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Wednesday, March 02, 2005
Editorial: Family planning row
THERE is actually nothing to be surprised about the verbal exchange between the Archdiocese of Cebu and Department of Health (DOH) officials on the issue of family planning - the conflict has always been there and just needed a spark to re-intensify.
The spark is, of course, the Ligtas Buntis 2005, which is mainly an information campaign to increase people's awareness on family planning methods and maternal care.
Both institutions are apparently honest in their intentions to serve public good, but they base their stance on different perspectives - thus the resulting divergence.
As it is, the Church and health officials could be both right and wrong, which is always the case when two points of view collide. In a polarized setup, one side can never be 100 percent correct and the other 100 percent wrong, or vice versa.
Consider the tricky matter of teenage pregnancy, a factor in population growth.
DOH's approach is two-fold: to prevent the sexual act and, when it does happen, to prevent pregnancy. This is the basis of DOH's claim that its approach is pragmatic.
But the Church's concern is also reasonable, because the teenager's resolve not to engage in sex can be weakened by the knowledge that when he or she does engage in it, there are contraceptives he or she can use.
In this sense, the stands of the Church and the DOH on the family planning issue serve a purpose - thus, both should find ways to present these to the public without indulging in a bruising verbal exchange.
Because in the end, it would be the people who will decide on which viewpoint they will anchor their sexual activities on.
(March 2, 2005 issue)
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