Blind faith keeps the Philippines languishing in Dark Age

In reaction to Patricia Evangelista’s opinion piece titled “Contraceptive morality” (Inquirer, 6/24/12), reader Manoling de Leon scolded the columnist, saying: “Being a Catholic, it behooves her to continue going deeper, nonstop, to mine the wisdom of her faith, even before she criticizes the practice” (Inquirer, 6/27/12).

What, as a Catholic you cannot comment, much less oppose, the views of the Church that says it has control over women’s bodies? And our minds?

When priests are prohibited to marry—and, thus, refrain from sex and avoid its most probable natural consequence of begetting children and going through the rigors of raising them properly—by what right does the Catholic Church or the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines tell me that I cannot plan my family by whatever method I choose?

And what faith is De Leon talking about? The faith that tells you sex is a sin, that unbaptized children when they die go to hell, that I have been given free will by God and, when in the exercise of that free will I doubt his existence, he condemns me to eternal damnation?

This kind of religious mentality and blind faith of the Catholic faithful has kept this country languishing in the Dark Age.

—ROBERT ALVAREZ HYNDMAN,

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