PopCom Region7 chief to Church: Don't 'mislead' flock

CEBU, Philippines - The regional director of the Population Commission yesterday called on leaders of the Catholic Church not to resort to name-calling and “misinformation” in the ongoing debate over the controversial Reproductive Health Bill.

In yesterday’s Kapihan sa PIA (Philippine Information Agency), lawyer Bruce Ragas said he respects the Catholic leaders’ opposition to House Bill 4244 or the Responsible Parenthood – Reproductive Health Bill but they should allow followers of the church to arrive at individual decisions.

“They should not mislead the people for them to be convinced,” Ragas said.

One of the alleged misleading information on the bill is the position of the church that the Reproductive Health Bill promotes abortion. He reportedly experienced attending a mass and hearing the same straight from the priest. Ragas himself is a Catholic. 

In the Philippines, the Catholic Church is the only major religion that opposes the RH Bill. Meanwhile, other major Christian churches have officially endorsed the RH bill, including the Interfaith Partnership for the Promotion of Responsible Parenthood, National Council of Churches in the Philippines, Iglesia ni Cristo, and the Philippine Council of Evangelical Churches.

In Cebu, all congressmen except Cebu City South District Rep. Tomas Osmeña, is against the passage of the RH Bill.

The Catholic Church is strongly opposing the measure, which allows the use of artificial contraceptives like condoms and pills. It wants couples to use only the natural family planning method.

During the first day of the plenary debate on the RH Bill last May, Manila Rep. Amado Bagatsing, one of those opposing the bill, pointed out that only parents, and not schools, should be educating children about sexuality and reproductive health.

The Bill requires sex education to be taught in Grade Five but Bagatsing said the same would just open children’s eyes to sex. Those supporting the bill argue that sex education can help prevent unwanted pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases.

Section 16 of the consolidated RH bill states that age-appropriate RH and sexuality education “shall be taught by adequately trained teachers in formal and non-formal educational system starting from Grade Five up to Fourth Year High School using life-skills and other approaches.”

The bill states that age-appropriate sex education will be integrated in relevant subjects and will include topics such as values formation; knowledge and skills in self protection against discrimination, sexual violence and abuse, and teen pregnancy; physical, social and emotional changes in adolescents; children’s and women’s rights; fertility awareness; STI, HIV and AIDS; population and development; responsible relationship; family planning methods; proscription and hazards of abortion; gender and development; and responsible parenthood. (FREEMAN)