Reproductive Health Bill

I was out and about town the whole day of Friday and was listening to people’s reaction to the CBCP’s stand on the Reproductive Health Bill over the radio. Being a Catholic, it was painful to hear people fired up and downright rude with their comments regarding the church’s stand, its priests and supporters.

I felt that the Church was under siege yet again. I am not publishing this because I would like to react on this matter as most everyone seems to be doing just that. Rather, I’d like to reflect and pray that this may at least remind me, when my faith is weakened and swayed, of how I feel now.

I believe that this issue was set ablaze by the reaction of the CBCP on the RH Bill and fanned by an uproar when a bishop was interviewed (and even Harry Potter knows how interviews are conducted quite cleverly) and mentioned excommunication pertaining to PNoy (Philippine president) should he advocate the bill. I will not comment on this since it too will die down eventually, knowing how this is just being used to make an angry mob out of this man’s supporters. I can’t help but chuckle and find it funny how this nation known to topple down presidents and governments over the past decades suddenly turn to it as their champion now that it is contemplating on this bill.

But not to drift away from the real issue, I will concentrate my reflection on the use of contraceptives.

The use of contraceptives worry me for far beyond its effect on our nation’s demographics and finances. Making contraceptives readily available (and subtly advocated over the natural method) by the RH bill worries me for the “MENTALITY” that it would bring along with it:

• The mentality that children are burdens even before they are born.

• The mentality that what is permitted and advocated by such an institution as the government is right without making an effort to discern on what foundation this advocacy is resting on.

• The mentality that it is impossible to battle against human urges (I’m afraid these are many, not only sexual) and therefore quit trying

• And the mentality that our plans are better than God’s.

God in His wisdom and generosity made the sexual act between a married man and woman pleasurable. Sex is therefore deemed good if it is facilitative of its true purpose: marriage and potential parenthood. Regarding sex as a personal pleasure whose use is no one else’s business except his own is what the Church views as wrong.

It is sad to admit that the Church seems to be losing its influence over this supposed predominantly Catholic country. But I would like to remind everyone that this is not entirely because of the Church’s doing. It is also because of our own waning zeal to get to know the faith and indeed our weakening eagerness to know the will of God.

To those who still believe that the spiritual battle is external rather than internal, it is easy to judge priests, or the church. Despite scandals, which are undeniably not foreign to the priesthood, I do know that there are more priests battling evil and human urges with great difficulty and heroic love than those who falter. Because of this, passing sweeping statements with regards to this holy calling is at the very least, uncharitable.

For the government, it seems that they view contraception as damage control. For the church, contraception IS the damage.

Stop for a moment and help me reflect. Is the question really Will parents really be better off taking care of 2 rather than 5 children?

To my mind, these are the REAL questions:

Who is the better parent? Those, whose two children witness them advocating the convenience of their own plan and will over God’s? Or those whose five children see them, with great effort, following God’s will for their family?

Who are the better children? Those who get all they want because this is what their parents are working on and for? Or those who have been taught to feel content with his share for the good of all?

What nation are we trying to build? A nation of brats who have the education but do not have compassion? Or a nation of people governed by their conscience and equipped to collaborate?

Who are you really fighting this battle for? Real Catholics who can suppress urges in the name of faith? Or waning Catholics who are looking for a cooling balm of comfort in the arms of uneducated consciences?

What really is the problem?

I do not want to believe population is the problem. Corruption is. Greed is. Laziness is.

I do not want to believe that our nation needs “responsible parenthood” as the answer to population growth. What we need are responsible parents, who can educate their own children in discerning right from wrong and who themselves have strength of character, to facilitate our nation’s growth.

The problem is we focus on the problem, not the solution.

Increase in the support especially in terms of technology and resurgence of our almost dying industry of agriculture and fisheries in the provinces will create jobs, livelihood and quality of life. Closer monitoring of appropriation of funds especially for quality free education will help alleviate poverty. Government putting in place measures to protect labor rights and better salaries can increase productivity and will result in vibrant businesses. Review of outdated and almost punitive tax laws and business requirements not to mention the sorry state of our peace and order that drives away big players from investing in our country. Disciplined population who think of the common good in as little as throwing their trash away properly to honesty in work. Filipinos who think highly of their country, vote wisely and are concerned of the environment.

It is amusing that we are looking at ourselves as the problem instead of the solution. We are letting people tell us that if only we are not as many, they would be able to do their job better. If only the poor, who cannot pay their own way around were fewer, life would be better. We are not made poor by our number. We are made poor by our ignorance. We are made poor by the greedy. We are made poor by the very people who wants an even bigger slice of the pie.

People reacted violently when the Church made a stand against the the RH bill because it is not killing babies when it supports contraception. Maybe.

Even worse, what it is really killing is our FAITH in the Church’s teachings, our HOPE in God’s providence and our LOVE for the will of God.