Van Vugt: Humanae Vitae Again (Last of 2 series)

TO CONTINUE my discussion on the encyclical Humanae Vitae, another important fact I want to cite is the importance of the human conscience.

Even if the authority of the Church is seen as almost absolute, it can never cancel out the conscience. In fact, the human conscience is the ultimate authority for man to know whether something is good or bad. Cardinal Newman, who is about to be declared a saint this year, considers the conscience of man as a divine resource, as directly inspired by God, by the Holy Spirit. That is why his famous adage “To the Pope, but to conscience first!”

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It is a pity that most bishops look at the controversy of Humanae Vitae as canon lawyers and moralists and close their eyes for the reality. Only a few, like Archbishop Ledesma, are concerned about the human side of the issue. Population explosion in some parts of the world, including the Philippines, makes conservation unrealistic. God’s order “increase and multiply” has been more than fulfilled. How many children are sold into slavery or in sex trade, crime and drug trafficking? These are a direct consequence of poverty and overpopulation.

God made humanity in his own image, with a mind and a reason which the individual is supposed to use. In other words, when a Catholic denies a spouse his/her rights, or has a child that cannot be supported, or that will die of Aids, he/she cannot simply say he/she is obeying an order from the Pope.

When a husband forces himself on his wife while he is drunk, should the wife not tell him to put on a condom lest she will be impregnated against her will or run the risk of getting an abnormal child? Can artificial birth control not be considered a God-given blessing appropriate for the needs of humanity today? Is the primary purpose of marriage not for the spouses to love each other and the secondary purpose only to procreate?

The “tradition” seems to be another stumbling block in the church. Many in the church still hold on to a “My Pope right or wrong” mentality. The “tradition”, including the “Fathers of the Church” can be wrong and in fact have been wrong in many instances. We can give some examples.

It has been said before: Incarnation means “there is no longer male and female”. Tertullian saw woman as “the devil’s gateway.” John Chrysostom said: “Woman taught once and ruined all.” St. Agustin: “Separately as helpmate, the woman herself alone is not the image of God; whereas the man alone is the image of God.”

When Pope Benedict on May 10, 2008 said “The transmission of life is inscribed in nature and in its laws,” he never specifically denounced the use of artificial contraception or assisted fertilization by name. The Pope ordered the Church to celebrate the fortieth anniversary of Humanae Vitae last year.

Hans Klieves that it would be better to write a draft for a new encyclical, instead. Last year the Philippine Church had declared the month of July as the month of Humanae Vitae. I believe, it would be better for the Philippine Church to wait for a new encyclical on this topic to be published by the Church.

By the way, my fellow columnist Renato de Jesus, I noticed, has started a robust debate with Mr. Carvajal, an opinion columnist of Sun.Star Cebu, on the topic of condoms. I wonder if Renato is still going to react to my comments to his earlier column on contraception, or do I have to join in the debate with another column: Condoms, Cabral and Renato de Jesus?

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