On August 6, Feast of the Transfiguration of Our Lord, as rain poured down from the heavens and floods raged in the areas surrounding the Batasang Pambansa, the Philippine House of Representatives voted to terminate the debates on the RH bill in order to move on to the period of amendments.
Many supporters of the RH bill are rejoicing, and many of my fellow pro-lifers are lamenting, as if the bill has already passed. I can't help but think that these reactions are premature.
First of all, just because some Congressmen voted to terminate the debates does not necessarily mean that they favor the bill and that they want it to pass. While it is true that the termination of the debates was willed and wanted by the President and the pro-RH side, this does not necessarily mean that those who went along with their desire shared the same intentions and the same plan of action.
Second, many things can still happen during the period of amendments.
Third, even if the RH bill were to gain the approval of the House of Representatives, this does not mean that the Senate will also capitulate automatically. Senators Sotto and Enrile do not strike me as pushovers, and they are not the only Senators who are inclined to listen to the reasons and arguments of pro-lifers.
And if the Senate approves the RH bill? Are we not already certain that the President will sign it? However, we are not there yet, and in a democratic Republic, not even a President's signature is the final word on the enshrinement of a proposed law.
And if the Senate approves the RH bill? Are we not already certain that the President will sign it? However, we are not there yet, and in a democratic Republic, not even a President's signature is the final word on the enshrinement of a proposed law.
To the supporters of the RH bill: don't drink your champagne yet! You might want to save it for a better occasion.
To my fellow pro-lifers: please, don't panic. A step as ambiguous as this should not be an occasion for your tears, and hysterical declarations will not help our cause at all.
I can't help but think if the current deluge of rain has something to do with the RH Bill. Is God sending us a reminder (a warning)?
ReplyDeleteI am pro-life and believe that contraception is not an answer to responsible parenting. Education, alleviation from poverty and stronger morals are the answer.
Contraceptives will not solve the issue that the youth of today are open to sex than before.
I hope the RH Bill will not be passed.
I found this article stating that some provisions on the House's version of the RH bill will be amended or replaced.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.rappler.com/nation/10475-pro-rh-bill-solons-agree-to-delete-some-controversial-provisions
I also found a comment on the report to be well said (my apologies in advance to the writer of the comment, I reposted it here in case it got erased):
" Justa Skeptic
I would like to encourage a more elegant and respectable discussion here instead of cop-out answers like 'Yes to RH bill! Yes to Women's Choice' or 'No to RH Bill! God will get angry!' etc. etc. Lahat tayo edukado at kaya naman nating lahat gumawa ng diskurso kung saan lahat ng opinyon ay respetado ng lahat, kahit hindi sang-ayon ang isa't-isa.
There is such a thing as respect, to agree-to-disagree and move on after.
For my most humble opinion, however,
Why do you have to write another bill if what can be done is incremental changes in the health care system?
Who will benefit most from this bill? The poor, or the pharmaceutical companies and the government officials who have support for the bill?
If the problem is supposedly overpopulation because the poor can't stop their oohlala-time, it's not because they're uneducated. It's because they don't have anything else to do. Think about it. Come 630 pm at night and there's no light, no book, no tv, what else would people do? Sex. Plain and simple. It's fun.
Research has to be done on what happens when you place electricity, a tv, other sources of entertainment (hobbies), and books (if they can read). Just give them something else to do other than sex, let's see what happens.
I'm not against the RH bill, I'm just not sure if we actually know what we're going into.
If it is passed, then so be it. I will move on. However, a 20-year analysis shows many European countries that have RH bills learned that it is a failure because while their A B C population most certainly grew less in number, their poor and immigrant population most certainly rose. The reason why riots began France was because there were many people of age who can work, but couldn't because they couldn't study and therefore get qualified for work. Those qualified for work grew less in number and so France's retirement age went to 65...
... Is that the risk you're all willing to take with the RH bill?
All I'm saying is, before we start subsidizing condoms (which we can buy in convenient stores) and birth-control pills (which have significant withdrawal symptoms regarding emotions because of hormonal changes and yes it's scientifically proven), not that it doesn't make things better on the short (and perhaps in the long) term.
I've been trying to argue with myself regarding the RH bill and I just can't seem to accept it. I respect those who have taken this decision with a clear head, but not those that have joined the bandwagon.
Let me end by saying this, "If you're angry against the Church or have arguments against the Church, don't go for the Bill".
Respect."