REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH LAW
The Republic Act 10354 entitled An Act
Providing for a National Policy on Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive
Health has been enacted last July 23, 2012, I consider this as one of the most
controversial law that has been enacted. The church primarily the Roman
Catholic strongly opposes its enactment; they believe that the bill is immoral,
anti-family and anti-life due to the several provisions which allow the
Filipino citizens to how have knowledge on having safe sex. One of their
reasons is that “Artificial contraception eliminates the possibility of a
pro-creative element," according to Monsignor Cuizon on the other hand,
most feminist groups argue that reproductive choice is essential to authentic
women's liberation and that this choice includes safe, available, affordable
contraception. When the law was passed
it was then brought to the Court to test its constitutionality, it’s test
includes the separation of the Church and the State. It was discussed the case
of Imbong vs Ochoa, it specifically mentioned the Section 6 of the 1987
Constitution stating that, The separation of Church and State shall be
inviolable. The cases decided that the principle of separation of Church and
State is based on mutual respect. Generally, the
State cannot meddle in the internal affairs of the church, much less question
its faith and dogmas or dictate upon it. It cannot favor one religion and
discriminate against another. On the other hand, the church cannot impose its
beliefs and convictions on the State and the rest of the citizenry. It cannot
demand that the nation follow its beliefs, even if it sincerely believes that
they are good for the country.
This case explains further the limitations of
the Church in the affairs of the government. The laws which it chooses to
passed. The Church cannot dictate on how the government decide on the matters
presented to it and on how it deals with its people as long as it is not
unlawful and there are no rights which were violated it should continue executing
the laws. In addition to that, I as a woman who is now at the right age to
conceive and bear a child, I consider this Law as essential, basic and
necessary information that married individuals or even teenagers should know.
The knowledge on one specific thing does not necessarily involves its application,
we take into consideration our own judgment meaning, even though we know how to
do it, that does not mean that we will apply. For me, it is correct that every
Filipino Citizen should have an access to this information and poverty should
not be a hindrance to acquire it. I am not against the beliefs of the Church,
my family and I are Roman Catholics, we believe in the sanctity of life and we
have a strong faith in God, however there are cases wherein they have to widen
our horizon specially on matters that deals with human beings. We all know that
sexual intercourse is done for procreation but considering our generation,
where sexual intercourse or mostly pre-marital sex is rampant and it inevitably
includes unwanted pregnancy that leads to broken families, our government
through is law making powers need to address this issue. We should also
consider the numerous lives of those under-aged women whose dies because their
bodies cannot endure the process of giving birth. If they have knowledge on how
do it safely or that they are aware of consequences of sexual intercourse, I
believe that they can be saved. The government has a very important role in our
society, they have the responsibility of maintaining peace and order, economic
stability and the satisfaction of its citizens, those things for me is a very
difficult task and the government needs or cooperation and understanding. They
need our broad minds to filter the correct and right issues to be raises and
not the capricious one, so that they can spend their time on other important
matters.
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