Condoms for the Philippines
In a country where a senator makes like Harrison Ford in the Fugitive and a congresswoman plays Rep. Knifey McStabby on a dining hall employee thus giving Muslims everywhere a bad name, overpopulation is perhaps the most ignored problem. 7 million Filipinos living in Metro Manila alone, 10% of the total population of the country. IMHO, more mouths to feed is just a recipe for digging ourselves deeper in the hole. More kids means they need education. Education barely addressing the current levels which leads of course to these poor kids not having the skills to have jobs. No jobs = unemployment = poverty. (No don’t argue about entrepreneurship — what middle class are you taking about? It’s growing less and less every year.)
The government past and present (with the exception of Pres. Ramos with his Let’s DOH it Health Secretary, if I remember correctly) tend to avoid going against the Roman Catholic Church’s stand of saying no to contraceptives. Now it seems that Pope Benedict is studying at accepting the use of condoms to fight against the spread of AIDS.
I certainly hope — if the Vatican indeed eases up on the rubber issue — that the Philippines can at least acknowledge that condoms can help stem some of that population growth. It’s whole lot better than giving away unwanted babies or worse– having them aborted.
Strange thing is, shouldn’t there have been separation of Church & State in the first place? Oh wait — bishops issue endorsements on elections.
2 Comments, Comment or Ping
jhay
It’s a good thing the Pope is studying this option. At the rate AIDS and HIV are spreading worldwide, condoms will come in good use as to become a front-line deterrent while science works out a cure and a vaccine. Still, the Church must not stop in reminding their faithful to avoid sin as much as possible.
Nov 24th, 2006
markmomukhamo
@Jhay-true the Church’s job is to lead its members to the path of spiritual salvation. Still, I hope they don’t have to wait to do something like Vatican II to institute changes. Besides, the endorsement on the use of the condoms is still for married people it seems and not an endorsement in sex outside wedlock.
Dec 1st, 2006
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