EDITORIAL - If condoms sell, it is not the fault of the ads

The Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines wants the government to ban commercial advertisements pushing the sale of condoms. Not only is that an impossible proposition, that is also a rather malicious position to take.

The bishops know very well the government cannot ban such commercials. To do so is not only illegal, it is also unconstitutional and undemocratic. Still the bishops went ahead and made the demand anyway.

Why? Because they calculated that once government refuses to ban such commercials, it promptly becomes a convenient scapegoat for anything and everything the bishops can associate with condoms. And that reeks of malice.

The world is a marketplace of ideas. If condoms sell, it is not the fault of commercials. If condoms are freely accepted, it is not the fault of government. There can only be one reason for such public acceptance -- the bishops have failed to get their message about condoms across.

Yet, even as the bishops are unwilling to accept any blame, they are on the other hand only too eager to pass on the blame to others. That, we believe, is taking the easy way out. As advocates of soul-searching, the bishops abhor the idea of doing any soul-searching themselves.

Maybe the bishops are afraid any soul-searching on their part will reveal the reason why they have lost so much credibility over the years. When people say one thing then do another, it does not take too long before their credibility flies out the window.

Simply put, the bishops can no longer connect. They have lost focus of their one true mission and have become too detached from their flock. It is no longer necessary to enumerate here the times they have strayed. Suffice it to say the faithful are mum, but they keep score.

On the subject of condoms, for instance, the bishops have quite a mouthful to say. From sickness to sex to the kitchen sink, they have thrown everything against the condom. And guess what? They are probably right in many of those issues.

But that is not the problem. Being right and to be believed as being right are two entirely different things. The food and the food server must both appeal to the customer. The pancit may look good, but if the waiter smiles with "kamunggay" in his teeth, then goodbye.