Walk for Life 2025: Catholics should condemn acts of human life violations

CATHOLICS MUST condemn actions that go against the sanctity of human life, Manila Archbishop Jose Cardinal Advincula said. 

In his homily during the Mass for this year’s Walk for Life, Advincula said that God’s love should guide how to love and treat others, as it is the foundation of pro-life spirituality. 

“We do not condemn the person who kills. Rather, we call the person for conversion,” Advincula said on Sunday, Feb. 23 at the Manila Cathedral. 

“In striving to restore protection to the most vulnerable members of our society, the sick, the aged, the disabled, the mentally challenged individuals, the abused, and most especially the unborn, it is only a radical love that impels us to continuously love those who cannot love us in return.”

Echoing the Gospel from Luke 6:37, which says, “stop judging, and you will not be judged. Judge not, and you will not be judged. Condemn not, and you will not be condemned,” he emphasized that while Catholics must refrain from passing judgment on people, they are called to condemn actions that violate the sanctity of life. 

“We can and must judge the killing of the unborn and defenseless to be always wrong. We can and must judge the commodification of sex and the human body to be immoral,” Advincula said.

According to the cardinal, the technical manipulation of human procreation is wrong because a child is a gift and “not a product to be procured under one’s specifications.” 

Technical manipulation or reproduction technologies include artificial insemination, in vitro fertilization, and surrogacy.

“We can and must judge the so-called mercy killing of the weak, the disabled, and the aged to be morally indefensible,” he said.

“We can and must judge extrajudicial killings as evil and a violation of human dignity,” the cardinal added.

In a thanksgiving message, Bishop Jesse Mercado, Chairperson of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP)’s Commission on Family and Life, encouraged attendees to walk through life with “renewed hope.” 

“[We] hope that our collective voice will continue to shape a culture that values every human person, from conception to natural death,” Mercado said.

The prelate added that their presence at the event was a sign that it was “a collective mission of the Church and society” to defend that “life is sacred, family is a gift, and unity is strength.”

The annual “Walk for Life,” which aims to promote human life’s dignity and importance, carried the theme “Walk for Life: Walk for Hope,” in line with the Jubilee Year.

Around 3,500 Catholics from different “pro-life” organizations joined the event by marching from Rizal Park to the Manila Cathedral in Intramuros. 

Walk for Life is an annual event first organized by the Sangguniang Laiko ng Pilipinas, in collaboration with the CBCP’s’ Commissions on the Laity and Family and Life in 2017, aiming to uphold and advocate for the sanctity of life and raise awareness on the existing societal issues that threaten human life. 

The event was led by Sangguniang Laiko ng Pilipinas President Xavier Padilla. CBCP Commission of the Laity Chairperson Bishop Severo Caermare, and Commission on Family and Life Chairperson Bishop Jesse Mercado, joined Advincula in presiding over the Mass.  

Amplifying the Church’s stance 

For some, Walk for Life is a chance  to shed  light on debated issues such as abortion, Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE), Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity, and Expression (SOGIE) bill and the divorce bill. 

“Gusto nating palakasin pa rin ‘yong stand ng simbahan. Siya yung basbas sa atin kaya nga tayo naging pro-life dahil sa simbahan. Kung hindi dahil sa simbahan, hindi tayo maging pro-life,” said Minda Guillermo, a member of Family and Life Ministry at the National Shrine and Parish of the Divine Mercy in Bocaue, Bulacan. She and Jaime Guillermo, her husband, have been vocal secretaries of the Vicariate of Bocaue and active members of the Family and Life Ministry since 2017. 

“Mataas ang dignidad ng bawat tao. Kailangan nating bigyan ng respeto ang bawat isa,” she added. 

Aside from the couple, Mae Joy Tomang, a member of Children of Mary, believed that the pro-life movement, especially the Church’s teachings, has helped her life.

As a pro-life advocate, Tomang believes that abortion is morally unacceptable, which she learned from the teachings of the Daughters of Charities and the Sisters. 

Despite this, she considers Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE) beneficial to enlighten the youth about responsible and healthy sexual relationships. 

“Maganda rin turuan ‘yung mga kabataan pagdating sa sex education, hindi lang yung puro aral lang… Dapat talaga nilalagay yung sex education [sa curriculum],” she shared. 

Pro-life advocates and medical professionals also highlighted the importance of upholding and protecting the holiness of life by criticizing pro-choice stances and proposed bills concerning SOGIE and CSE. 

Dr. Ryan Capitulo, an OB-GYN and pro-life sharer, said during the program before the mass that he doesn’t advise artificial contraceptives among his patients because he promotes the sanctity of life and the Church’s doctrine. 

“Hindi po ako nag-aadvise ng artificial contraceptives dahil isinasabuhay ko ang turo ng simbahan kahit sa aking propesyon yan po ay desisyon na ginawa ko bilang isang katoliko.” he said. 

Capitulo also shared that he doesn’t support abortion and In vitro fertilization (IVF) due to concerns about the dignity and sacredness of human embryos.

He advised lawmakers to consult medical expertise regarding the proposed CSE bill, which he believes is age-inappropriate for the youth.

Dr. Rene Bullecer also urged pro-life supporters to refrain from backing politicians in favor of abortion and proposed bills on SOGIE and CSE. 

Critics previously raised concerns about drawing references from the World Health Organization  and United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization for the CSE bill, which implies teaching self-pleasure to the youth. 

Bullecer informed people in the Walk for Life about the Buhay party-list, which he said is pro-life advocates’ voice in Congress. 

“Ayaw namin ang mga kandidato who are supporting for divorce, who are supporting for abortion, who are supporting for gay union and gay marriage, who are supporting for comprehensive [sexuality] education, then we have to speak as one,” he said.