Church cites China move to drop one-child policy

An official of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) yesterday cited the Chinese government’s recent move to lift its one-child policy and said that population is not a hindrance to economic growth.

“We need to invest on our people because practically, they are our country’s resources,” Fr. Jerome Secillano, executive secretary of the CBCP Public Affairs Committee, said.

He said this is what China has realized when it made the decision to lift its one-child policy.

“Very clearly, China is now seeing the negative impact of such a policy,” said Secillano.

“A robust population is a harbinger for development but here in the Philippines we view our human capital as a burden and a hindrance for economic,” he added.

The CBCP official said its lamentable how leaders continue to be blind to the reality that the major cause of poverty in the country is corruption, not a growing population.

For his part, Basilan Bishop Martin Jumoad said the step done by the Chinese government vindicates the position of the Catholic Church.

“It vindicates the position of the Catholic Church that life is sacred,” he said.

“Children are our future and a nation that has no children have no future. The strength of the nation lies in our people,” added Jumoad.