Rep. Lagman On His Reproductive Bill

Finally, the good representative of Albay speaks.

The first part of his article in the PHILIPPINE DAILY INQUIRER is clear. Everybody understands it. However, the second part, “Smear Offensive”, he brings out interesting issues about the Reproductive Health (RH) bill which I want to comment.

The Bill is not anti-life:

How is one convinced that it is not anti-life when what we are talking is the prevention of pregnancy through the use of artificial method? So, what, rhythm method also prevents pregnancy?

I agree that natural family planning prevents pregnancy but the sex act involved, naturally done without paraphernalia is open to the transmission of a new life while the artificial method, things (condom, IUD) stop the transmission of life.

The bill does not interfere with family life:

How believable is Mr. Lagman in saying this when a contraceptive undermines a marital relationship? Sex and responsibility go together otherwise what differs us from lower forms of animals? What is a family that does not know how to be responsible?

The bill will not promote contraceptive mentality:

The bill does not prohibit pregnancy: How sure is Rep. Lagman that his bill will not promote contraceptive mentality especially among the teens who know that they don’t get pregnant if they use condom? How sure is he that those aspiring to be in the flesh business don’t use condom to prevent pregnancy and the transmission of STDs? If it does not prohibit pregnancy, why does it encourage the use then of contraceptives?

Humanae Vitae is not an infallible doctrine:

That is correct but it does not mean that the encyclical is wrong in its moral teaching. Mr. Lagman even said that Paul VI supported a minority report that eventually became the basis of his encyclical. The legislator from Albay, a lawyer, knows that truth and moral issues cannot be decided by a majority vote like in a beauty contest. If Mr. Lagman is familiar with the encyclical, if he is honest to himself, he agrees that all Paul VI prophesied came true on the use of contraceptives.

This is a case where any one says whatever s/he wants by using technical or ambiguous terms; anyway, who among the 100-million Filipinos are well informed on burning issues of our times? Who among us still remember our Logic and who among us have sufficient knowledge on Ethics or Moral Theology?

The more that we are dumb, the easier for our legislators to legislate.-30-