Yes to contraceptives but not at the expense of taxpayers

May I tell you my story?

My husband got the mumps when we were newly married. I was pregnant. I lost the baby. Afterwards, I had no problem getting pregnant, but I kept losing the babies. To my relief, Dr. Constantino Manahan discovered that I lacked hormones. I remedied that. Within a space of six years, I had five children.

Then I discovered the Catholic way of planning—with the use of thermometer. All went well. I had three more children of my own choosing. Then I approached menopause. My temperature went haywire! At that point, my obstetrician, who was also a very good Catholic, prescribed a contraceptive for me. But I objected: “Isn’t this considered wrong to take?” She answered, “If it is a sin, the sin is mine because I insist that you take it. Your uterus wall lining is so thin that if you get pregnant again, you and your child will die. Besides, this contraceptive pill does not kill anything. It just prevents an egg from being produced.”

I still consulted a friend, a Jesuit priest. After explaining my predicament, the good priest answered (I will never forget this), “You do what you think is right.”

I took the pill, I did not want to leave my eight children motherless. Who would take care of them? My husband worked long and hard hours. He was a great father, but I wanted my children to have a father and mother whom they could call their own.

I am now a widow (82 years old) with eight children, 22 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. I am an almost daily communicant. I am at peace with the Good Lord who knows I have taken contraceptives.

I agree with President Aquino: All parenthood should be responsible in all ways—responsible to the children, to our country and to our God. I know several good practicing Catholics who have taken contraceptives.

Maybe you should read about Melinda Gates, wife of one of the richest men in the world—Bill Gates. She spends much of her time getting and giving contraceptives to native women in sub-Saharan Africa. She is a good practicing Catholic woman, educated all the way through high school by Ursuline nuns who are backing her up all the way in her fight for social justice.

Lastly, my one objection to the Reproductive Health bill is the giving-out of contraceptives for free. That is unfair to the taxpayer who may not agree with the RH law. No taxpayer should be made to pay for something he or she does not agree with. Besides, a dole is sometimes not a good idea. A thing for which one pays something, even just with a minimal amount, will mean more to him/her—and to us.

—ALITA MORAN,

Avalon Condominium,

Xavier Street, San Juan City