MANILA, OCTOBER 4, 2010 (STAR) AS A MATTER OF FACT By Sara Soliven De Guzman - P-Noy's recent statement that he might support reproductive health and the use of contraceptives for family planning has created quite a stir between the Catholic Church, advocates of Reproductive Health and the government.
The Philippines has an extremely high birth rate of 26.1 percent yearly. There are three babies born every second. We have a population of around 94 million – making the Philippines the 12th most populous nation in the world. With all these in mind, how can we possibly cope?
The result is a runaway population explosion destroying the economy. We have lost control of our population. The population increase in Manila is more than in the provinces. The flood of immigrants from the provinces has caused Metro Manila to swell, and encouraged the proliferation of squatter colonies. This is why garbage collection, water delivery, electricity supply, transportation facilities and other services in our major cities and municipalities are on the verge of collapse. We are drowning in a sea of humanity. It is unbearable, disastrous, distressing, miserable – terrible. It's time the government addressed the problem head-on. We cannot go on this way forever.
The marginalized members of society are mostly illiterate. They continue to expand their families in the slums with five to seven children. These parents are not able to clothe, feed, protect, educate and raise their children well. In other words, they have disregarded the rights of the child (which in a civilized society is considered a crime and parents are punished). In the Philippines, these children who do not get proper care and nourishment add up to the unproductive population of the country. Do we really want to encourage this vicious 'life' cycle?
The Catholic Church in this country has the power to launch a campaign against "birth control" creating a strong impression that any form of birth regulation is evil.
With all due respect to the Catholic Church – this is a matter of the State in crisis. It's time for the President and the government to stop hesitating, don't even procrastinate, put in place a firm, uncompromising, practical "family planning" program as soon as possible.
Church officials have always argued that contraception is a type of abortion, which is banned by the Constitution. Clinical abortion is the murder of a fetus. Birth control is not. A plea to make citizens aware of family planning is not a sin – or is it? The Church better clarify their stand on this matter again – lest we continue to be disillusioned with their logic of divinity on humanity.
The Filipinos are waiting for P-Noy to build a strong Republic. If he thinks that House Bill No. 5043 (or any bill for that matter) will help strengthen the fabric of this nation, then, he must be adamant in supporting it and not go wishy-washy. He should demonstrate political will and must not kowtow to any pressure group.
A "House Bill" when enacted into law becomes an important and vital instrument to guide the nation. We simply cannot do away with it especially in this country where everything needs to be written and made clear to the citizens. This is contrary to the belief of Nograles that the RH Bill is not important. The fact is, it is!
It's a good thing Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile supports P-Noy's stand as he explicitly says, "it is important for the President to have an open, broad mind to consider all facets of every issue that will be presented to him. No sector, as far as the leadership of the nation is concerned, has any vested right to push its own agenda. It is the function of the leader to look at the problem in light of all interests involved in society."
The Chief Executive should remember that in political matters his prime loyalty is to the people themselves. He should bear in mind that he belongs to the people and he should use the powers he received with stern duty (or obligation) of an impartial and just administration of the laws. The Catholic, either as an official or a common citizen, must stand for civic virtue and social discipline above all.
The Church is a powerful voice in the country. Countless religious figures have held great roles in driving the political direction of our elected leaders. This has proven detrimental to the progress of our nation. Surely, the church is needed for the spiritual guidance of the people but it should leave matters of the state to the government.
There has been no 'real' separation of Church and State in the Philippines. The Church has always acted as the "Supreme Council" (that is second to God). This feeling of entitlement and authority was clearly expressed by Fr. Francis Lucas, the CBCP executive secretary for social communications and mass media, when he said, "it was morally incorrect to let people decide what was right and wrong according to their needs." And so the story goes – the CBCP feels obligated toward supporting the protest against the passing of RH Bill – all because they feel it is morally incorrect to let the people decide what is right or wrong!
Majority of us are Catholics. We know that all authority emanates from God, and that duly constituted governments must be respected as long as they do not conflict with divine mandates, and the fundamental rights of man. This is especially true in a democracy, where the powers of government are largely derived from the consent of the governed, in conformity with natural law and the law of reason. Democracy itself is a product of the teachings of the Catholic Church. The underlying principles of democracy that all men are created equal, is a Catholic Doctrine, and the Catholic Filipinos may well be proud that a democratic form of government has been set up in our country. But in order that democracy can achieve its purpose as a government based on the will of the majority of the people, with only such limitations and restrictions as reason and reasons God impose, there must be maintained civic order and social discipline.
Remember, God will only help those who help themselves!
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Chief News Editor: Sol Jose Vanzi
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