MANILA, OCTOBER 4, 2010 (TRIBUNE) FRONTLINE Ninez Cacho-Olivares - With two opposing positions, the planned dialog between Noynoy Aquino and the Catholic bishops are hardly expected to get anywhere — unless compromises are made.
But it is certain that no compromise on their position will come from the bishops, who hew the Vatican line.
It stands to reason therefore, that if a compromise is reached, it will have to be Noynoy who will be giving in.
And the way for him to give in, and not lose face with the public, is to ensure that the Reproductive Health (RH) bill that is supported by both senators and congressmen, as well as the majority of Filipinos, Catholics and non-Catholics alike, will never be enacted into law — at least during his term as president.
What the bishops are against really is the RH bill, since they do not make such noise and raise the specter of hellfire when local executives announce that they are giving their constituents contraceptives for their use — and for free.
Besides, even if the bishops refuse to admit it, a lot of Filipino Catholics — piety-filled or not — have been practicing birth control — through artificial methods.
It is clear that which the bishops really want killed is the RH bill because this would now pave the way for a nationwide birth control program that moreover would provide poor Filipino couples the contraceptives they need.
As long as there is no law, such a nationwide program on artificial birth control is not likely to be effective and sustainable, for one, and for another, there would be no institutional structure with health workers precisely educating people — especially the poor — on how to limit their children through the use of contraceptives.
But already, Noynoy has been showing signs of wavering in his alleged firm stand on family planning through choice, as even when congressmen have come out openly to state that they will give Noynoy all-out support for his birth control program by passing the RH bill, with senators also giving their nod. But there went Noynoy, quickly saying that certifying the RH bill as urgent is not a priority, which translated, means that pursuing a national program to provide Filipino couples with choices in family planning, through the use of contraceptives as well as natural methods sanctioned by the Catholic Church. Is not a priority with Noynoy.
This means too, that all that posturing is all for presidential show — perhaps to try and convince the US agencies that this time around, there is seriousness in government's drive to bring down the population through more reasonable control via the artificial methods, which the bishops frown upon.
If Noynoy were truly firm in his position and if, as he claims, he is above all faiths, then it would be he who would push the RH bill by certifying this as urgent.
Still, Noynoy is hardly known for being firm and decisive and he is not likely to want his presidency to be at odds with the Catholic bishops, believing perhaps that they still have so much political clout, which is really a baseless belief as most Filipinos don't care much for the Catholic Church leaders' meddling in politics and interfering in the affairs of the state.
Fear of excommunication being raised by bishops on Catholics who undergo abortion, does not work either, if the bishops must know.
While the country is predominantly Catholic, it is more accurate to state that many — if not the majority — of Filipinos are nominal Catholics. They are Catholics because their parents were, as their parents were. Besides, even without excommunication, many Filipinos have already switched "faiths" in the sense of their joining so many Born Again Christian groups, and as well as known Protestant religions.
Haven't the bishops realized that they are losing their flock, given the fact that these Born Again ministries have been sprouting like wildfire?
Hey, even the Druids who are claimed to be into the practice of white witchcraft, with their belief in nature, known in ancient times as the "natural religion" is now a recognized religion.
But trust the Catholic Church to stay in the past while the future moves forward. But then again, in this country, with spineless presidents, bishops are still able to manipulate them into blurring the principle of separation between Church and state.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Chief News Editor: Sol Jose Vanzi
© Copyright, 2009 by PHILIPPINE HEADLINE NEWS ONLINE
All rights reserved
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PHILIPPINE HEADLINE NEWS ONLINE [PHNO] WEBSITE
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------
Follow us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/phnotweet
This is the PHILIPPINE HEADLINE NEWS ONLINE (PHNO) Mailing List.
To stop receiving our news items, please send a blank e-mail addressed to: phno-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
Please visit our homepage at: http://www.newsflash.org/
(c) Copyright 2009. All rights reserved.
-------------------------------------------------------------Yahoo! Groups Links
<*> To visit your group on the web, go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/phno/
<*> Your email settings:
Individual Email | Traditional
<*> To change settings online go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/phno/join
(Yahoo! ID required)
<*> To change settings via email:
phno-digest@yahoogroups.com
phno-fullfeatured@yahoogroups.com
<*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
phno-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
<*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to:
http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
