Pacquiao Catholic bishops' new ‘champ’ vs condoms

To the world, he is a boxing champ but Sarangani Rep. Emmanuel “Manny" Pacquiao has become a new champion of sorts for Catholic bishops as well. Pacquiao received praise from retired Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Oscar Cruz for remaining firm on his stand against artificial contraception. “I was amused and I admired his courage for saying what he believes in. I think the man is very much conscious with his relationship with God and the Church," Cruz said in an article posted on Wednesday on the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) news site. Cruz was referring to Pacquiao’s statement on Monday where he said he is for natural family planning, particularly abstinence. In that interview, Pacquiao urged couples to control their sexual urges because condoms and abortions are sinful. “Magtiis tayo, dapat may pagtitiis tayo. Makasalanan yung paggamit ng condom at pagpapalaglag ng bata (We should control ourselves. Condoms and abortions are sinful)," he said.

 He also said there is nothing in the Bible that tells parents to limit their children to two. “Why not teach them? If a family doesn’t want a lot of children, they should abstain. It’s a sin to use a condom. It’s a sin to have an abortion because you can’t have a baby," he said. The People's Champ Aside from the recent victory over Margarito, Pacquiao had won the World Boxing Council (WBC) Flyweight Champion in 1998-1999; International Boxing Federation (IBF) Super Bantamweight Champion in 2001-2004; RING Featherweight Champion in 2003-2005; WBC and RING Super Featherweight Champion in 2008; and WBC Lightweight Champion, 2008-2009. He is also the current champion of the International Boxing Organization (IBO) and RING Junior Welterweight Champion as well as in the World Boxing Organization, and reigning World Boxing Organization (WBO) Welterweight Champion. Pacquiao’s record in the ring now stands at 57 fights, of which 52 are wins (38 by way of knockout), three losses, and two draws. Bishop: Do not distort Pope's message In an earlier CBCP report, Cruz encouraged the public not to distort the Pope's message. “When we argue let’s not take half-truths because we will lose that way. I’m sorry to disappoint people who are hoping otherwise," he said. Cruz lamented that some individuals were distorting the Pope’s statement to advance their own interests. “Our only appeal is that for them to just stick with the truth…" he said. A CBCP report quoted Presidential Communications Development Secretary Ramon Carandang as saying the Palace is hoping that the local Catholic hierarchy would follow the Vatican because “they cannot be more popish than the pope." “That’s a good step. I think our own clergy should be informed by the views of the Vatican because they’ve always referred to the Vatican when they stated their position, now that the Vatican’s position is such then I think that should result in a corresponding flexibility on the part of our Church," Carandang said. Pope still against contraceptives Fr. Joel Jason, head of the Manila Archdiocese’s Commission on Family and Life, said the pope remains firm on the Church’s stand against contraceptives. He said the Pope only said that when male prostitutes use condoms, it could be a sign that they are starting to realize that it is not right to have sex without thinking of the consequences. Jason noted that the Pope said abstinence and marital fidelity are the only sure ways of preventing the spread of HIV. The Pope also said sex is not a drug intended for pleasure. “They (pro-RH) respect the pope but our concern is that they are acting upon a misconception. We are hoping that they listen to corrections," Jason said. “We tend to take things out of context… before they make a conclusion they should first get the whole context of what the Holy Father really said," he added. Jason is the Dean of Studies at San Carlos Seminary in Guadalupe in Makati City and teaches Fundamental Moral Theology, Sexuality and Integrity and Bioethics. Jason said the church is still firm in its position that AIDS must be fought through moral fidelity and sexual abstinence. “Risk reduction is not even an option. Let’s not take the minimal option but the maximum option. Let’s not take condom as a solution," Jason added. “Thorough infidelity and abstinence, there’s no way you can get AIDS if you practice these," he said. Prolife groups reiterate stance vs RH bill Meanwhile, prolife groups reiterated their stance against the RH bill in Congress. The group "Couples for Christ" said the bill that aims to give free access to contraceptives violates the right to life and the Constitution. “Thus, we say no to contraceptives and yes to natural family planning," said CFC chairman Joe Tale in a statement posted on the CBCP news site. “Parents have the primary right and responsibility in rearing up their children. We thus say no to compulsory sex education in schools," he added. He also insisted that population is not the cause of poverty but “greed, corruption and bad governance." The CFC also voiced support for House Bill 13 filed by Rep. Roilo Golez and Senate Bill 2497 authored by Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile, which seek “to protect the rights of the unborn." RH bill 96 Several versions of the RH bill have been filed in previous congresses. In the present Congress, the RH bill is known as "Bill 96" whose main proponent is Minority Leader Edcel Lagman of Albay. The RH is based on the premise that the country's population growth impedes economic development and exacerbates poverty. The bill seeks to “guarantee to universal access to medically-safe, legal, affordable and quality reproductive health care services, methods, devices, supplies and relevant information." The bill also seeks a “consistent and coherent national population policy," citing studies that show that "rapid population growth exacerbates poverty while poverty spawns rapid population growth." Drive vs artificial contraception The Catholic Church’s drive against artificial contraception received flak from reproductive health (RH) advocates after a news report quoted Pope Benedict XVI as saying condom use by certain people, such as male prostitutes, may be a step toward a more responsible sexuality. An Associated Press (AP) article on Sunday quoted the Pope as saying that condoms are not a moral solution to stopping AIDS but in some cases, such as for male prostitutes, their use could represent a first step in assuming moral responsibility "in the intention of reducing the risk of infection." The Pope, however, also reiterated the Church's position that abstinence and marital fidelity are the only sure ways of preventing the spread of HIV. The Pope made the statement in response to a German journalist's general question about Africa, where heterosexual HIV spread is rampant. The Pope's comment will be published in a book entitled "Light of the World: The Pope, the Church and the Signs of the Times." A matter of exceptions Proponents of the RH bill said the Pope's statements reflect a shift in Church policy on artificial contraception. However, according to the AP article, Cardinal Elio Sgreccia, the Vatican's longtime top official on bioethics and sexuality, said the Pope's stand pertains only to cases where condom use "is the only way to save a life." Quoting Sgreccia on the Italian news agency ANSA, the AP report said the Pope's stand on the condom issue was "in the realm of the exceptional." "If Benedict XVI raised the question of exceptions, this exception must be accepted ... and it must be verified that this is the only way to save life. This must be demonstrated," Sgreccia said. In the same AP report, Archbishop Gregory Aymond of New Orleans said the Pope was clearly not encouraging condom use. "I think the pope has been very strong in saying condoms do not solve the problem of morality and do not solve the problem of good sex education. But if a person chooses not to follow the teaching of Christ in the church, they are at least obliged to prevent another person from contracting a disease that is deadly," he said. – VVP, GMANews.TV