Pope's birth control policy demographic timebomb for RP<\/p>\n
Karl Wilson, Agence France-Presse\/Manila<\/p>\n
The uncompromising birth control policies promoted by Pope John
\nPaul II were embraced wholeheartedly by the church in the
\npredominantly Catholic Philippines, which has one of the highest
\nbirth rates in Asia and tens of millions living in poverty.<\/p>\n
Condom use is almost nonexistent and poor birth control has
\nleft the country sitting on a demographic timebomb which has
\npitted advocates of birth control against the highly influential
\nchurch over its spiraling population.<\/p>\n
With a birth rate of 2.4 percent annually the Philippines
\ncould see its population double from the current 84 million
\nwithin the next 30 years, according to the government's
\nCommission on Population.<\/p>\n
Struggling to meet its massive debt repayments and with just
\nover 50 percent of the population living on less than US$2 a day
\nthe Philippines is already stretched to educate, feed and provide
\nhealth services for the population it now has.<\/p>\n
While population control did not figure in last year's
\npresidential election campaign nor was it included in President
\nGloria Arroyo's 10-point reform program, the controversial issue
\nis now before the nation's Congress.<\/p>\n
A private bill, the Responsible Parenthood and Population Act,
\nproposes to restrict families to two children, introduce sex
\neducation and enable the distribution of contraceptives.<\/p>\n
The legislation has so incensed the Church that it has
\nthreatened not to give Holy Communion to any government worker
\npromoting the bill.<\/p>\n
Monsignor Jesus Dosado of the Ozamiz diocese on the southern
\nisland of Mindanao was quoted recently saying that any government
\nworker who promotes what he called \"the bill's antilife policies\"
\nare \"not worthy to receive the body of Christ (Holy Communion)
\nand will be refused\".<\/p>\n
\"Those who privately support population control measures will
\nnot be denied Communion, but should in good conscience not
\npresent themselves.\"<\/p>\n
Observers say there is no way such a bill will become law
\nwhile the church wields its extensive influence over politicians
\nand policy in the Philippines. Nor would president Gloria Arroyo,
\na devout catholic, dare take on the might of the church.<\/p>\n
Rosy Alegria, spokeswoman for the Commission on Population,
\nsaid: \"Most catholic countries today leave the issue of birth
\ncontrol to the elected government. But here in the Philippines
\nthe church still has a very strong voice on the subject.<\/p>\n
\"That voice reflects the late pope's conservative view on the
\nissue. How the church's stand on birth control changes with a new
\npope remains to be seen.\"<\/p>\n
Commission executive director Tomas Osias said recently the
\ncountry urgently needed a population policy to stop the worsening
\nmaternal and child deaths brought about by unplanned pregnancies
\nin the country.<\/p>\n
The United Nations Population Fund has estimated that more
\nthan 400,000 women put their lives at risk each year by having
\nabortions, which are still illegal in the Philippines.<\/p>\n
Osias said the Commission was supporting the bill, which has
\nalready passed the House Committee on Health although has not
\nbeen officially endorsed by the government, because it encourages
\ncouples to plan their family size.<\/p>\n
Health Secretary Manuel Dayrit said that while the bill's
\nmajor concern is the two million Filipino couples in urban and
\nrural slums, teenagers would also be targeted.<\/p>\n
Dayrit said that in educating teenagers, this would expose
\nthem to the use of artificial contraceptives like condoms and
\npills.<\/p>\n
\"We will orient teenagers about the responsibility of not
\nhaving children at an early age but we will not tell them that
\nthey are free to use condoms and contraceptives,\" said Dayrit.<\/p>\n
A survey conducted by the polling group Social Weather Station
\nlast year found about 20 percent of Filipino women aged between
\n18 to 24 admitted taking contraceptive pills, while two percent
\nused condoms.<\/p>\n
The survey also showed 70 percent of Filipinos were not using
\nany family planning methods.<\/p>\n
Monsignor Hernando Coronel, secretary-general and spokesman of
\nthe Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines, said in an
\ninterview that the church would not support any form of
\nartificial contraception.
\nMonsignor Oscar Cruz, archbishop of Ligayen-Dagupan in the
\nnorthern province of Pangasinan and an outspoken critic of
\nartificial birth control, said: \"Contraceptives are a first step
\ntowards killing the unborn and are instruments that favor
\nabortion.\"<\/p>\n
The secretary of Cardinal Ricardo Vidal of Cebu said the
\nChurch perceived the current bill as being \"antilife\" and against
\nthe Fifth Commandment (thou shall not kill) even if it truly
\nseeks to prevent unwanted pregnancy.<\/p>\n
The Catholic Church in the Philippines encourages families to
\nhave as many children as they can raise and educate well and
\napproves only natural family-planning methods.<\/p>\n
Whether that view would soften if the successor to John Paul
\nII as pope softens the conservative stance on birth control
\nremains to be seen.<\/p>\n
kw\/jvg\/nw\/jah
\nVatican-pope-Philippines-population
\nAFP<\/p>\n
GetAFP 2.10 -- APR 4, 2005 12:21:32<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/popes-birth-control-policy-demographic-timebomb-for-rp-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }