The Catholic Church is open to dialogue with Health Secretary Esperanza Cabral on the issue of artificial contraceptives, Msgr. Pedro Quitorio, Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) Media Director, said.

“In principle it's best if there’s discussion. The communication lines are open. It’s better than building fences,” Quitorio said.

Quitorio also clarified reports that it was not the bishops who challenged pro-life activist Dr. Ligaya Acosta to a debate on the effectiveness of condom use in preventing the spread of the Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) and the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) rather a representative of the Human Life International. “It was not the CBCP or the bishops who summoned that (debate) rather it was Ligaya Acosta. But it came out in the media as if we were the ones who called for it,” said Quitorio.

“But on our side we see nothing wrong with that. It’s better to talk than not to talk,” he added. (Leslie Ann Aquino)