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Sep

5

Thoughts on the RH Bill

Filed Under General | 14 Comments

The RH Bill is a hot topic in the Philippine for the past several months. In fact, it’s so hot that it’s become quite divisive, forcing many people, who would otherwise stay quiet, to draw the line. I’m one of them. This is not about comics, but I feel I need to offer my opinion on the subject as a Catholic, albeit a somewhat un-devout one.

Once again, I need to emphasize I am only speaking for myself. If you want to disagree, go write your own blog post.

Having browsed the RH Bill, and all the arguments FOR and AGAINST it, I think it’s a healthy thing that it’s being addressed and talked about. The Catholic Church is perfectly within their right to say that this bill displeases them, and it’s perfectly within their right to teach against it among their flock, specifically the Catholics. And it is perfectly within people’s rights to say that this is a bill that they support and that this bill is what is right for them.

Now the government, and the law-making bodies should be independent of all this. No church should have influence on how laws are made in this country. This is why:

*The Catholic Church disapproves of the RH Bill because they believe that many of its provisions violate aspects of Catholic Cathecism, specially with regards to contraceptives.
*Not all Filipinos are Catholics.
*The Philippine government should speak for ALL Filipinos be they Catholic, Muslim, Buddhist, Baptist, Iglesya ni Kristo, Aglipayan and so forth.

The question is: Why is the Catholic Church so hell bent on disallowing a bill that affects not only Catholics but everyone else? In effect, it’s trying to push a Catholic agenda on ALL Filipinos including not only Catholics but also Muslims, Buddhists, INCs, Aglipayans, Baptists, Protestants, and Atheists alike.

NO CHURCH SHOULD HAVE THAT KIND OF INFLUENCE.

What if this were turned around? What if this was a predominantly Muslim country? Or what if this was a predominantly Atheist country? What if THEY force the government into passing or not passing bills that follow THEIR agenda? How would Catholics feel then? Pretty bad, I’m sure.

This is why government and religion should always, ALWAYS be a separate thing. There are reasons for it, and this is one of them.

The Catholic Church should simply concentrate on teaching their flock, the Catholics, not to follow the contents of the RH Bill if ever it comes into law. And Catholics, if they are true to their church, will follow. After all, this is what they signed up for. As Catholics, we Catholics should follow what the Pope says, and what the Church teaches us. And if Catholics no longer believe in the church, in the Pope and their teachings, they are free to leave, or just lapse. In my case, it doesn’t mean I no longer believe in God, or Jesus or the saints. I still do. I still very much strongly do. But I have been very unhappy with the behavior of the Catholic Church of late, specially with regard to this bill.

Instead of priests berating their flock, they should do the opposite. The should be more sympathetic, be more understanding, they should reach out with love and respect. Make their flock understand with utmost patience and kindness. If this is their approach, I’m sure many of their flock would be more willing to listen. The church should think of this as a new missionary mission. Just because we are already converted that doesn’t mean we will always stay that way. The church should always continue the effort. This is the only way for the church to survive.

Comments

14 Responses to “Thoughts on the RH Bill”

  1. Kyra Quiros-Tato on September 5th, 2011 1:59 pm

    Well said, Sir! This is indeed a predominantly Catholic country and NOT a Catholic country. Respect for other religions is badly needed.

  2. Pao on September 5th, 2011 3:25 pm

    So true. The way the church is opposing the RH Bill, you’d think they had a senate seat. They seem to forget that not all people believe in what they believe in, and that religion should not factor in legislation. It’s annoying how some politicians dont understand their duties enough to know this.

  3. Mac Mac on September 5th, 2011 7:08 pm

    I agree. The Church and the Government should always be separate.

    But if the Church doesn’t see it that way then why don’t they just think of what God gave us: Free will.

  4. JOSH on September 6th, 2011 12:16 pm

    Very much agree to you too, Sir Gerry.

  5. mike on September 6th, 2011 12:42 pm

    I can’t agree more. Let the bishops convince their own flock. Or better yet, let them clean their own backyard first – corruption, bribery, illegitimate children, pedophilia.

  6. Jose Mari Lee on September 6th, 2011 2:07 pm

    It’s indeed a puzzle to me, why in RP, the Catholic church is throwing its weight around. It is in fact like a bully since time immemorial when Mexico was the one overseeing the country.

    In 1565, Governor General Miguel Lopez de Legazpi claimed the Philippines as a Spanish Colony and designated Manila as the capital in 1571. Due to its distance from Spain, the Spanish Government assigned Manila’s administration and government to Virreinato de la Nueva España, name of Mexico in colonial times, for two and a half centuries. For that reason, many of the Philippine Governors were native Mexicans and the army was recruited among the Nueva España population, which resulted in a mix between Mexicans and Filipinos, not only in race, but more importantly in culture. Mexico administered the Philippines up until 1815, when the insurgent movement begun and Spain had to take direct control of the islands.

    Take note, though, that the ones who abused in RP where the Frailes (Friars). Therefore, even during the time of Rizal, student demonstrations and what not were happening in the streets of Madrid and Barcelona, but in the Philippines, the Filipinos were compelled by the Frailes to shut up, or else. Even the Spanish Inquisitions were initiated by the Catholic church. A huge black eye to this religion.

    Now, why is it that the Catholic church are “TAMEME” here in North America and Europe (including Spain and Italy)?

    They have no say to LEGAL ABORTION, NO SAY TO FAMILY PLANNING THROUGH PILLS, PATCH, CONDOMS, ETC., No say to the DEATH PENALTY, et al.

    Then why are they still acting like the Frailes of olden days in RP? The Catholic Church membership has been drastically waning for the past few years, and acting like a bully for this religion is not a very good PR move to entice their PRODIGAL members who have been lost and, possibly, might be found again.

    They have to move on with the times. Their main purpose is to offer salvation, not to push any political agenda.

  7. Robin C. Rivero on September 6th, 2011 7:28 pm

    I wonder why the faithful feel the need to turn their righteous rage on those who oppose them. It’s as though it were a crime to simply disagree with them. I’ve had people I look up to call me a sinner and thus in no position to criticize the Church. Apart from being Catholic, last I looked I was also a citizen of a free country. It’s disappointing that people cannot discuss these issues without damaging friendships and other long-standing relationships.

  8. Jappy on September 7th, 2011 5:01 pm

    “Thank God I’m an atheist.” – Ricky Gervais

  9. dict on September 7th, 2011 9:51 pm

    The blasphemy is all around parties.the Chruch(religion) and the Government(politics).The Roots of Violence: Wealth without work, Pleasure without conscience, Knowledge without character, Commerce without morality, Science without humanity, Worship without sacrifice, Politics without principles.The Beast uses the power of the lamb to blasphem its name.

  10. Joanah t.c. on September 8th, 2011 12:43 pm

    Though I really hate the mud slinging going on with this issue, I agree with this article:
    http://getrealphilippines.wordpress.com/2011/02/21/dissecting-the-rh-bill/

    I’m not against the RH Bill, BUT, I don’t know why they refuse to make a few more revisions on the bill, specially if the bill is just repeating other existing bills’ provisions.

    And of course we’re talking about 1 Billion (as budget). The gov’t could hardly make new hospitals, so I don’t know if they could actually fulfill some of the bill’s requirements. And also, the bill could only be a band-aid solution when it comes to population control (I mean if people don’t want to use condoms or pills in the first place, they wouldn’t, unless you force them to).

    There’s no assurance that it will help, specially if you have this mindset (which is one of the reasons why there’s a population boom in the first place):
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YvP3-r3QLYY
    (This is an I-Witness docu, watchi it and you’ll see what I mean).

    And lastly, when you think about the budget, how sure are we that it’s gonna end up being used for the project, after reaching the municipalities? I see corruption here, specially that the district’s congressman would be in-charge of allocation. If they added the actual methods to distribute the funds in the bill (just to make sure the funds are used properly), sure why not?

    But I don’t think they’re willing to make a few changes… :/

  11. EdZee on September 8th, 2011 2:11 pm

    I was born with Roman Catholic parents and had embraced the religion up to now. I am in favor of passing the RH Bill and I won’t regret getting excommunicated for my stand. Our country needs the enactment of such kind of law more than what the Roman Catholic hierarchy says.

  12. nestor malgapo on September 13th, 2011 12:23 am

    Pardon me kung magsalita ako sa Pilipino kasi hindi ako fluent sa English pero ayokong maging hadlang iyon para hindi ako sumali sa forum na ito.
    Ang nalalaman ko, kaya ganyan na lang ang pagtutol ng Simbahan (catholic) sa RH bill…ay masasabing isa itong desperate idea para mapigilan ang patuloy na pagkaubos ng mga miyembro ng simbahang ito. Mapapansin natin na ang nangyayari sa katoliko ay substraction…hindi addition…na ang ibig sabihin ay napupunta sa ibat ibang relihiyon ang mga miyembro, nariyan ang protestante, born again christian, etc., at ito ay alam na alam nila na nagyayari dito sa Pilipinas noon at hanggang sa ngayon dahil namumulat na ang marami sa kawalang kaalaman ng simbahan sa pagtuturo ng moralidad sa tao. Na ang kanilang inaatupag ay ang pakialaman ang ginagawa ng gobyerno samantalang ang kanilang tungkulin ay hindi kailanman nagagammpanan…Ang tunay nilang papel sa mundo ay ang turuan ang tao sa pagsunod sa mga utos ng Diyos upang maging payapa ang buong sanlibutan, dahil narito diumano ang expertise nila. Pero sa halip, ano na ba ang nangyari? Kitang-kita na pawang kabiguan ang nangyari sa mundo…lalong sumama ang mga tao…Nawala ang pag-iibigan at sa halip ay pulos mga pandaraya sa kapuwa at mga karima-rimarim na krimen ang nababalitaan natin araw-araw na nagpapakita ng kabiguan sa kanilang buong katungkulan sa sangkatauhan ayon sa sinasabi nilang kahalili sila ni Crisato dito sa lupa.
    Kaya nga, para hindi maubos ang miyembro, doon sila umaasa sa mga ipanganganak na hindi dapat mapigil ng ano pa mang kaparaanan at iyan na nga ang ibinabanta ng family planing method sa kanilang lihim na prinsipyo! Palalabasin nila na ang lahat ng ito ay masama at sukdulang gamitin ang pangalan ng Diyos para takutin ang lahat ng mga nagsusulong ng population control. Sa puntong ito ay makikita na ang kanilang pansariling lohika kung bakit hinahadlangan ang LAHAT ng paraan ng gobyerno sa buong mundo sukdulang malagay man sila sa kawalang-katwiran at esentrikong sentido-kumon!

  13. Auggie on September 13th, 2011 2:06 pm

    Gerry, The Bill should be seen within the context of the present Philippine realities regardless of Religion.

    And what are the hard facts?

    The Country has now 101 MILLION FILIPINOS! majority of which are below the POVERTY LINE.

    The Bill should help the poor in regulating their fecundity.

    And why is the church reacting irrationally? I believe the Bill is a threat to their business interest…

  14. Doyle on September 16th, 2011 12:24 pm

    My thoughts exactly! Maybe for some, this might not be a perfect solution but it is a solution nonetheless.

    I am a Catholic but sometimes I think the church can be such hypocrites. I went to mass this one time and the priest was talking about parents intentionally leaving their children inside the church to get rid of them. The priest told the church-goers that if they do so, they would surely get caught as they have several CCTV installed within the church premises. The tone of how he talked about it sounded like they/the church doesn’t want to take responsibilities for these children. Yes, it is true that it is very wrong to abandon your children but the church avoiding their supposedly responsibility to care for their followers is unbearable. My point is, they prevent the RH bill from happening and instead promote their followers to go forth and multiply BUT they cannot afford to feed a couple of these abandoned children? Funny, installing several CCTV can be costly but they can’t set aside some money to care for these children when in fact these children are a product of their being anti-RH bill?