Friday, December 5, 2014

Reproductive Health Law



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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