After rejecting the Catholic Church’s appeal to junk the death penalty bill, congressmen are giving believers of the faith, especially Marian devotees, something to celebrate about.
Shortly after passing the death penalty measure, the House of Representatives unanimously passed on third and final reading House Bill 5241 declaring December 8 of every year a special non-working holiday in the entire country to celebrate the Feast of the Immaculate Conception of Mary.
Authored by Majority Leader and Ilocos Norte Rep. Rodolfo C. Farinas, HB 5241 will be added among the country’s holidays marking Catholic religious events.
Ironically, it was Farinas, known in the House as among its most deeply religious members, who strongly pushed for the swift approval of the death penalty bill, thus, causing an uproar in the Catholic Church that vehemently opposed it. (Ben R. Rosario)