of the SWS nationwide survey released last week, 61 percent of Filipinos are not in favor of legalizing same sex union.

The survey asked 1,200 respondents, with the highest disagreement recorded in the Visayas with 66 percent, followed by the rest of Luzon, 63 percent; Mindanao, 58 percent and Metro Manila, 56 percent.