What's behind Reproductive Health Bill?

   

HB 5043 PROMOTES ABORTION THROUGH ABORTIFACIENT

The Bill promotes contraceptives that are abortifacient like the IUD, oral contraceptives or pills.
Preventing the newly conceived life in its embryonic stage from being transported to the uterus and preventing implantation in the wall of the uterus are the "abortifacient" properties of the pill. 

THE BILL IS AGAINST CATHOLIC TEACHINGS

It's the Catholic Teaching that human life begins at conception. The use of artificial contraception is a grave evil. The early Church Fathers such as Augustine of Hippo, John Chrysostom and many others condemned contraception. The Catechism of the Catholic Church prohibits it and the Humane Vitae of Pope Paul VI in 1968.

HB 5043 violates the Philippine Constitution:

The Philippine Constitution Article II, Section 12 states that: "The state recognizes the sanctity of family life and shall protect and strengthen the family as a basic autonomous social institution. It shall equally protect the life of the mother and the life of the unborn from conception. The natural and primary right and duty of parents in the rearing of the youth for civic efficiency and the development of moral character shall perceive the support of the government."

HB 5043 is anti-women and anti-poor:

While HB 5043 claims to prevent maternal death, its supporters fail to grasp that the great majority of such deaths are caused by the lack of proper medical facilities and care. Instead of using resources on controversial contraceptive methods and services, more good will be done by using such funds for basic health care, eliminating the real cause of maternal deaths. The Bill, however, does not address this lack of basic health care services, and will allow the problem to persist while it wastes funds on abortifacients and other ineffective reproductive health measure.

THE RH BILL VIOLATES FREEDOM OF SPEECH


Section 21 (e) of the proposed bill lists the following as a prohibited act: “Any person who maliciously engages in disinformation about the intent or provisions of this Act.” This provision is overly broad and “disinformation” could (and most probably will) be construed as prohibiting the expression of objections to the Bill, such as what we are presently doing. This provision is is obviously going to be used to suppress dissent, and is an undue restriction of freedom of speech. It has no place in any of the laws of a democratic nation.

Section 17, on the other hand, mandates employers must provide such abortifacients and other contraceptives to employees. It states that, “All Collective Bargaining Agreements (CBAs) shall provide for the free delivery by the employer of reasonable quantity of reproductive health care services, supplies and devices to all workers, more particularly women workers.” Employers, therefore, are not given any choice despite the fact that distribution of these abortifacients and contraceptives may be against their conscience.

Section 21, number 5, requires doctors and health workers to dispense such abortifacients and other artificial contraceptive devices and methods. If they refuse to do soon religious grounds, they must still refer those who want to use such abortifacients to another person who will dispense them. Conscientious objectors are thereby required to cooperate in such acts, and if they refuse, they are slapped penalties ranging from one to six months imprisonment and a fine of P10,000-P50,000! HB 5043 eliminates any choice for conscientious objectors and makes no room for their legitimate concerns.

References:
Katoliko.org/2008/12/08-a-position-paper-against-hb5403
The Pill: How does it work? Is it safe -1993 The Couple to Couple League International, Inc.

CONCEPT OF FAMILY

By; Jaime L. Cardinal Sin (Subtle Attacks against Family & Life)

Pope John Paul II said that "The family in the modern world, as much as and perhaps more than any other institution, has been beset by the many profound and rapid changes that have affected society and culture. Many families are living this situation in fidelity to those values that constitute the foundation of the institution of the family. Others have become uncertain and bewildered over their role or even doubtful and almost unaware of the ultimate meaning and truth of conjugal and family life." (Familiaris Consortio 1)

Today, there are certain sectors of society that wish to redefine the concept of a "family" to include (with equal legal status as the traditional father-mother-children family) same-sex unions with or without adopted children, single parenthood, multiple partnership, and adoption of animals. They accept as variations within any family structure adultery, divorce, incestuous sex, pre-marital sex and even other forms of partners of sex for the sole purpose of achieving pleasure. We have to be fully aware of these currents and be ready to explain their detrimental effects to the person and society.

THE EVIL OF CONTRACEPTION

Contraception is any action taken to obstruct the union of egg and sperm before, during or after sexual intercourse. Contraceptives are any device or drug used for contraception. Examples of contraceptive are the practice of withdrawal, tubal ligation, vasectomy, the use of condoms and spermicides. The Intrauterine Device (IUD) and most contraceptive pills and injectibles are also called contraceptives. But in a high percentage of cases, they actually prevent births by expelling the developing human being already conceived. They are then more properly called "abortifacients" (i.e., the cause of abortion). Abortificients are even more immoral than true contraceptives, because their use violates the fifth Commandment of God, " Thou shall not kill."

It is immoral to practice contraception because it goes against the natural law with regard to the use of sex. It is a grave moral disorder and objectively constitutes a mortal sin. As such, its has been constantly condemned by the Church. In the Sacred Scripture, we can see how God was displeased at contraception. Onan, the son of Juda, was supposed to beget children on behalf of his deceased brother. "Onan knew that the descendants would not ne his own, so whenever he had relations with his brother's wife, he wasted his seed on the ground, in order not to raise up descendants for his brother. And what he did was displeasing in the sight of the Lord, and he slew him." (Genesis 38; 9 - 10). In moral theology, the sin has been called "Onanism."
(to be continued...)

Over Population in the Philippines is a Myth

The Philippines does not have a population problem. But most Filipinos still believe of over population due to the following reasons:
1. The data often carelessly quoted in media are wrong type of data, mostly old data reflecting higher growths than the newer, published data.
2. Rapid Urbanization. A Philippine Characteristic of rapid urbanization is our squatter problem where one sees many children/ adults loitering around doing nothing; and the natural conclusion: Too many births.

If the Philippine Population is not a problem, then why do some people/ groups make it a problem?
1. Some groups base their conclusion on wrong data; old figures that are no longer correct.
2. Some groups believe that even the small population growth is still too much because of widespread poverty, governments inability to educate, feed, provide employment opportunities, etc.
3. Some groups derive a livelihood from propagating the anti-population activities promoted by the United Nations and its agencies: UNFPA, US (USAID), NGOs from rich countries. These agencies are well funded and being provided with very meaningful jobs, honoraria, chairmanship, free foreign trips, etc.

But what is so bad about people accepting the anti-population mentality, which comes with a small family mind-set?
1. Artificial means of population control come into acceptance: CONTRACEPTION (pills, sterilization, vasectomy, IUDs, etc.) ABORTION; TRIVIALIZING OF SEX/ FAMILY LIFE VIA SEX EDUCATION;EUTHANASIA; ACCEPTANCE OF DIFFERENT LIFE STYLES: Gays, Lesbians, same sex marriages... often in the name of good words" PROCHOICE" (whether or not to keep an unwanted pregnance) Reproductive Health, Patient's rights.
2. The result of # 1 above is usually breakdown in family relationships: DIVORCE, PROMISCUITY, MORE HOMOSEXUALITY, ABORTION, MERCY KILLING
3. A free fall in the total number of births per woman happens and is evident in many of more than 92 countries which today cannot produce themselves. These nationalities will be bound for dying out.

Source: Salvador Rigor: Over Population Myth
Congress on Love, Life and Peace