Attorney Brian Scarnecchia, President of International Solidarity and Human Rights Institute (ISHRI), and his wife Victoria Aguilar Scarnecchia were invited speakers at the Human Life International Asia conference in Cebu City, Philippines, October 6-8, 2006.
Atty. Scarnecchia spoke to over 500 delegates at the conference on the “UN Millennium Development Goals in light of Catholic Social Teaching” and “Family Issues at the UN” and Mrs. Scarnecchia spoke on “Raising a Traditional Catholic Family Today.” Cardinal Ricardo Vidal, Archbishop of Cebu, was the main celebrant of the concluding liturgy and in his homily urged the delegates to greater efforts involving bills pending in Congress that were pro-life or anti-life. The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the Philippines, Hon. Artemio Panganiban spoke earlier that day on cases upholding traditional family values in the Philippines. Fr. Tom Euteneuer, President of Human Life International, also spoke several times throughout the conference on various aspects of the international anti-life movement. Cardinal Vidal urged Atty. Scarnecchia to “come again” and was supportive of his intent to bring university students to the Philippines to learn about human rights and development issues afflicting the developing world first hand this summer.
The following week Brian and Vickie Scarnecchia went to Manila where Atty. Scarnecchia was the featured speaker at a conference cosponsored by the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines, the Society of Catholic Social Scientists and the University of Asia and the Pacific. His Excellency Angel N. Lagdameo, President of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines introduced the lecture of Atty. Scarnecchia on the MDGs in the context of the Philippines. The reactors to Atty. Scarnecchia’s lecture included Dr. Bernardo Villegas (economics), Dr. Monzon (bioethics) and Dr. Toralba (education), and Professor Roxas (social ethics). Archbishop Paciano Aniceto, Chair of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines Pro-life Committee was in attendance as well as three other bishops. Two media outlets covered the event.
The following day Brian and Vickie Scarnecchia presented their reflections on education and home schooling to educators at the University of Asia and the Pacific. The home schooling movement in the Philippines is just forming due to the growing secularization of public school education and sex education curriculums being promoted by UNESCO. The Scarnecchias were invited to return to the Philippines next year in November to present at a conference dedicated to an education and values curriculum being sponsored by the University of Asia and the Pacific and other organizations.
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2006 Philippines Trip
Brian Scarnecchia with Archbishop Angel Lagdameo (far right), President of the Catholic Bishop's Conference of the Philippines, who co-sponsored the talk on the MDGs.
ISHRI President Brian Scarnecchia gives talk on the UN Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) at the University of Asia and the Pacific in Manila.
© 2006 International Solidarity & Human Rights Institute, P.O. Box 4152, Steubenville, OH 43952
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