By Lira Dalangin-Fernandez, Reporter
INQUIRER.net/Posted date: November 09, 2010
MANILA, Philippines—Lawmakers on Tuesday balked at fresh attacks from the Catholic Church for pushing the reproductive health bill in the House of Representatives, and told their religious critics to look at their backyard first before hurling criticisms.
“Let’s not stoop to name-calling,” Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. said in a text message when asked to react to the statement of Manila Archbishop Gaudencio Rosales that lawmakers have poorly-formed conscience.
“If you fail, you will reap the kind of people that we have now in most of our institutions, including Congress,” Rosales said in his homily at a mass Monday, the culmination of the three-day 17th Asia-Pacific Congress on Faith, Life, and Family at the Dusit Thani Hotel in Makati City.
Rosales later replied when asked if he meant that lawmakers have poorly-formed conscience: “Ay talaga. Wala tayong problema kung lahat ay may konsyensya (Really. We won’t have a problem if they have a conscience.)”
Belmonte has yet to make clear his stand on the reproductive health bill, but said he would like to see it voted on the floor, unlike the past congresses.
At least seven bills and resolutions on reproductive health bill are pending in the House.
Iloilo Representative Janette Garin, author of one of the bills seeking to promote the use of artificial means of family planning, advised Rosales “to look into their backyards first.”
“Much as I don’t want to be disrespectful to CBCP (Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines) leaders, hypocrisy in their institution is pulling them down,” she said in a separate text message.
Garin, a medical doctor, said the Church should accept the reality that most Filipinos are not adverse to reproductive health.
“We object to impositions brought about by stone-age beliefs, not intended for the good of the many but is there merely to protect the reputation of a few,” she added.
Gabriela party-list Representative Luz Ilagan said the Catholic Church should discuss the issue with proponents of the reproductive health bill instead of resorting to name-calling.
“Doing so is an indication of the bankruptcy of ideas or reason. The public is entitled to a rational debate, and emotional outbursts and threats are great disservice to the people,” she said.
Ilagan also cautioned the Church against name-calling, saying “the same insult can be thrown back at them.”
“Think of the scandals or morality the church has been accused of. Let he who is not without sin cast the first stone,” she added.
Bacolod Representative Anthony Golez said Congress should now decide whether the services to be given under the reproductive health policy are lawful.
Golez filed a resolution seeking to determine when life begins.
“The question, if answered will settle all emotional issues at hand,” he said.
