Speaker Preaches to Archbishop

House Speaker Prospero Nograles is again voicing his opposition to a bishop's proposal not to give Holy Communion to lawmakers supporting the bill that will allegedly legalize abortion.

While expressing his reluctance to support proposals to legalize abortion in the country, Nograles said he does not subscribe to the stand made by a Catholic Archbishop on the issue.

"While I may agree with the Archbishop that we should not legalize abortion, I don't really agree that those who believe otherwise should be denied the right to receive the body of Christ in Holy Communion," Nograles said.

He reminded the Church that though people may vary in their beliefs "but we are all equal in the eyes of God."

"We should not get hasty in condemning others for their beliefs," Nograles said.

Nograles said that with the policy on the separation of church and state, "there must be mutual respect between and among church officials and those in government."

"We are in a democratic state. We must respect separation of church and state, especially political beliefs," Nograles said, adding that the issue of abortion is not only moral but also economic and political.