What children and rain have in common

The controversial Reproductive Health bill appears to be on the backburner again. Speaker Feliciano Belmonte just released the list of 23 priority bills to be taken up during the second regular session of the House of Representatives this year. The RH bill is not among them.

According to a Newsbreak report, “civil society backers of the RH bill gathered in Quezon City on July 20, 2011 to call for the inclusion of the RH bill in President Aquino’s State of the Nation Address.” P-Noy delivered his Sona last Monday but made no mention of it.

Taking advantage of this “lull,” may I introduce a little humor to the discussion by sharing this story I received via e-mail. It is titled “The Back Pew” and might explain why some Protestants favor planned parenthood:

A pastor’s wife was expecting a baby, so he stood before the congregation and asked for a raise. After much discussion, they passed a rule that whenever the pastor’s family expanded, so would his paycheck.

After six children, this started to get expensive and the congregation decided to hold another meeting to discuss the pastor’s expanding salary.

A great deal of yelling and inner bickering ensued, as to how much the pastor’s additional children were costing the church, and how much more they could potentially cost.

After listening to them for about an hour, the pastor rose from his chair and spoke: “Children are a gift from God, and we will take as many gifts as He gives us.”

Silence fell over the congregation. In the back pew, a little old lady struggled to stand, and finally said in her frail voice, “Rain is also a gift from God, but when we get too much of it, we wear rubbers.”

The entire congregation said, “Amen.”

No, I am not a Protestant, but I’m just wondering how many Inquirer readers would agree with the old lady.

—CONRADO SANCHEZ JR.,

[email protected]