The Divisive RH Bill

Friday, 13 May 2011 09:10

Written by Aaron Benedict De Leon

The RH Debate has dragged on, for many months, and in fact, even years, dating back to the old proposals of then Health Secretary Juan Flavier during the Ramos administration, to have a population management mechanism implemented with the use of contraception.

Both the Church and the government have taken distinctive stands on the issue, both having reasonable perspectives based on the foundation of their respective institutions. The church believes it should protect the moral fiber of its flock, thus it takes the position that contraception has negative effects to the human body, which it says is the “temple of the holy spirit”, while the provisions of the Reproductive Health measure has provisions on abortion. Meanwhile, the government takes the position in allocating the country’s scarce resources by ensuring that the population is well-managed, so that the supply of basic services will match or will be proportional to the demand of the population.

The youth is now confused, whether their faith should be based on pronouncements of human dignitaries of Christ or their citizenship duties uphold the highest respect for human life, a doctrine which resonates regardless of religion.

The arguments have been laid down, so many people from various sectors have spoken, and debates have been conducted over national television to adequately inform the general public of the pros and cons of the measure.

I am removing my personal bias on the issue, so that I can create a guide for young people in taking a side on this issue.

Both camps have come up with numerous thoughts on this issue, but for now, my focus is how they communicate and convince people to believe their respective contentions.

I am alarmed by the pronouncement of President Aquino, on the side of the government, that he is willing to be excommunicated just to push for the passage of this measure. I think, again, that the President should practice the highest standards of diplomacy if he has any intention to get the consensus of the Church on the issue. As a result, just recently, the CBCP pulled out of talks on the measure. I’m sure the Church will be judged in the wrong light, should they push through with excommunicating the President because this issue is a political issue, more than it is a spiritual one.

I am also alarmed by the pronouncement of the CBCP that it intends to oblige its flock not to follow any law that violates their faith. The Church ought to be guardians, not dictators of faith. God himself did not dictate upon people to praise and obey Him, and so much more is what we expect from our local church leaders. What is being impressed upon me, and many others, is that the Church is motivating us not to support the RH bill by fear, which is contrary to the teachings of Christ. I do not subscribe to this kind of authority being imposed by the Church, though my belief and faith in God remains strong and constant.

By looking at both sides, it seems that both parties have conducted themselves wrongly in crafting a solution which requires great moral ascendancy on the part of the implementing agency. The exercise of authority, from both ends, is just a microcosm of how fragmented Philippine society is today.

I chose to be silent about the issue, because by looking at the behavior of both the government and the Church, it seems that their proposals and counter-proposals are not morally grounded by their own thoughts and actions.

This has created widespread divisiveness, and has resulted in behavior unbecoming of what ought to be respected people, especially when a priest resorts to name calling Akbayan Rep. Risa Hontiveros and many others.

I really hope that there is a swift and speedy resolution to this issue, because I don’t want this debate to drag on longer, that relationships and even a nation would be further divided.

My only hope, and the only solution towards all of this, is that both sides take a humble position on the matter, thinking of what is best for the people, whom God loves the most, above all laws he decreed to all of us.

There is always value in a debate over managing a population versus violating provisions on human life, but to a certain extent, that value must be converted into concrete action and must end in a resolution.

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