CATHOLIC bishops meeting with President Benigno Aquino III and his Cabinet officials acknowledged for the first time that condoms do not cause abortions, presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said Wednesday.
The acknowledgment was a break from the Catholic Church’s longstanding position that condoms kill the unborn child.
“There was an agreement that the condom is not an abortifacient,” Lacierda said after the closed-door meeting between the Church leaders and the President.
“There is no issue on this… it is not an abortifacient because it [is used] prior to the fertilization of the egg and sperm cells. The point of issue is the distribution of condoms.”
Wednesday’s meeting was the first after the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines withdrew from the talks on reproductive health and responsible parenthood with the administration on Feb. 20.
“There are some disagreements that will remain disagreements, especially on the methods. Contraceptives, such as condoms, will not be in agreement with teachings of the Catholic Church, but it is the responsibility of the state to make these available, and they understood that,” Lacierda said.
“We recognized our differences, but we agreed to focus on our commonalities… it came out better than expected.”
One of the bishops even agreed that sex education might begin for students as young as 11, provided it emphasized responsibility and values, Lacierda said. –Joyce Pangco Pañares, Manila Standard Today
It’s women’s month!
“Support women every day of the year!”
Invoke Article 33 of the ILO constitution
against the military junta in Myanmar to carry out the 2021 ILO Commission of Inquiry recommendations against serious violations of Forced Labour and Freedom of Association protocols.
Accept National Unity Government
(NUG) of Myanmar.
Reject Military!
#WearMask #WashHands #Distancing #TakePicturesVideos
Monthly Observances:
Women’s Role in History Month
Weekly Observances:
Week 1: Environmental Week
Women’s Week
Week 3: Philippine Industry and Made-in-the-Philippines
Products Week
Last Week: Protection and Gender-Fair Treatment
of the Girl Child Week
Daily Observances:
March 8: Women’s Rights and
International Peace Day;
National Women’s Day
Mar 4— Employee Appreciation Day
Mar 15 — World Consumer Rights Day
Mar 18 — Global Recycling Day
Mar 21 — International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination
Mar 23 — International Day for the Right to the Truth concerning Gross Human Rights Violations and for the Dignity of Victims
Mar 25 — International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade
Mar 27 — Earth Hour
