Bishops, women argue about morality in RH bill 'grand debate'

Two bishops belonging to different Christian churches, academicians, and women's rights advocates gave opposing viewpoints on the moral aspects of the controversial reproductive health bill during GMA News TV’s Grand Debate aired Sunday night. Roman Catholic Bishop Teodoro Bacani said House Bill 4244 "ignored" the moral dimension of the RH issue by endorsing the use of modern birth control methods such as condoms and pills. "Ang nakakalungkot sa bill na ito ay hindi nito binibigyang pansin ang moralidad," he said. Bacani argued that using artificial contraceptives causes abortion. He added that giving Filipinos access to these family planning methods is the “fatal flaw" of the latest version of the RH bill. But Bishop Efraim Tendero of the Philippine Council of Evangelical Churches disagreed with Bacani's opinion, saying the provisions of the RH bill are moral because they give parents the opportunity to provide better lives for their children. “Ang bill na ito ay ayon sa Bibliya… Ang RH bill ay moral dahil ito ay ayon sa utos ng Diyos na pangalagaan ang sanlibutan at bigyan ang mga anak ng dignidad," he said.

Professor Sylvia Claudio of the UP Center for Women’s Studies agreed with Tendero. She appealed to Roman Catholic Church officials to allow Catholics and non-Catholics in the country to make their own decisions on the RH bill. “Ang kilos ng Simbahan ngayon ay hindi nagpapakita ng respeto sa kagustuhan ng karamihan ng mga Pilipino… Hindi naman po kayo ang lulunok ng contraceptives kundi sila," she told Bacani during the debate. Obligation of parents Pia Magalona, widow of artist Francis Magalona and pro-RH advocate, also supported the position of Tendero and said the bill's provisions help empower Filipino women. Magalona stressed the importance of parental responsibility in the RH bill debate. “Hindi po sapat na iluwal lang ang bata. May obligasyon tayo na palakihin ang bata… Mas imoral na magkaroon ng maraming anak na hindi mo nabibigyan ng pansin," said Magalona, who is the mother of eight children. Meanwhile, University of the Philippines (UP) Professor Aliza Racelis backed Bacani's stance, saying contraceptives can have adverse effects on the health of women. “Ang contraceptives po ay magdudulot ng kapinsalaan sa kababaihan ng Pilipinas. Maaari po itong magdulot ng cancer o kung minsan pa’y kamatayan," she said. - ANDREO C. CALONZO/ELR/YA/HS, GMA News