RSS Feeds: Birth Control vs. the Catholic Church in the Philippines
If there's one thing that's evident in the Philippines, it's the large number of people living far below the poverty level. If things are left to the whims of the Catholic Church in the Philippines, that number will only continue to grow. The Catholic Church is against the government subsidized availability of birth control devices or medications and yields more power than it should.
The Latest Debacle
Stevo of Asian Ramblings spotted the New York Times article, "Bill to Increase Access to Contraception Is Dividing Filipinos", and made sure I was aware of it. I'm glad he did, because I had no idea the Catholic Church was in opposition to common sense. As I've said before, absolute power corrupts absolutely and nothing proves it more than when the church manipulates the government to do its bidding.
It's time for the church to join the 21st century and do something about the crisis caused by the overpopulation of the Philippines. After all, the church is responsible for getting them in this mess in the first place. It's been opposing birth control and basic sex education long enough that a large percentage of the population doesn't even know how babies are born. My wife has told me, on numerous occasions and referring back to the 1970s, how teen-aged females thought that the mere acts of kissing or holding hands could get them pregnant.
Birth Control Methods
I'm personally opposed to certain methods of birth control, such as abortion when used as a birth control method. With proper sex education and proper usage of birth control methods to prevent contraception, abortion wouldn't become such an issue. Just look at all the birth control methods available:
- Barrier methods like the condom and the diaphragm.
- Hormonal methods like the birth control pill ("The Pill"), the contraceptive patch ("The Patch") and the "morning after pill".
- Intrauterine methods like the intrauterine device (IUD) and the Intra-Uterine System (IUS).
- Sterilization methods like tubal ligation and vasectomy.
- Behavioral methods like coitus interruptus and abstinence.
Population Growth
The problem in the Philippines is that the population continues to grow faster than the economy ever will. The only way to let the economy catch up is to promote zero or negative population growth. The only alternative to the problem of the poor people remaining poor is a welfare system and we know how well that works in the US, don't we?
As a resident of this country, it bothers me to see poor people behaving as squatters and living in cardboard boxes between buildings, under overpass bridges and other places that are neither healthy nor safe places to live. These people can barely feed themselves or their families. How can they afford birth control pills and things like that when they can't afford to take care of basic necessities?
It's time for the Catholic Church to choose the lesser of two evils: Either support the evil of birth control and let the economy fix itself or continue to cause the evil of poverty by opposing it.
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Maybe you should write about to the silliness of circumcision. Its really about the church telling people that God made a mistake and a part has to be removed… Just a thought. I agree 100% with you, the Catholic church tries to assume too much power and control.
The silliness of circumcision started with the Jews, but that's a long, long story. Should people be circumcised? Only if they want to.
I'm glad you wrote this, RT. The Catholic Church and its anti-birth control policies make me angry. Does the church part with any of its wealth to support the problem it is causing?
It's not just the Philippines, the entire globe faces a population problem.
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Yes, it has been a contentious issue regarding the Catholic Church and contraception. On the one hand, it is forbidden by their religion to interfere with the conception and creation process.
On the other hand, many people do not abstain but indulge themselves. They like to have sex frequently, and so tempt fate into blessing them with a child.
I suppose a broader question would have to be, should it be the governments position to practice population control because they can't create a decent standard of living. Because their poverty rate is so high, they should in turn practice population control? Why don't they work on sustaining business and creating jobs – why don't they work on the cause of the sickness, i.e. poverty instead of treating the symptoms?
Just some thoughts.
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You misunderstand. Making birth control available lets the people make the choices for themselves. The government isn't telling people to use it. On the other hand, the Catholic Church doesn't want the people to have any choice in the matter. What arrogance! There are many non-Catholic religious groups in the Philippines. Why is it that the Catholic Church seems to think it has to the right to speak for everyone?
The Catholic Church isn't the government per se. They have a right just like any other religious organization to espouse their social and religious tenets and beliefs. Who are we to deny them that right or impose upon them our own socially liberal values? Who are we to deny them religious freedom?
Contraception is not especially banned, simply costly. This brings me back to my original question(which went unanswered), which asks why the government isn't addressing the root of the problem.
Why not work on creating a prosperous and affluent society so that the populace thereby possesses the wealth to purchase contraception instead of forcing the government to spend taxpayer dollars on it against the conscience and values of a majority of those very same taxpayers?
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It's a good question and one that I cannot answer.
Yes the Catholic church, how interesting it is that they have such controversial opinions about such things. As an ex Catholic, I know what it is like to under that guidance and I find it extremely hypocritical that they represent Jesus, who's ministry on earth was one of grace and mercy, yet the Catholic church comes down on people with laws and condemnation.
I think it is a difficult situation to deal with in the Philippines, however I lean towards education and safe sex practices. The problem that the Catholic church has is that they think by using controception you are disrupting the natural events of God.
However what I can't understand is if a woman KNOWS her body then she can tell when it is a good time to have sex and when isn't, to avoid pregancy, so why don;t the Catholic church in Philippines teach this?
Thanks
we're christians belief that life starts since the conception. so any kind of birth control methods that can destroy the conception is forbidden..
I agree with you, but there are a lot of birth control methods which prevent contraception.
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I agree with you guys. It is really important for the Catholics to be aware on deciding this kind of problem. It is important to think about it before people decides on what should be the best thing to do.
I think the Church has it all wrong. I think birth control shoul be permitted and encouraged. In this day and age, people are gonna have sex. The church need to respect that fact and adpt its laws to better benefit humanity.
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I agree with you boatbuilding, birth control should now be implemented in all nations, particular to those country who have high population. The church must also learn to follow laws..
Whether it is the Philippines or anywhere else the church needs to realize that not only is the planet getting crowded but families are having a hard time making ends meet as it is. The more children they have the harder this becomes.
I think birth control should be implemented as there is now rampant number of big families who cannot provide food to their children.