So I’ve been assigned the issue of Health in this latest project I’m involved in. And I’ve been wanting to say something about the RH Bill for a long time.

For almost a week, I researched about the bill, read numerous articles, essays, blogs, forums, statements released about the bill by both PRO and ANTI-RH Bill. I even came close to having an emotional fight with my sister who is against the bill.

The Catholic stand is (correct me if I’m wrong) the RH Bill promotes promiscuity and oversimplifies the problem of overpopulation and poverty. More importantly, the use of contraceptives is immoral and may even be “tantamount to taking a life”. I guess, this comes from the belief that sex is a manifestation of love between a married couple and is intended only for pro-creation, and no one must interfere with this gift of God. This I know from growing up with very religious parents, and recently, from talking to my sister. I respect this belief. There is nothing wrong with promoting abstinence if you are going to come from a Catholic background. Nothing wrong with saying that sex is a gift intended for pro-creation.

But what if you don’t believe in those things? What if you don’t believe that using a condom is “tantamount to taking a life” because for you, there is no life to take, no life has been created yet, not even a fetus. What if you believe that preventing an unwanted pregnancy actually promotes and aids in providing a better quality of life for many families – particuarly women and children?

The thing is, although the Philippines is predominantly Catholic, many do not even understand what it means to be Catholic. And if they did, would they still consider themselves Catholic? Some actually do, but still find themselves agreeing (with a clear conscience) with the RH Bill. I call these the progressive Catholics. And then of course, there are some who do not belong to any religion – whether Catholic, Christian, or whatsoever. What of them now? Are you going to deprive them of the kind of reproductive health they need and obviously want?

Take the case of Islam. They are not allowed to eat pork. But they don’t go about insisting that the government deprive everyone of pork. Muslims do not live in fear that the availability of pork will make more Muslims want to eat pork.

So I really don’t get why the Catholic Church thinks the RH Bill promotes promiscuity. If contraceptives are made accessible to everyone, and many Catholics do end up living promiscous lifestyles, then isn’t that the fault of the Church for not teaching their flock well enough to withstand temptation? Why is the Church so afraid of making information available to people?

Because of this, many non-believers of this Catholic teaching on contraceptives are denied their right to choose based on a moral standard of one religion. I say many, because most Catholics actually want the RH Bill passed.

Yes, it will not solve overpopulation (which they call a myth) or poverty. But it will definitely help. But hey, that’s not even my point.

My point is, we should have the right to choose. The RH Bill does not impose that you use contraceptives. It only provides access to information, access to contraceptives (if you choose to use them), not to mention all the reproductive health care many women and children in this sinking country needs.

I WANT THAT RIGHT. LET THE WOMEN CHOOSE. LET THE POOR FAMILIES CHOOSE.

Yun lang. Ang panget ng pagkasulat ko potah. Patalon-talon. May sense ba? Pasensya na.

I’m tired and sleepy, but still can’t sleep.

Pakshet, my first 2010 post and I’m already ranting.

I was thinking of writing a really long, articulate essay on this, but what the hell. Post ko na rin. Hehe.