Church, doctors take same position on RH bill

THE Catholic Church and the Philippine Medical Association (PMA) have found a common ground to oppose the controversial reproductive health (RH) bill pending before Congress.

This unity, according to the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) News website, resulted from a consultative meeting on the reproductive health bill held on Monday between the CBCP and the PMA at the doctors’ office in Quezon City.

Dr. Arthur Catli, PMA executive director, said that during the meeting, the medical association through its Philippine Obstetrical and Gynecological Society represented by its president, Dr. Sylvia Carnero, agreed that “life begins at fertilization.”

“The PMA is against abortion and so is the CBCP. We doctors took an oath to save and protect human life and that definitely includes the unborn child. No doubt the CBCP supports our stand on this,” Catli added.

The PMA also distributed to the CBCP panel led by its Secretary General Monsignor Juanito Figura copies of “An Act Providing for the Safety and Protection of the Unborn & for Other Purposes” or House Bill 13 authored by Rep. Roilo Golez of Parañaque City (Metro Manila).

PMA media affairs Chairman Dr. Mike Aragon said that they are supporting the measure of Golez because of its “clear provisions” and of it being “pro-life.”

But the medical association did not reject outright the RH bill, saying that it also has some good points.
But Aragon said that they are one with the church and pro-life groups in pushing for the passage of House Bill 13.

“We are for the protection of life especially of the unborn. It’s very clear that the bill seeks to protect the unborn,” he added.

The CBCP earlier clarified that it was not totally against the RH bill but only some of its provisions which, Figura said, “when seen from the moral point of view are not in agreement with the Catholic teachings.”

Large-scale public funding for artificial contraceptives such as condoms and pills is assured in the proposed RH measure.
But advocates of the RH bill disagree that artificial birth control is a form of abortion, which the Constitution disallows.

Figura said that PMA’s position on the beginning of life could definitely boost the Catholic Church’s campaign against contraception and abortion.

“What is clear now is that the PMA as an institution has that common agreement with the CBCP that, from their expertise as medical practitioners, human life begins at the stage of fertilization,” he added.

“Contrary to what the RH bill advocates are saying that life begins at implantation, the doctors are saying otherwise,” Figura said.

The CBCP and the medical association, he added, agreed that life should be protected from the moment of fertilization up to its natural death “because the doctors are committed to save lives.”

CBCP President Bishop Nereo Odchimar earlier said that they will consult legal and medical experts to help them prepare for a dialogue with Malacañang on controversial issues that surround government efforts to craft a reproductive health policy.

PMA President Dr. Oscar Tinio said that their organization would voluntarily offer its scientific and medical expertise on reproductive health issues to both the government and the church.

House Majority Leader Neptali Gonzales 2nd said that a lone senator could derail the approval of the RH bill, since there is an unwritten rule on the need to get every senator’s consent before a certain bill can be discussed at the plenary.

But Gonzales said that the House can approve the bill, especially if the leadership decides to push for its passage.

But he expressed doubt that there would be senators who would oppose the RH bill because some of them are seeking reelection to the Senate or higher office in 2013.

Earlier, House Minority Leader Edcel Lagman said that his group in the opposition bloc welcomed President Benigno Aquino 3rd’s full-backing of the RH measure despite a warning that President Aquino was risking possible impeachment complaint if he would support the controversial bill. –Jomar Canlas, Reporter with report from Ruben D. Manahan 4th, Manila Times