Catholic view on RH is not monolithic
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 02:43:00 09/06/2008
Those of us who are not Roman Catholics have generally stood aside when the discussion on population management rages. I have enjoyed reading the various opinions of Philippine Daily Inquirer columnists, especially Rina Jimenez-David, who, it seems, is single-handedly engaging the bishops of the Catholic Church. She has made us aware that the position of the Catholic Church regarding this issue is not as monolithic as the bishops depict, that in fact there are various opinions regarding this issue, and such diversity should at least be recognized.
I have just received some material from the leadership of my church regarding this matter, and I am reproducing it below. It is my hope that this will make a positive contribution to the ongoing discussions.
“The United Methodist Church (UMC) supports the right of men and women worldwide to choose when, or whether or not, to have children. Affirming the right of women to have access to comprehensive health care services, including reproductive health, has always been a cornerstone of the UMC.
“Access to family planning and reproductive health services prevents maternal and child deaths and enhances the delivery of healthy babies. Also, family planning and reproductive health prevent the spread of diseases such as HIV/AIDS, human papillomavirus (HPV) and gonorrhea.
“According to the Alan Guttmacher Institute, every year nearly 80 million unintended pregnancies occur worldwide. More than half of these pregnancies end in abortion. Access to information, education and services on voluntary family planning and contraception is essential in reducing unintended pregnancies and rates of abortion. There is a significant unmet need for women and girls around the world for contraception. According to the World Health Organization, despite the increase in contraceptive prevalence, some 137 million women still have an unmet need for contraception.
“Voluntary family planning programs like those carried out by the US Agency for International Development are critical to improving health care, empowering women and protecting the global environment. Such programs enable individuals and couples to decide the number, spacing and timing of their children and to have the information and means to do so, free from violence, coercion and discrimination.
“Teen mothers face twice the risk of dying from childbirth than women in their twenties; and their children are more vulnerable to health risks as well. Every year, almost half of all new HIV infections and at least one-third of all new sexually transmitted infections occur among people younger than 25.
“People have the duty to consider the impact on the total world community of their decisions regarding childbearing and should have access to information and appropriate means to limit their fertility, including voluntary sterilization.” (United Methodist Church Social Principles, 162 I)
DANIEL C. ARICHEA JR., bishop (retired), United Methodist Church, 890 United Nations Avenue, Manila
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