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PHILIPPINE GROUPS SUE "CATHOLICS" FOR A FREE CHOICE, CHARGING MEDIA LIES

Deceptive International Campaign Funded by U.S. Foundations is Challenged

MANILA, April 18, 2002 (c-Fam/LSN.ca) - The latest media campaign of "Catholics" for a Free Choice (CFFC) has finally garnered attention, but it may not be the attention CFFC desired -- CFFC is being sued for deceptive advertising. For the past few months, CFFC has purchased billboards and newspaper advertisement in cities worldwide, which claim that Catholic bishops "ban" condoms, and that the Church is responsible for the deaths of millions of people due to HIV/AIDS. In response, a group of pro-life and pro-family advocates in the Philippines has lodged a court complaint against CFFC, stating that CFFC's campaign breaches the country's code of ethics in advertising.

According to the complaint, the CFFC advertisements are guilty of two separate infractions, "dishonest advertising" and "open and direct disparagement" of religious beliefs. The complainants allege that the campaign is dishonest for a number of reasons, including the simple fact that CFFC "is not Roman Catholic." In their charges, they ask, "Can a movement be called Catholic, that openly rejects and distorts Catholic teachings, especially respect and protection of defenseless unborn human life?" Referring to CFFC's unsuccessful "See Change" campaign at the United Nations, they ask, "Can a movement be called Catholic, that masterminds, promotes, and wages a relentless agenda using all means necessary to expel the Holy See from the United Nations?"

The complainants also cite Bishop Joseph A. Fiorenza, President of the [U.S.] National Conference of Catholic Bishops, who has stated, "CFFC is not a Catholic organization.CFFC is, practically speaking, an arm of the abortion lobby in the United States and throughout the world."

According to Jo Imbong, a member of Catholics in Law, a Philippine nongovernmental organization involved in the suit, the CFFC media campaign "was just too much. We want to get the message across: not on our shores." He also hopes that, through this suit, people "in other countries where similar campaigns are waged will be inspired to stem this insidious affront to our religion."

(reproduced with the permission of Catholic Family & Human Rights Institute)

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