Grave consequences

In most of his recent speeches, PNoy keeps on citing the common good of our country and people in justifying his actions. But he must be reminded time and again that “common good” covers the fullest development not only of the economic, political and cultural but also of the spiritual lives of the citizens.

Hence, on this point, it may not be amiss to point out once more that he has not actually promoted the common good particularly the spiritual lives of our countrymen. On the contrary, he has even supported some measures that lead to a deterioration of morality in our country.

At the risk of being repetitious let me just cite once more PNoy’s all out and aggressive support for the passage of the RH law where it was reported that he even used the “persuasive” effect of the PDAF and or the DAP. I am citing this case again because one of the main features of this law is the promotion of artificial contraception with the use of public funds supposedly to control the growth of our population. And coincidentally, 46 years ago last July 31, 2014, Pope Paul VI issued his landmark encyclical Humanae Vitae where he pointed out the evils of contraception.

When Pope Paul VI issued said encyclical many people including Catholics had somehow disagreed with his stand to uphold the Church teaching on contraception. They believed at that time that such view of the Church is already outmoded and not in step with the modern trends then sweeping the world especially in the predominantly Catholic European countries. They ignored the truth that contraception is against natural law and thought that it was necessary to control the perceived problem of overpopulation.  Forty six years later in this country, the present government and the advocates of the RH law still had such kind of attitude and view on contraception and the alleged problem of overpopulation despite the mistakes now being realized by those countries especially on the grave consequences of contraception and the depopulation of the nation.

Indeed in Humanae Vitae, Pope Paul VI already predicted the grave consequences happening in those countries now and may eventually happen here because of the RH law that PNoy aggressively supported and hastily signed into law. In Section 17 PopeVI made several predictions on the inevitable results of relying on contraception now being promoted by the RH law:

Responsible men can become more deeply convinced of the truth of the doctrine laid down by the Church on this issue if they reflect on the consequences of methods and plans for artificial birth control. Let them first consider how easily this course of action could open wide the way to marital infidelity and a general lowering of moral standards. Not much experience is needed to be fully aware of human weakness and to understand that human beings—especially the young who are so exposed to temptation—need incentives to keep the moral law, and it is an evil thing to make it easy for them to break that law”.

Obviously the RH law will contribute to the lowering of the moral standards in our society especially among the young ones. Indeed one of the purposes for allegedly using artificial contraception is make sexual intercourse more “safe and satisfying” especially among the teenagers. In fact it has been reported in media that Department of Health (DOH) the Undersecretary Janet Garin that DOH is already distributing “sexual kits” especially to teenagers to prevent pregnancy in case they have sexual intercourse voluntarily or involuntarily. Even the former DOH Secretary Esperanza Cabral has already been distributing condoms particularly in major bus terminals for free at government expense during her stint in the Department when the RH law was not yet enacted into law.

Continuing in Section 17 of the encyclical, Pope Paul VI also warned that:

“Another effect that gives cause for alarm is that a man who grows accustomed to the use of contraceptive methods may forget the reverence due to a woman, and, disregarding her physical and emotional equilibrium, reduce her to being a mere instrument for the satisfaction of his own desires, no longer considering her as his partner whom he should surround with care and affection.

Indeed even now, we seem to have forgotten of our treasured Filipino custom of respecting the dignity and honor of Filipinas. Gone are the days really when suitors practice the Filipino custom of “no touch” until after they marry the women of their sweethearts. Incidents of pre-marital sex are increasing and will definitely increase even more with the passage of RH law.

Pope Paul VI perhaps even foresaw what is happening to our country now when our own leader has assumed the role of the principal supporter of this method under the guise of controlling our growing population to solve our chronic poverty problem: As the Pope said:

“Finally, careful consideration should be given to the danger of this power passing into the hands of those public authorities who care little for the precepts of the moral law. Who will blame a government which in its attempt to resolve the problems affecting an entire country resorts to the same measures as are regarded as lawful by married people in the solution of a particular family difficulty? Who will prevent public authorities from favoring contraceptive methods which they consider more effective. Should they regard this as necessary, they may even impose their use on everyone”

Consequently, unless we are willing to accept that the responsibility of procreating should be left to the arbitrary decision of men, we must accept that there are certain limits, beyond which it is wrong to go, to the power of man over his own body and its natural functions—limits, let it be said, which no one, whether as private individual or as a public authority, can lawfully exceed. These limits are expressly imposed because of the reverence due to the whole human organism and its natural function”

These are clearly happening to our country now with the passage of the RH law. While the use of contraceptive methods under the law is allegedly a matter of free choice in planning the size of the family as part of “responsible parenthood,” the law has also allowed the government to use public funds to purchase those contraceptives for free distribution to the poor who chose to use them but could not afford to buy them.

Now is the time indeed for more prayers for our country and our leaders. May they realize and admit their mistakes and change their minds.

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