Contraception, Abortion ‘Intimate Partners’ Says Filipino Archbishop

“Contraception and abortion are intimate partners to the extent of being twins at times,” wrote Archbishop Oscar Cruz of the Lingayen-Dagupan diocese in a recent posting on his blog.The Archbishop, addressing the upcoming debate in Congress of the controversial Reproductive Health Bill, warned that not only will the proposed legislation ruin the health of the people but that the bill is immoral.

“The bill will lead to the implementation of an immoral policy – the proposed synthetic artificial contraceptives, eventually designed to ruin health as it slants the idea of responsible parenthood to issues of depopulation, which proponents claim will result in progress among underdeveloped countries like ours,” he said.

The bill, entitled, “An Act Providing for a National Policy on Reproductive Health, Responsible Parenthood and Population Development, and for other Purposes,” is intrinsically harmful to life, family and society, warned Archbishop Cruz.

“What is the use of mandating a contraception bill when abortion is already prevalent? Can the pro-contraception bill actually eradicate abortion?” the Archbishop asked, apparently pointing to the fact that in any place where contraception has been actively promoted as an answer to high abortion rates, the abortion rates have done anything but decrease.

Archbishop Cruz bemoaned the fact that, “There has been already more than enough immorality in the country such as adultery, rape, prostitution, unwanted pregnancies and forced marriages, so much so that HIV AIDS infections, together with other sexually transmitted diseases, are on the rise.”

And in like manner, “There has been more than enough criminality than police authority can handle – such as murders committed during daylight as well as night time, not to mention those that come in the form of hideous abortions.”

“This is why fetuses are disturbingly found here and there, some of them shamefully thrown at garbage dumps or simply left behind in different unlikely places.”

“Given the situation, some legislators, who claim to be ‘concerned’ about the skyrocketing immorality rates and its risks, push for a ‘Contraception Bill’ to address this and to help depopulate the Nation through all conceivable means and gadgets,” the Archbishop said.

Commenting on the lucrative profits to be made from the sale of contraceptives, Archbishop Cruz said, “As the legislature deliberates and the concerned citizens debate on the issue, the multi-national companies manufacturing contraceptive drugs and devices must be looking forward to the passage of the bill. This is apparently because such approval will see for themselves a brisk sale of their products, a joyful raking in of profits.”

“It is rather difficult to assume that these big corporations are moved by their concern for the poor. Neither are they really motivated by their desire to promote national development, nor are they fundamentally concerned with the health of people. Instead, it is ‘business as usual.'”

Catholic Church authorities across the nation are spearheading advocacy movements against the passage of the bill, including an effort to gather a million signatures opposing it.

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