Does the issue of the rising incidence of unwanted pregnancies fall under the responsibility of the government or the church?

Juan Deveraturda, Zambales: Family, media, the church, and the government share equal responsibility. These four institutions of our society have failed to arrest and prevent the rising incidence of premarital pregnancies.

Armando Tavera, Las Piñas City: The issue of the rising incidence of unwanted pregnancies should not be shouldered by the government and church alone. Remember, everything starts at home.

A shared responsibility

Rex Earlou Calmerin, Iligan City: I say both, along with families and educational institutions.

Felmar Rowell Singco, Northern Samar: In the hierarchy of things, it is first of all the responsibility and accountability of the person himself, then the parents, then the church, and then, lastly, the government.

I.Q. Calata, Parañaque City: The rising incidence of unwanted pregnancies is caused by the continued downslide of morality and the increasing decadence of society. It is therefore a joint responsibility of both government and the church. The government has failed to curb negative influences via media, and the church is wanting in its role in the spiritual and moral education of our people, especially the youth.

E. Linsangan, Isabela: Both, but it looks like they don’t mind at all. Leaders of this government are so focused on their political survival while the church is too busy with its unwarranted meddling in politics.

Robert Young Jr., San Juan: Both government and the church share the responsibility. The church’s idea of family planning is abstinence or the rhythm method. What results is hundreds of thousands of unwanted pregnancies. According to a UP study, the Philippines has an average of half a million abortions a year. Squatter couples have eight kids on the average.

Tony Gomez, Parañaque City: The issue of unwanted pregnancies falls under the responsibility of the church, but also under the Department of Education and Filipino parents.

Elpidio Que, Vigan City: Unwanted pregnancies are both the government’s and the church’s responsibility. Unwanted pregnancies can be caused by smut materials that proliferate. DVDs, for example, are contraband merchandise sold openly in the streets. The government should be held responsible for this. On the other hand, the church’s policy on birth control should also be faulted.

Dino Monzon, Caloocan City: Unwanted pregnancies should be tackled by the church as morals fall under its purview. Teachers should also warn students on the stupidity of premarital sex.

Johann Lucas, Quezon City: Both. If they provide sex education to the youth in schools and at home, the incidence of unwanted pregnancies would be minimized.

Ella Arenas, Pangasinan: Both, the government has the responsibility to control unwanted pregnancies through programs and activities falling under its population control, while the church has the responsibility to inculcate moral values and social conscience.

Nestor Buñag, Mandaluyong City: I believe the imperative responsibility is incumbent on both. It’s the government’s concern for socio-economic welfare awareness. The church never falters in her teachings on the sin against the Sixth Commandment, especially fornication. Moreover, time and again, homilies emphasize socio-economic awareness.

Nony de Leon, Bulacan: Those who are harmed by unwanted pregnancies are citizens and also church members. Both the church and state are duty bound to solve the problem.

Sex education is the government’s turf

Leandro Tolentino, Batangas City: This could be the result of limited reproductive health education, which is the sole responsibility of the government.

Ed Alawi, Davao City: It should be the responsibility of the government after the parents and church failed to warn their children of the physical and moral consequences.

Ed Ledesma, Iloilo City: Under government responsibility, of course. Leave all the pompous moralizing to the church.

Voz Butuyan, Pangasinan: The government is responsible because it is clothed with the authority to regulate civilian behavior by the use of police power.

Nick Ocampo, Angeles City: The government has the big responsibility for the rising incidence of unwanted pregnancies. The government must push its birth control program.

Media is also responsible

Ryan Pahimulin, Rizal: Aside from the government and the church, media is also responsible.

Manuel Abejero, Pangasinan: It’s a social malady brought about by lack of parental guidance, Western influence as shown on TV and local films, the proliferation of smut magazines and tabloids, and pronographic DVDs. The government is more concerned about tax collection than the effect of these movies and magazines on the morality of the people. The church, on the other hand, is more concerned about how to collect more tithes and donations and parents are more concerned about how to earn a living to support their family.

It all begins at home

Alexander Raquepo, Ilocos Sur: The main responsibility falls under the family. This is where values are founded, cultivated and nourished. The government is only secondary because of the lack of programs on health education.

Leonard Villa, Batac City: Why fault the government or the church for a very private affair? Unwanted pregnancies fall under the responsibility of parents and guardians, no more, no less.

Rey Onate, Palayan City: It all starts with the family, then with educational institutions, and with different institutions in our society that deal with moral development. The government provides the laws, rules and regulations that govern the norms of ethics or morality in our society. Religious organizations must also have the commitment to reinforce the norms of ethics of society.

Ronali dela Cruz, Metro Manila: Both, but the home plays a crucial role, too. Young people must be made aware of the pitfalls of engaging in sex without a committed relationship.

James Gaw, Quezon City: They are both responsible, but most importantly, parents are mainly responsible.

Dennis Acop, Baguio City: The issue of the rising incidence of unwanted pregnancies does not only fall under the responsibility of the government or the church but under every parent and child. Sure, the government formulates and implements public policy governing the education and value formation of all citizens from a secular perspective. On the other hand, the church propagates the faith and encourages people to live that faith. But it is the more profound responsibility of parents to teach their children moral values to live by. Education and values begin at home. Sadly, many parents do not lead good examples. They are usually absentee parents who spend most of their time away from their spouses, sons, and daughters.

Norman Villamayor, Mandaluyong City: Neither. The greatest responsibility lies with the parents, the home being the foundation where all important values are introduced and nurtured. At the same time, education plays a crucial role in supporting these positive values.

Ignacio Anacta, Metro Manila: Unwanted pregnancies are not the responsibility of the government or the church, though both partly influence the youth. The moral discipline of the youth should be inculcated by parents, but the easy availability nowadays of immoral print and digital media makes parental responsibility more daunting! Parents who patiently educate their children on moral uprightness, the risks and dangers of premarital sex, the punishment of sins, and the rewards of being a true Christian normally end up with successful children!

James Gaw, Manila: They are both responsible, but the parents should be mainly responsible.

June Deoferio, Cavite: It is the responsibility and obligation of parents to take care of their children, especially when they are minors, to prevent them from getting into unwanted pregnancies.

Declining morality

L.C. Fiel, Quezon City: The government, the church and, let’s not forget, the home under whose responsibility this problem falls, have been weakened by a vicious cycle of corruption, sexual freedom and poverty.

Ros Delatado, Batanes: Both government and the church have been doing their part towards morality. It’s one’s lack of discipline from within that causes these unwanted pregnancies.

Lydia Reyes, Bataan: For me, the rising incidence of unwanted pregnancies is due to deteriorating moral values of Filipino women.

It’s personal

Mario Tejada, Ilocos Norte: It falls under the responsibility of both, plus the family, the community, the school, the media, etc. I mean, this is a shared responsibility. The greatest responsibility lies with the concerned individuals themselves.

Rose Leobrera, Manila: Unwanted pregnancies are due to the hot-blooded youth who just can’t control themselves. Primarily, it’s the family’s responsibility when problems of this kind arise. Though the church and government wage all-out campaigns, there’s nothing they can do if young couples insist on crossing the line.

Benjamin Nillo, Las Piñas City: The church and the government could not be held responsible for unwanted pregnancies. It’s the fault of ill-mannered, hard-headed youths.

J.R. Mondonedo Jr., Parañaque City: It should be the responsibility of women themselves because they always think they are in love and that the guy will marry them or be responsible fathers when the opposite usually happens.

C.B. Fundales, Bulacan: Unwanted pregnancy is a personal business, but should be the concern of both the government and the church. The pending RH bill is a key to this issue.

Gerii Calupitan, Muntinlupa City: Neither. If a man riding a donkey fell off a bridge while crossing it, is it the fault of the man, the bridge or the donkey? This question was one of the koans given during our Zen classes in 1974 to break logic, shatter rigid thinking and show the interaction of all creation through karma. Unwanted pregnancies occur because when a man and a woman are left alone in a room, there is always a third person, the devil, as the Iranian saying goes. Is it the fault of the government or church that my son’s barkada, a pastor’s daughter, got pregnant? Will you blame her, the lover, or claim Immaculate Conception?

Felix Ramento, Manila: If having unwanted pregnancies were a crime, the matter would fall under government responsibility; if it were a sin, it would fall under the church’s, and because it’s mainly due to personal discretion, I believe it is more of the church’s concern.

They can only do so much

Digoy Coro, Batangas: The DOH must merely help and inform them about do’s and don’ts, though it’s a person’s responsibility to take care of himself or herself.

Germi Sison, Cabanatuan City: The government and the church are definitely not responsible for unwanted pregnancies as it would be against the law and the will of God to prevent sexually active couples, married to each other or not, from getting pregnant. God did not ask David and Bathsheba to prevent pregnancy in their adulterous affair. The government can only prescribe and supply artificial means and the church can only advise and teach natural means in preventing pregnancy, but it is still the decision of the mating couple to prevent pregnancy or not.

Eric Gopilan, Quezon City: It is more of the responsibility of the couple. The government and the church can only give advice or suggestions.

It’s everyone’s concern

Rey Ibalan, Antipolo City: It’s everybody’s concern and responsibility to educate people on how to prevent or minimize unwanted pregnancies.

Church and state should work together

Renato Taylan, Ilocos Norte: Teaching fertile women how to protect themselves from unwanted pregnancies is the government’s concern; preaching why it’s a sin is the church’s.

William Gonzaga, Marikina City: It’s both the church’s and the government’s responsibility. They must cooperate in a consistent and widespread information campaign to prevent the increase of unwanted pregnancies. Both have the means to reach out to people who need proper guidance in avoiding such conditions that would affect their life and future.

Col. Ben Paguirigan Jr., Ret., Zamboanga City: It’s the responsibility of both, morally and financially. Government and church hierarchies should unite to intensify information on the effects of unwanted pregnancies.

C.B. Manalastas, Manila: Both, the church for moral and spiritual values and the government for social awareness.

Ronald Marquez, Boracay: The state has to regulate the overpopulation in our country, while the church has the influence to prevent unwanted pregnancies.

Pedro Alagano Sr., Vigan City: It’s the inherent responsibility of the government thus, the Reproductive Health Bill was crafted to address the issue. The church opposed it, but political will can make the difference. The government has the primordial responsibility to work for the good and welfare of its citizens and any related failure, but the church must be held responsible for obstructing legal remedies. Let there be a mutual understanding to come up with a just solution regarding the issue.

Conflict between church and state

Edwin Castillo, Tanauan City: It’s the role of the government to regulate and control population but the church is preventing the passage of Reproductive Health Bill.

Luisito Vallo, Pangasinan: They are both liable the church for meddling with the government’s population control and sex education programs, and the government for not fully implementing the programs, afraid of the church’s ire.

Jim Veneracion, Naga City: It’s the responsibility of both; the problem is the usual conflict between the government and church concerning programs on reproductive health and birth control.

Church must review stand on contraception

C.K. Yeo, Iloilo City: The government is responsible for unwanted pregnancies because of its failure to educate people on the different types of family planning methods and its failure to provide condoms and pills to the poor who do not want to have more kids. However, the fault lies with the church. The church has been adamant on its rhythm method and abstinence for family planning. The Philippines being a predominant Catholic country, people follow the teachings of the church. This is why there are tens of thousands of unwanted pregnancies even when mothers oftentimes leave their fetuses and newborns, even in the toilet of an airplane.

Mark Capistrano, Parañaque City: It’s the church’s fault because of its position against the population program of the government. The church’s position is old school.

Cris Rivera, Rizal: The government’s relenting family planning campaign and the church’s pro-creation stand make them partly liable for the rising population. Using contraceptives doesn’t mean killing, but causing delay. Contraceptives help, it is, in fact, pro-creation. Condoms don’t kill, but abortion can.

Ricardo Tolentino, Laoag City: It’s the government’s responsibility, for the most effective solution is sex education an issue the church does not want to tackle.

More information is needed

Delfin Todcor, Quezon City: It’s the responsibility of the government’s DOH to educate and help the poor since they are the ones most affected by unwanted pregnancies.

Jesus Ludovice, Metro Manila: Unwanted pregnancies happen mostly in very young women with less or very little knowledge about reproductive health and no proper education on the subject at all. Sadly, there’s no proper guidance and orientation on the subject from their parents and the church.

Views expressed in this section do not necessarily reflect the editorial position of The STAR. The STAR does not knowingly publish false information and may not be held liable for the views of readers exercising their right to free expression. The publication also reserves the right to edit contributions to this section as it sees fit.

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