I find it painfully hypocritical that the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) would suggest not giving communion to members of the church simply because of their stance on family planning. What about other members guilty of other “sins?” What about the politicos who steal from the people and still have the gall to show their faces at church every Sunday? That’s been going on for decades, and yet they pick this as a reason to kick somebody out? Why not also refuse to give communion to Gloria’s entourage who flew overseas just to watch Pacquiao’s bout, even as we were still reeling from Typhoon Frank’s aftermath?
Talk about double standards. While I don’t agree with Gabriela on many matters, I will side with their point that abortion happens simply because many women here have neither the financial nor the emotional means to care for their child. There are probably more reasons, but given our level of poverty, this is the most likely cause. If the church is so against abortion, then why don’t they care for the unwanted child? Or would they rather he or she grow in “a situation of sin,” where starvation and neglect will push them to resort to drastic actions just to stay alive?
I am angered especially because I am also a practicing Catholic. Since when did we end up with leaders with this backward thinking. Family planning does not equal anti-life. If anything, it ensures that the couple will have the means to properly care for their offspring.
As for the argument that sex education would lead to immoral acts, this flow of logic implies that reading about lock picking will also encourage us to commit thefts, or that reading about serial killers will turn us into murderers. Except that this doesn’t happen normally, unless the one reading is already mentally disturbed. This only reveals that the CBCP is selling their pulpit’s common sense and integrity short. We are smarter than that, and we certainly deserve better leaders than that.
-Antonio Yang III, Sta. Mesa, Metro Manila (via e-mail)
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July 17th, 2008 at 5:34 pm
The priests not all of them though majority, not only that the have just shown their lack of knowledge on the issues they are defending but blind on the real truth behind it.
What are their competents on the issues? First and foremost they should not in the first place, involve on the responsibility of the government on this issue.
If they really in the business of God, they should stick on the primordial duty of a CHRISTIAN to preach the gospel and make disciples every people or nations.
They are doing the opposite of the gospel that should have been preach. That is “DO NOT CONFORM TO THE STANDARD OF THIS WORLD”
I will not trust the salvation of my soul to these priests.
July 17th, 2008 at 3:16 pm
The issue on reproductive health - family planning has once again resurrected and comes into the air as another bill was filed in congress. The catholic church leaders especially the Bishops are erred about it because accordingly it promotes inhuman way of controlling birth does tantamount of commiting sins against the commandments of God.
The catholic church since the very beginning is against artificial birth control and thus promoting natural way and perhaps abstinence as the case maybe… the church is looking at the moral and spiritual implications of the artificial way into the life of every catholic devotee and the Philippines as a catholic country, and because of this, they have threathened politicos or any church members who sponsor/supporting the bill of not giving them communion.
On the other hand, do catholic church leaders consider also corrupt politicians, drug lord catholics, catholic gambling operators, swindlers, extortionist, rapist, maniacs, etc giving huge amount of donations to the church of not giving them communion or even totally banning them from attending masses for they are sinners?
Do catholic church leaders consider also rich and wealthy businessmen who are tax evaders and “opportunists” not giving them communion? or do they (catholic church leaders) consider also human rights violators and oppressive government authorities into the listings of those who are not supposed to be given communion? Remember, that even Jesus Christ himself did not only chose the rigtheous as his disciples but has chosen also a sinner as his disciple… catholic church leaders should not be “myopic” in giving its opinion towards the issue.
July 17th, 2008 at 1:50 pm
The operative word here is hypocritical, and the author is right. GMA is a hypocrite and so are most of the CBCP members.
In the kingdom of the blind, the one-eyed man is king. GMA is making the most out of this.
GMA sold her soul to GARCI long before, now it’s the bishops turn. Or maybe they had already.
July 17th, 2008 at 1:17 pm
I just want to comment on the statement of Bishop Cruz that the problem in the country is not overpopulation but corruption. I really agree with him that corruption is the biggest problem that pulls our country down. However, it does not necessarily mean also that overpopulation is not an issue that we just have to dismiss. Corruption is an astounding issue but very difficult to contain inasmuch as desires of the corrupt people are not within our control. On the issue pertaining overpopulation, however, is very much within our control. So, we will momentarily confront the issue that is well within our control, i.e., helping in efforts that will limit our population. growth.