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Response to Lianne A.D. Tiu's "Warning in Some Products..."We have read the article “Warning in Some Products…” written by Ms. Lianne A.D. Tiu in her column, The ABC’s of Catholic Doctrine, which came out in the Santuario de San Antonio Parish Bulletin dated 29 January 2012. We do not claim competency on matters of the faith, unlike Ms. Tiu who seems to know the ABC’s of Catholic Doctrine. We are just simple members of the Catholic Church who believe that the teachings of the Church or the magisterium should also be rooted in the daily lived experiences of the faithful and guided by the Word of God. As members of the Catholics for Reproductive Health (C4RH), we believe that the right to reproductive health information and services is a human right.
In the same vein that Ms. Tiu advocates for consumer protection and rights by espousing the proper labelling of all products distributed in the market, we strongly feel that Roman Catholics should also be given the proper information about contraceptives, reproductive health, and the reproductive health bill so that they could exercise their right to informed choice. What we find worrisome is making generalizations based on the writings of priests on issues that have long been answered by the best medical minds in the country and internationally recognized medical organizations. The World Health Organization (WHO) defines essential medicines as “those that satisfy the priority health care needs of the population.”[1] WHO envisions people everywhere to “…have access to the essential medicines they need; that the medicines are safe, effective, and of good quality; and prescribed and used rationally.”[2] Contraceptives are essential as they enable women to manage their fertility and ensure that their pregnancies are planned and that their children are wanted—which are of public health relevance and of Christian moral responsibility. We cannot underestimate the sufferings and consequences of ill-planned pregnancies on the health of both the mothers and children, particularly on the poor, and eventually on the community and society at large. We are also deeply bothered by the many misinformation and disinformation circulating about contraceptives. No less that the World Health Organization (WHO) has certified that contraceptive pills do not cause abortion.[3] The Philippine Obstetrical and Gynecological Society (POGS), a leading society of medical specialists on reproductive health, supported the RH bill and clarified that contraceptive pills do not cause cancer and in fact reduce the risk of cancer of endometrium and ovaries.[4] Even the American Association of Pro-life Obstetricians and Gynecologists in their position papers, would rather encourage each individual physician to “evaluate the available information, and then follow the leading of his/her conscience in this matter.”[5] The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in America said that “Latex condoms, when used consistently and correctly, are highly effective in preventing the sexual transmission of HIV, the virus that causes AIDS. In addition, consistent and correct use of latex condoms reduces the risk of other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), including diseases transmitted by genital secretions, and to a lesser degree, genital ulcer diseases. Condom use may reduce the risk for genital human papillomavirus (HPV) infection and HPV-associated diseases, e.g., genital warts and cervical cancer.”[6] It pains us to see that the issue of reproductive health has divided us as a nation and a community of believers. We recognize the moral duty of our church leaders to guide the flock on matters of the faith. However, when it comes to secular and health matters, we leave these up to those who have the competency as well as the duty to do so. This is also a practice of right and respect. ================================================================================================= [1] WHO. Health Topics: Essential Medicines, Retrieved fromhttp://www.who.int/medicines/services/essmedicines_def/en/index.html [2] WHO. Programs and Projects: Essential Medicines and Pharmaceutical Policies, Retrieved fromhttp://www.who.int/medicines/en/ [3] WHO Department of Reproductive Health & Research. “Expert Opinion on HB 4643 on Abortive Substances and Devices in the Philippines,” retrieved fromhttp://www.likhaan.org/sites/default/files/pdf/expert_opinion_on_house_bill_4643_on_abortive_substances_and_devices_in_the_philippines_7nov06.pdf [4] POGS Position Statement on RH Bill, Retrieved fromhttp://www.pogsinc.org/v2/index.php/component/content/article/10/53-pogs-position-statement-on-rh-bill [5] “Oral Contraceptive Controversy” retrieved fromhttp://www.aaplog.org/position-and-papers/oral-contraceptive-controversy/ [6] Condoms and STDs: Fact Sheet for Public Health Personnel, Retrieved fromhttp://www.cdc.gov/condomeffectiveness/latex.htm |