Pope Benedict XVI's pronouncement on the use of condom by male prostitutes to prevent the alarming spread of HIV-AIDS is like the first rain in May to thirsty advocates of the RH Bill. While the Catholic Church officials in Vatican and in the country say this doesn't change the stand of the church against artificial birth control methods, advocates of RH bill and many observers see this as a softening of the stand of the Church on the issue. It is the beginning of further consideration by the Church on the issue of population control through artificial methods. The hardliners couldn't believe the Pope meant what he said. One write up said the statement of the Pope sowed confusion even among the staunchest defenders of the Church on her position to ban contraceptives. It would likely be that the heads of the Church in various countries would seek further clarification on the issue. Until such time, most bishops might remain silent lest they muddle the issue.
The much talked about issue came from the statement of the Pope published in a book entitled “Light of the World: The Pope, the Church and the Signs of the Times.” It was in response to a discussion about the AIDS in Africa, the known origin and seat of HIV Aids now threatening the world including the Philippines where Department of Health statistics showed more than a hundred percent increase in reported cases of positive HIV-AIDS for the past year. The Pope said that for some people, such as male prostitutes, using condoms could be all right if the intent is to “reduce the risk of infection.” This is as if the Pope has given his go signal to the “harm reduction program” of fighting AIDS. Even the spokesperson of the Pope, Bishop Lombardi, was of the opinion that the Pope knew his statement would provoke intense debate because that the comment could even apply to “man, woman, or transsexual.” But he clarified that the Pope did not suggest using condoms as birth control. Although even church workers in communities plagued by AIDs would agree that the Pope's remarks “leaves long standing practices in place.”
Now whether the remarks of the Pope is the beginning of further softening on the use of other contraceptive methods is something that can be debated but nobody can ever tell where it will lead to. Debates will continue to rage. But I don't see any further opening at the end of a very long debate. There are those who suggest asking the people – yes, the Catholics - if they are supportive of the RH Bill as if the views of the lay members of the Church can correct what has already been decided by the Church as patently wrong or immoral. The teachings of the Church cannot be left to the lay members to decide. Long studies of the issue have brought the heads of the Church to rule the artificial methods as morally wrong. If there is another moral ground or argument to support the opposite then perhaps Church may change her mind.
We are not saying however that all Catholics will follow the church teachings for by practice they have not and will not. There are those who profess to be Catholics but would deviate from the teaching of the Church if these do not promote their own interests. If this is not true there would be no other religions now. People will think and do what they think is good at that point in time. People will rationalize their deeds. So Congress can go ahead with passing the RH Bill and people, yes married couples can choose whether to follow the teaching of the Church or avail of the programs and services under the Bill if it becomes a law. Government is responsible for providing the needs of man's temporal life. It will be up to man to be responsible for the needs of his spiritual life. It is also the responsibility of the Church to make sure that she is there to provide the guide to that spiritual life. What really keeps Congress from passing the RH Bill is the dreaded backlash on their political stock. They all realize how big a stick the Church carries in the community.
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