MANILA, Philippines—The absence of divorce in the country is a “point of honor for the Philippines,” according to the new papal nuncio, suggesting that the Vatican favored the Catholic Church’s opposition to legislation allowing divorce here.
The Philippines and the Vatican —Catholic bishops, priests and members of religious orders are required to practice celibacy—are the only remaining states that do not have laws allowing divorce.
Archbishop Giuseppe Pinto told reporters Saturday that Catholic bishops had the right to speak out on pressing social issues like the pending divorce bill in Congress.
However, Pinto declined to comment when asked if the Vatican was pleased with the strong position taken by the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines, which has clashed with the Aquino government over the reproductive health bill.
“I think it is a point of honor for the Philippines to have this… for the family and in keeping the family with the traditional…doctrine of the Church,” Pinto said at the CBCP headquarters in Intramuros, Manila.
When asked if there were instructions from the Holy See about “preserving” marriage in the country, the 59-year-old Church diplomat said, “When in question of politics like in this case…the bishops are entitled to intervene and they did in fact with their declarations.”
But he quickly added that “this is their own (initiative).”
Asked if the Vatican was satisfied with how the CBCP was standing against the RH bill, Pinto chose to be diplomatic. “The bishops themselves, they are responsible for their community,” he said. “To give judgment is not my task. My task is to collaborate with the bishops, to work together.”
Pinto, a previous nuncio to Chile and the African countries of Guinea-Bissau, Mali, Cape Verde and Senegal, said he was thankful for the way Filipinos had “warmly received” him.
Pope Benedict XVI appointed Pinto as his representative to the Philippines on May 10 after the former nuncio, American Archbishop Edward Adams, was transferred to Greece.
Pinto, who was ordained on April 1, 1978, also previously served as an apostolic delegate to Mauritania. He is a native of Noci, Italy. –Philip C. Tubeza, Philippine Daily Inquirer
July 2025
Nutrition Month
“Give us much more than P50 increase
for proper nutrition!”
Invoke Article 33 of the ILO Constitution
against the military junta in Myanmar
to carry out the 2021 ILO Commission of Inquiry recommendations
against serious violations of
Forced Labour and Freedom of Association protocols.
Accept National Unity Government (NUG)
of Myanmar. Reject Military!
#WearMask #WashHands #Distancing #TakePicturesVideosturesVideos
July
3 July – International Day of Cooperatives
3 July – International Plastic Bag Free Day
5 July – World Youth Skills Day
7 July – Global Forgiveness Day
11 July – World Population Day
17 July – World Day for International Justice
28 July – World Nature Conservation Day
30 July – World Day against Trafficking in Persons
Monthly Observances:
Schools Safety Month
Nutrition Month
National Disaster Consciousness Month
Weekly Observances:
Week 2: Cultural Communities Week
Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprise
Development Week
Week 3: National Science and
Technology Week
National Disability Prevention and
Rehabilitation Week
July 1-7:
National Culture Consciousness Week
July 13-19:
Philippines Business Week
Week ending last Saturday of July:
Arbor Week
Daily Observances:
First Saturday of July:
International Cooperative Day
in the Philippines
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