Nobel Prize winner contradicts CBCP

Editor's Note: The CBCP reacted to this story on August 6, Monday, and published a piece on its CBCP for Life website. The piece is entitled, "Akerlof contradicted what?"

(UPDATED) MANILA, Philippines - Nobel Prize-winning economist George Akerlof contradicted the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines' (CBCP) use of his research in a public statement opposing the Reproductive Health (RH) Bill.

In the "Science Facts on the RH Bills in Plain Language" article on the CBCP for Life website, the CBCP states "Contraceptives bring about the downgrading of marriage, more extramarital sex, more fatherless children, more single mothers, according to the studies of Nobel laureate, George Akerlof."

In a written response, Akerlof said, "In my opinion, giving women, whether single or married, the right to choose can only increase the dignity of marriage and its sanctity."
Akerlof's research concluded that America's legalized abortion, as well as modern contraceptive technology, changed the American socio-sexual paradigm, as out-of-wedlock childbearing was now perceived as a woman's choice, which relieved men of any social obligation to marry the women or support their children.

The research, conducted within an American cultural framework, is not generalizable to the culture of the Philippines, where abortion is still illegal and single mothers are common.

Akerlof had not previously known that his research, which was on American out-of-wedlock childbearing, was cited in the Philippines by opponents of the RH Bill.

CBCP reaction

Reacting to comments by Akerlof that his research was taken out of context in the CBCP for Life website, the CBCP denied claiming that Akerlof was against the RH bill.
In an article entitled, “Akerlof contradicted what?” posted on its website on August 6, the CBCP said a “cross-cultural study that could be done here using his framework” has rich prospects which could go to waste. And yet, the pro-RH lobby does not mind citing numerous foreign studies, it pointed out.
Furthermore, “In the US, the societal effects of reproductive technology shock are clear, as Akerlof himself had found. Yet, Akerlof – throwing out his reference to cultural differences – turns his back and thinks it’s good for the Philippines, because ‘contraceptives and abortion…make family life richer and more rewarding,’” the CBCP said.
"Does Akerlof, who says he’s for the RH bill, mean it’s okay to have reproductive technology shock in the Philippines?" the CBCP asked.
The rest of the CBCP piece can be accessed here.

Support for the RH bill

When asked about his stance on the RH bill, Akerlof wrote: "I support fully, and without qualification, the bill in the Philippines to promote, without bias, all effective natural and modern methods of family planning that are medically safe and legal."

"Contraceptives and abortion, in my opinion, make family life richer and more rewarding because they reduce the number of unwanted children, which is bad for the family, and also bad for the children as well," he added.

Akerlof is the Koshland Professor of Economics at the University of California-Berkeley, and a 2001 winner of the Nobel Prize in Economics.

Akerlof was moved to comment on the issue after being contacted for comment by a freelance journalist who noticed the CBCP's citation of his research on their website. - Rappler.com

15% - Few Catholics See Contraceptive Use as Morally Wrong

http://www.people-press.org/2012/02/14/public-divided-over-birth-control-insurance-mandate/?src=prc-number

http://www.people-press.org/2012/02/14/public-divided-over-birth-control-insurance-mandate/2/

Ten Good Reasons to Pass the RH bill now

 A mother who is breast feeding her child

FROM: http://filipinofreethinkers.org/2011/02/05/ten-good-reasons-to-pass-the-rh-bill-now/

Just a few years ago, say “RH” in ordinary talks and you’ll get blank looks. Now, most Filipinos know that RH is reproductive health. It has entered presidential debates, topped the news, been surveyed to death. Moreover, majority have plainly said their piece: “We support RH.” Why? Loads of reasons—from the practical “We need help” to the proud “It’s my choice!” But 10 good ones should be enough to convince rational people and thoughtful policy-makers. So here are our top picks.

1 RH will: Protect the health & lives of mothers

The WHO (World Health Organization) estimates that complications arise in 15% of pregnancies, bad enough to hospitalize or kill women. From the 2 million plus live births alone, some 300,000 maternal complications occur yearly. This is 7 times the DOH’s annual count for TB, 19 times for heart diseases and 20 times for malaria in women. As a result, more than 11 women die needlessly each day.
Enough skilled birth attendants and prompt referral to hospitals with emergency obstetric care are proven curative solutions to maternal complications. For women who wish to stop childbearing, family planning (FP) is the best preventive measure. All these are part of RH.

2 Save babies

Proper birth spacing reduces infant deaths. The WHO says at least 2 years should pass between a birth and the next pregnancy. In our country, the infant mortality rate of those with less than 2 years birth interval is twice those with 3. The more effective and user-friendly the FP method, the greater the chances of the next child to survive.

3 Respond to the majority who want smaller families

Times have changed and people want smaller families. When surveyed about their ideal number of children, women in their 40s want slightly more than 3, while those in their teens and early 20s want just slightly more than 2.
Moreover, couples end up with families larger than what they planned. On average, Filipino women want close to 2 children but end up with 3. This gap is unequal, but shows up in all social classes and regions. RH education and services will help couples fulfill their hopes for their families.

4 Promote equity for poor families

RH indicators show severe inequities between the rich and poor. For example, 94% of women in the richest quintile have a skilled attendant at birth, while only 26% of the poorest can do so. The richest have 3 times higher tubal ligation rates. This partly explains why the wealthy hardly exceed their planned number of children, while the poorest get an extra 2. Infant deaths among the poorest are almost 3 times that of the richest, which in a way explains why the poor plan for more children. An RH law will help in attaining equity in health through stronger public health services.

5 Prevent induced abortions

Unintended pregnancies precede almost all induced abortions. Of all unintended pregnancies, 68% occur in women without any FP method, and 24% happen to those using traditional FP like withdrawal or calendar-abstinence.
If all those who want to space or stop childbearing would use modern FP, abortions would fall by some 500,000. In our country where abortion is strictly criminalized, and where 90,000 women are hospitalized yearly for complications, it would be reckless and heartless not to ensure prevention through FP.

6 Support and deploy more public midwives, nurses and doctors

RH health services are needed wherever people are establishing their families. For example, a report by the MDG Task Force points out the need for 1 fulltime midwife to attend to every 100 to 200 annual live births. Other health staff are needed for the millions who need prenatal and postpartum care, infant care and family planning. Investing in these core public health staff will serve the basic needs of many communities.

7 Guarantee funding for & equal access to health facilities

RH will need and therefore support many levels of health facilities. These range from health stations that can do basic prenatal, infant and FP care; health centers for safe birthing, more difficult FP services like IUD insertions, and management of sexually transmitted infections; and hospitals for emergency obstetric and newborn care and surgical contraception. Strong RH facilities can be the backbone of a strong and fairly distributed public health facility system.

8 Give accurate & positive sexuality education to young people

Currently, most young people enter relationships and even married life without the benefit of systematic inputs by any of our social institutions. We insist on young voters’ education for events that occur once every few years, but do nothing guiding the young in new relationships they face daily. The RH bill mandates the education and health departments to fill this serious gap.

9 Reduce cancer deaths

Delaying sex, avoiding multiple partners or using condoms prevent HPV infections that cause cervical cancers. Self breast exams and Pap smears can detect early signs of cancers which can be cured if treated early. All these are part of RH education and care. Contraceptives do not heighten cancer risks; combined pills actually reduce the risk of endometrial and ovarian cancers.

10 Save money that can be used for even more social spending

Ensuring modern FP for all who need it would increase spending from P1.9 B to P4.0 B, but the medical costs for unintended pregnancies would fall from P3.5 B to P0.6 B, resulting in a net savings of P0.8 B. There is evidence that families with fewer children do spend more for health and education.

---

You may want to copy this (or expand the list) and send to family, friends and acquaintances until it reaches our legislators. We need the support of everyone we can reach and convince.

My answers against the arguments of the Catholic Defender ANTI RH BILL People

Contraceptives

EXHIBIT ONE:

[[1. If the Reproductive Health Bill is for health, why promote oral contraceptive pills when it is known for causing breast and cervical cancer?]]

mangyayari yan kapag ginamit yan ng hindi naayon sa guidelines ng tamang paggamit.
 
[[2. Why is there no provision in the Reproductive Health Bill to educate women in the adverse effects of using artificial contraception if the RH Bill promotes women's health?

3. If a woman develops breast and cervical cancer from using oral contraceptive pills distributed by the government, will the government be responsible for them and provide them with free chemotherapy drugs?]]

sure ka? baka mga taga CBCP lang nagsabi niyan. ang CBCP kasi sinungaling yan pagdating sa isyu na yan.

pagkakaalam ko ay may sex education rin sa RH bill at ituturo rin ang side effects ng contraceptives gaya ng napag aralan ko sa Values Education kung ano ang 2 ways ng family planning na gusto naming gamitin.

[[4. One of the provisions of the R.H Bill says that abortion is still illegal, if it is, then why promote Intrauterine device since its principal action is to prevent implantation thus deliberately aborting the fertilized egg?]]

paano naging abortion na huwag pagmitin ang sperm at egg na ang 2 yan na hindi pa nagmimit ay wala pang puso at dugo?

[[5. If life begins at implantation, does that imply that prior to implantation the fertilized egg is not yet human?
6. If prior to implantation the fertilized egg is not yet human then what is it?

7. If it is not a human being then how can a non-human becomes a human? Can a blood have the potential to become a human person? or a piece of tissue?]] 

paano naging human being ang walang puso na tumitibok na sperm at egg na hindi pa nagmimit aber.
kung abortion pala gamit ang contraceptives na huwag sila pagmitin ay iconsider nyo rin yan kapag gumamit ay natural.

ang pinagkaiba ay hindi mo itutusok ang titi mo sa pekpek ng mahal mo.

[[8. According to the National Statistics Office our population growth rate is on steady decline, then how can you say that we are over populated?]]sabi nyo lang yang mga CBCP. 90 million talaga tayo. noong 2005 lang eh 87 million tayo.
[[13. If the Reproductive Health Bill is intended for married couples then why make artificial contraception available for everyone?]] 

Eh halimbawa, libog na libog ako sa gf ko at ayoko mabuntis siya dahil di pa handa magkaanak, eh di kung sex lang habol ko ay gagamit ako ng protection.
minsan, di naiiwasan ang pagtatalik sa nagmamahalan at need rin ang sex gaya ng pagkain.

mas maigi na magsex w/ protection kung wala pang balak mag anak talaga kesa nakabuntis pero itatapon lang sa basurahan ang fetus.

[[14. Since the Reproductive Health Bill promotes artificial contraception for married couples as well as unmarried ones then would you agree that you are promoting perversion?]]

perversion? HOY! sabihin mo sa mga pari na noon pa laganap na ang premarital sex at hindi yan maiiwasan sa mga kabataan.

ang sabihin nyo, dapat lang silang makabuntis para dagdag kita sa binyag.

[[15. Is a child a disease that there is a need to prevent him from being born?]]

Ano gustong palitawin ng mga master mong pari?

na dapat mag anak ng mag anak na hindi planado to the point na hindi kaya talaga pakainin ng maayos at mapag aral?

sabagay, kita sa binyag lang naman ang gusto ng mga pari kaya di nila iisipin yan.

[[16. If an increase in population spawns poverty, then why does countries like China and United States are richer than Philippines even if their population is five times than ours?]] 

Sure ka? may recession din sa mga bansang yan.

[[17. Would you agree than corruption is the cause of our poverty and not population? If you do, then why not create a law that will combat corruption?]]

pareho lang.
overpopulation results na mahirap maggenerate ng jobs.

syempre di iisipan yan ng mga pari kasi gusto nila yan para mapilitan ang mga kabataan na magpari o magmadre na lang.

EXHIBIT TWO:

[[saka saan ba galing ang Bibliya...diba sa catholic........]]

mali. ang Bibliya ay compilation ng mga aklat na sinulat ng mga propeta at apostol.

hindi kayo gumawa niyan kasi hindi kayo nagsulat niyan.

pumayag na ang Espiritu Santo na icompile lahat ang mga sinulat ng mga propeta at apostol kahit alam ng DIOS na iglesia ito na bulaan kasi hindi lang DIOS dinadasalan pati mga santo at si Maria.

[[naku wala pong catholic na maniniwala sa ganyang view....]]

sa mga anti RH bill na gaya mo.

[[so anong reason para maniwala kami.....]]

ang mga kagaya mong makapari at hindi makabayan ay never na tatanggap ng totoo kasi brainwash ka na.

hoy, ang overpopulation results to less job opportunities kaya mahirap makakuha ng work mga tao ngayon.

nga pala, yung RH bill sa Pinas ay batas na yan sa ibang bansang Katoliko lalo na sa Italya.

mga pari lang dito ang ayaw nito kasi apo sila ng mga Damaso na by overpopulation at sa pagbibigay ng mga barya ng mga mahihirap dahil anak sila ng anak ay enough ito para mamuhay sila na parang hari.

kaya kahit sex education tutol mga pari dito kasi alam nilang unang matututo nito mga mahihirap at matuto sila huwag mag anak ng mag anak. at hindi na mangyayari na kikita sila sa binyag o abuloy galing sa binyag.

huwag mong gamitin ang alibi na Humanae Vitae para hindi sumuporta sa RH bill kasi:

http://www.newsweek.com/2009/07/08/without-a-doubt.html

Dahil noong botohan ay mas maraming bishops ang pabor sa contraceptives.

"That attitude has resulted in some heinous decisions. Most famously, in the lead up to the encyclical "Humanae Vitae" in 1968, an advisory body of theologians and laity empaneled by the pope advised that the church should reverse its position on birth control and concede that the issue should be a question for morality and for science. But authority—not truth, not love—prevailed: Pope Paul VI, listening to the advice of Wojtyla, disagreed with the majority of these advisers, who had voted 69 to 10 for change, fretting that to change this position would weaken his authority."

saka better get out here kasi mas marami ding Katoliko ang pabor sa RH bill.

at hindi sila maniniwala sa mga propaganda ng CBCP against RH bill.

Genesis 1:28 also commands population control

 
Let us study the verse which the Unholy Roman Catholic Church uses to convince Catholics to bear a lot of children. and the reason why they are against the controversial Reproductive Health bill

Genesis 1:28 "And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and SUBDUE IT: "

What is Subdue?

http://thesaurus.com/browse/subdue

Part of Speech: verb

Definition: keep under control; moderate

Meaning, God commanded from the start not only to multiply but to control too. if there are lot of people today, we must follow God's commandment to moderate the world's population after men are multiplying the earth since God created our world.We must not only bear a lot of children on how many we want. we must also control ourselves based on the verse because it is us who knows how many children you can afford to raise properly.

and not only each of us must control after multiplying but all men too must control themselves of having a lot of children because there are lot of people in the world today. so the commandment of God in the verse that men should multiply themselves is not a commandment anymore.

God's commandment's today is to control after we multiply since the world began.

Sincerely,

Gepalta

Gospel Defender

CBCP eyes meeting with Bernas over RH bill

 
SOURCE: http://www.gmanews.tv/story/221818/nation/cbcp-eyes-meeting-with-bernas-over-rh-bill

The Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) is considering meeting with Jesuit priest Joaquin Bernas after calling as "irresponsible" some priests who said that supporting the reproductive health (RH) bill is a "serious sin" or "merits excommunication."

CBCP secretary general Msgr. Juanito Figura said the bishops will listen to Bernas' stand on the controversial measure.

"He has some talking points that he would like to tackle and we might give attention to that," Figura said in an article posted Friday on the CBCP news site.

Figura added that in the CBCP's last Permanent Council meeting, there were "little details" that were discussed and "there is a possibility to attending to that."

He did not elaborate, however.

Figura said Bernas as a priest is still “pro-life and he is towards the anti-RH bill side."

“It is because he is a priest and as a lawyer, he might have an angle from the legal point of view that he would like to clarify," Figura said.

Bernas' RH stand

Bernas, in his column in the Philippine Daily Inquirer on Monday, said "because of what I have said and written (where I have not joined the attack dogs against the RH Bill), I have been called a Judas by a high-ranking cleric, I am considered a heretic in a wealthy barangay where some members have urged that I should leave the Church."

However, he explained: "I adhere to the teaching of the Church on artificial contraception even if I am aware that the teaching on the subject is not considered infallible doctrine by those who know more theology than I do."

Bernas said neither the State nor the Church have the right to stop people from practicing responsible parenthood whichever way they prefer.

But he also voiced dismay over some preachers telling parishioners that supporting the RH bill is a "serious sin" and may merit excommunication.

"I am dismayed by preachers telling parishioners that support for the RH Bill ipso facto is a serious sin or merits excommunication! I find this to be irresponsible," he said in his column.

He also said public money is "neither Catholic, nor Protestant, nor Muslim" and may be appropriated by Congress for the public good without violating the Constitution.

He said he is happy that the CBCP has "disowned the self-destructive views of some clerics." - VVP, GMA News

Effects of Overpopulation. The reason why Phil. RH bill should be passed into a law

Why I support the Reproductive Health Bill?

Picture of a rally supporting the passage of Reproductive Health Bill

This comment came from another person but I was convinced by this that I should support the passage of Reproductive Health Bill into law:

Actually, they're not ENCOURAGING grade 5's to have sex. They tell you the diseases you can get from having sex. HIV/AIDS is a nasty thing. It teaches how to reduce your chance of becoming pregnant. I can tell you most diseases... from STI's right at the top of my head and tell you what they do. They don't really tell you much in grade 5. They just tell you the boys and girls private parts and to respect each gender. The RH bill has good intentions, although many people oppose it. That's what's sad.

Go on ahead if you want to protest the RH bill but I can guarantee that Sexually Transmitted Infections will be more common amongst people and the population will continue to increase, rapidly. Just remember this, the Philippines is a small country, people aren't the only organisms living on that island. No natural resources = dead.

I've already made up my mind, I'd rather help reduce or stabilize the population then let STI's dominate the Philippines.

Think about it....Canada -> 2nd largest country in the world, yet it has a little over 36 million people. Philippines -> Not even half the size of Canada's provinces and territories yet, it has almost 100,000,000 people. Yes, you're right, countries are laughing at the Philippines because they DON'T SUPPORT CONTRACEPTIVES and they're such a small country, yet has so many people.

Lambasting Catholic teaching that to be fruitful and multiply even today

"Be fruitful and multiply," the first instruction given by God after the world was created and the first couples were made by Him.


TAKE NOTE: This article has a relevance on the defense of the Reproductive Health Bill:

The Catholic Church always teach the concept of BE FRUITFUL AND MULTIPLY to all Catholic couples. Oh my Gosh. That commandment is only for Adam and Eve.

In the Bible, Apostle Paul taught Christians about this:

1 Corinthians 7:5 "Defraud ye not one the other, except it be with consent for a time, that ye may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again, that Satan tempt you ...not for your incontinency."

IN FILIPINO TAGALOG: 1 Corinto 7:5 "Huwag magpigil ang isa't isa, MALIBAN KUNG PAGKASUNDUAN SA ILANG PANAHON, upang kayo'y mamalagi sa pananalangin, at muling kayo'y magsama, baka kayo'y tuksuhin ni Satanas dahil sa inyong kawalan ng pagpipigil."

See, Paul taught to the couples to defraud and not always multiply. meaning Christians will have a limit on how many children will they have.

P.S. The Church just want more babies for more followers to gain more profits on their Sacraments, contributions, schools, donations and worse illegal gambling.

I understand the Phil. Catholic Church because Rizal's satire written against the majority of the friars of his time is still applicable even today.

FROM NOLI ME TANGERE CHAPTER 9 SAID BY AN OLD DOMINICAN FRIAR:

"Our power will remain as long... it is believed. It we are put into a bad situation, our corporation will fall. No money will enter to the Church. we will be poor"

Catholic Bishops Conference of the Phils. calls for civil disobedience

The picture of CBCP Residence in Intramuros, Manila

SOURCE: http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/02/03/11/bishops-call-anew-‘civil-disobedience’-vs-rh-bill

MANILA, Philippines - Bishops renewed their call for a “civil disobedience” should Congress insist on the reproductive health (RH) bill.

“We will have a civil disobedience! Those laws that are immoral, we will tell the people not to obey,” Sorsogon Bishop Arturo Bastes told Radyo Veritas.

“Let’s make it clear that we are not against any person. We are not against the government. We are not subversives,” Archbishop Ramon Arguelles added, noting that the call is not meant to topple the government.

Bastes added the members of the Church will not be afraid of being imprisoned because of this.

“We bishops, are willing to be imprisoned, together with our priests, and protest the immoral things [in the RH Bill]. To be firm with our teachings, let them imprison us,” he stressed.

“We are just saying what is right! We are going to proclaim whatever it is,” Arguelles also said.

The House committee on population and family relations earlier endorsed for plenary approval the controversial Reproductive Health Bill, which aggressively advances the use of condoms and other modern contraceptive devices.

MY COMMENT: 

The Catholic bishops who claimed to be apostles of Christ are ready to rebel against the government even the apostles themselves did not rebel against Roman Empire and to Herod even my early Christian brethen are being killed. Really this will happen when their being greedy of money is applied to themselves. they will become wild beasts. oops no, they are devils.

Remember this teaching from the Lord Jesus Christ:

Matthew 7:18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.
 

Matthew 7:19 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire....

Matthew 7:20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.

If these are the fruits of the Catholic Church, REBELLIOUS BISHOPS, It is clear that the Catholic Church is not of God and also not the continuation of the 1st Century Christian Church.

European Union Ambassador Supports the passage of RH bill into law

 The flag of the European Union

FROM: http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=643267&publicationSubCategoryId=63

1) MacDonald said at the launching of the Emphasis-RH project that lack of access to reproductive health services is anti-poor, anti-women, anti-children and anti-development.

He noted that the total fertility rate (TFR) for the richest quintile of the population is 2.0, while the TFR of the poorest quintile is 5.9. The TFR for women with college education is 2.3, about half that of women with only elementary education (4.5).

He also said the lack of access to RH services is anti-women, citing the slow decline in maternal mortality ratio in the Philippines.

He also said surveys suggest that the total wanted fertility rate for the Philippines is 2.4 children, or below the actual TFR of 3.3 children.

“It seems to me extremely unlikely that the Philippines will be able to meet its commitment under the MDGs under the present policy,” he said.

2) "The risk of childhood diseases and child mortality associated with large numbers of unplanned pregnancies is frightening, to think of the opportunities which children in the country are being denied because of the strain on health services, on education services, and the lack of employment opportunities, in a country which is straining at the seams,” he said.

“And even more immediately, infants and children have a greater probability of dying if they are born to mothers who are too young or too old, if they are born after a short birth interval, or if they are of high birth order,” he said.

3) “There is, however, one issue where the absence of effective RH services is not ‘anti.’ I have to underline that the lack of access to RH services is not anti-abortion – rather it serves to encourage abortion, to create a situation in which... there are more than 500,000 illegal abortions per year in the Philippines,” MacDonald said.

He cited the “astonishingly high proportion of abortions” at 15 percent of total pregnancies.

The EU’s current poverty reduction program in the Philippines is focused on the health sector.

Satire against the Catholic Church and RH bill defense which I like the most

  

Virgin Fathers or Dying Mothers: The Filipino Freethinkers Join Fellow RH Supporters in Silent Protest Against CBCP

Last Sunday, Feb. 27, 2011, the Filipino Freethinkers and fellow pro-Reproductive Health (RH) groups under the Reproductive Health Advocacy Network (RHAN) held the Memorial March for Mothers from Padre Burgos St. to the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) headquarters in Intramuros, Manila. The march and its succeeding mass action at the CBCP gates aimed to call the Catholic Church’s attention to the 11 Filipino women who die each day due to maternal complications. These complications could have been avoided with proper sex education and reproductive health services, but these rights continue to be suppressed thanks to the CBCP’s condemnation of the RH Bill and its efforts to delay the Bill’s passage.

MY COMMENT: I had been a staunch defender of the Reproductive Health bill at Free Carlos Celdran Facebook fan page for

CLICK HERE TO SEE IT since last year and these comments anti Catholic Church statements to express their opinions about the Philippine Catholic Church's too much interferance on politics on a mission to make it happen not to pass the bill into a law made me impress a lot

 SATIRE AGAINST THE CATHOLIC CHURCH

1) Has anyone noticed how there is an increase of films about exorcism since the present idiot Pope took over? I went to watch The Rite at the cinema in the Philippines last week - parents took their young children to watch it. When I asked why they took their children, some of which were no more than 3 years old, they said it was to teach them about the devil and how the Church is the only defense against evil. Astonishing. Truly astonishing. The Middle Ages are alive and kicking in the Philippines.

2) The bottom line being protected by the catholic church is the headcount of its members. More born, more infants baptized, more money into the coffers. More poor people? They don't care! The poor can still give... coins. Imagine about 80 million catholics this very moment. That's a lot of coins in week's harvest even with only 50% of its followers still practicing the faith.

3) The Catholic Church is like a juke box. It is coin operated. But, even it is only coins, when 80% of the Philippines are Catholic people, too much money for it every week. More than enough to make their bishops and cardinals live like kings and princes and send money to the pope in Rome too. Just imagine if only few baptized babies because of birth control.

 DEFENSE FOR THE RH BILL

Defense number One:

If the Catholic church were to take a more responsible attitude for the children who are born and can no longer be fed by their penniless parents, perhaps, the bishops would become more credible. Why, for instance can't the church use its tax-free collections to feed the hungry and care for unwanted children instead of building temples and air-conditioned residences for parish priests and bishops? It is my understanding that a percentage of the money is sent to the Vatican (a sovereign state).

If the church truly believes that all sexual acts should be "open to the transmission of life" (why does she insist on NFP, then?), results in procreation and no pregnancy should be unwanted, why not take the burden away from couples who do not want to bear more children that they cannot support? The church ought to take all these children into her bosom, feed, clothe and educate them. Then, maybe, we may actually have a more Christian society where the church is into caring for her faithful instead of aspiring to become the political primate that controls the State. I'll be happy to donate to such church-run charity.

On the issue of population management, economists have repeatedly stated that what is best for the country is a population growth moderated to a level that the country can grow economically, instead of being burdened by having too high a birth rate. Every year, close to 2 million babies are born in the country. In about 6 years, children born this year will enter kindergarten, and the cycle is repeated year after year. As it is, there are already shortages in the number of classrooms and textbook materials. I don't need to elaborate further, but I'm sure all of you understand what I'm trying to point out.

Those who advocate policies that produce a higher birth rate than is ideal for this country ought to put their money where their mouth is, support orphanages, invest in economic activities and other enterprises where people can find decent paying work. Sadly, most of these self-righteous people who label those who do not agree with them "abortionists", "evil" and what not, will not lift a finger when confronted with the results of their ruinous advocacy.

To promote what the church promotes without the sanctimonious bishops (and their "echo chambers") accepting responsibility for the resulting higher birth rates and unsustainable development is to be totally irresponsible.

Defense number 2:

A smaller population = lesser people to allocate resources to. I will repeat. even the whole Philippine budget will be allocated, It is not enough if the population continues to grow

You are making it show that it is easy to create jobs, books and classrooms like magic. You have 10 pieces of bread but you will feed 11 people. Is it enough? Sure, you buy 1 but Question: Do you have something to buy for it? This is too common scenario to poor families with around 13 members. You seem to rely more on the "pound of cure" rather than the "ounce of prevention" Most Filipinos do that, anyway, I will not be surprised.

Another thing: RH bill isn't just to prevent abortions. There is population control that the Philippines needed because we are overpopulated. If you think you can remove sex to all couples, you are dreaming. Sex is Physiologic need as Abraham Maslow said. But it does not mean that RH bill tolerates sexual promiscuity (Here for sure the conflict what the Church wants to say)