Cabral accepts bishops' condom debate challenge

Health Secretary Esperanza Cabral on Monday accepted a challenge by two Catholic bishops to a debate on the effectiveness of condoms against preventing the spread of disease and the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). But Cabral said she wants the ground rules set first, stressing she does not want the debate to revolve around religious beliefs. "Pauunlakan ko po sila (pero) if it is a question of faith, di naman pagdedebatehan ang paniniwala, dapat irerespeto natin pareho yan. If it’s a question of the function of the Church in relation to the State, dapat malinaw rin yan dahil nakalagay sa Constitution magkahiwalay ang simbahan sa estado," she said in an interview on dwIZ radio. (I accept their challenge. But if it is a question of faith, I will not debate religious beliefs with them because we should all respect each other’s faith. If it is a question of the function of the Church in relation to the State, there is nothing to debate because our Constitution says the Church is separate from the State.) On the other hand, Cabral said there is not much point debating about facts already published in scientific journals. She said she wants to find out first the terms of reference for the debate so she can present her arguments properly. "Basta may klaro na terms and conditions, bakit hindi (So long as the terms and conditions of the debate are clear, why not)?" she said. Defend convictions Cabral also took a dig at pro-life advocates led by Ligaya Acosta, who said Cabral knows nothing about the matter. "Ignoramus daw ako, sinasabi nila wala raw akong alam diyan, maski ako doctor at sila hindi, siguro naman maipagtatanggol natin ang conviction natin diyan (They claim I am an ignoramus, that I know nothing, despite the fact I am a doctor and they are not. I believe I can defend my convictions in a debate with them)," Cabral said of Acosta. Acosta – a former DOH official and now executive director of Human Life International – also claimed the DOH is not telling the whole truth about condom use. She claimed surveys of the United Nations and International Planned Parenthood Foundation show that condom is only 70 percent effective in preventing sexually transmitted diseases. "I really sympathize with her. She is so ignorant of the issue. I think she should have studied first before becoming secretary of health. She should have concentrated first on her private practice. What she is saying is very embarrassing," Acosta said in an interview, excerpts of which were posted on the CBCP news site. Acosta also noted that Cabral had stated that the Philippines should decrease its fertility rate to 1.3 percent. "She doesn’t know that 1.3 is a dying level? So, there are many countries in the world, which is below replacement level. According to the United Nations the replacement level should be 2.1 for the population to survive. A married woman should at least give birth to more than 2," she said. Acosta added that money amounting to billions of dollars is being poured in condom campaigns, saying this may be why the DOH is very eager to distribute it. NPC willing to host debate National Press Club vice president Rolando “Rolly" Gonzalo said the NPC is willing to host the debate through its “Meet the Press" forum. "Willing kami mag-host niyan sa NPC, sa ‘Meet the Press’ or other forum (We are willing to host that, either in ‘Meet the Press’ or other forums)," Gonzalo told Cabral in his predawn radio program. Last weekend, Lipa (Batangas) Archbishop Ramon Arguelles and Caloocan Bishop Deogracias Iñiguez Jr. challenged Cabral to a debate on the effectiveness of condoms in preventing the spread of HIV and AIDS. Arguelles, vice chairman of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) Episcopal Commission on Family and Life, said Acosta and CBCP lawyer Jo Aurea Imbong could present data in the debate. The bishops have been intensifying their attacks on Cabral since the DOH distributed condoms on Valentine’s Day. - RSJ, GMANews.TV