House Bill (HB) No. 96 Is Pro-Abortion

Dr. Condrado Ll. Lorenzo, Jr., from Obstetrics and Gynecology Department, Makati Medical Center, published an article “Why is House Bill No. 96 Pro Abortion?” (Impact, no. 10, October 2010, p. 14).

HB 96 was introduced by Rep. Edcel Lagman, 1st Regular Session, 15th Congress, July 1, 2010.

Sec. 3 (c): “The State shall promote, without bias, all modern natural and artificial methods of family planning that are medically safe, legal and effective.”

Dr. Lorenzo’s comment: “In effect, this provision mandates the states to promote intra-uterine device (IUD) which causes medical abortion.”

He explains: “The IUD is a plastic device (usually a coil) that is inserted into the uterine cavity and left there for as long as the woman wants to contracept.”

Continues Dr. Lorenzo: “being a foreign body, it triggers a ‘foreign body reaction’ in the inner lining (endometrium) of the uterus. The foreign body reaction renders the endometrium hostile to a fertilized egg. So when the fertilized egg attempts to implant itself in the endometrium, it is rejected and dies. Many authors call this mechanism medical abortion.”

He furthers argues: “This sec. 3 (c) promotes also the use of different kinds of ‘morning after’ pills such as RH 486, which is marketed in the U.S. as Mifiprex, Plan B, Optimor…”

“Mifiprex”, he clarifies, “uses a combination of two medications, namely, mifepristone and miso prostol. Mifepristone is usually given in the clinic. It blocks progesterone, a hormone which is needed to maintain pregnancy, causing the endometrium to slough off. Bleeding occurs and the cervix softens…”

“Then, 24 to 72 hours after the first medication”, Dr. Lorenzo states, “misoprostol is given which causes the uterus to contract. The pregnancy is usually expelled within 6 to 8 hours. When these two drugs are used in combination, they are 95-97% effective.

“Clearly, Dr. Lorenzo concludes, ‘HB 96 not only subverts the moral fibre of Filipinos by promoting medical abortion. It also goes against the Constitution of the Philippines which states [The State] shall equally protect the life of the mother and the life of the unborn from conception’” (Sec. 12, Art. II).

House Bill No. 96 is immoral as well as unconstitutional.

House Bill 4244

HB 4244 is essentially a population control bill. To achieve the ideal of two children means – natural and “modern” are employed.

One group of means is the IUD.  In whatever form, intrauterine device is designed to avoid pregnancy – preventing the sperm to fertilize the egg.  In the event that pregnancy does occur the IUD will make the lining/walls of the uterus inhospitable for the fertilized egg.  In other words, the fertilized egg or zygote, endowed at conception with spiritual soul by God – the Creator, is prevented from implanting itself in the uterus or womb.  New life is terminated!  Abortifacient.

Motive of contraceptives is selfishness.  Couple simply want sexual gratification.  Sexual act is not open to transmission of life (condom).  And they are prepared to terminate new life (IUD, etc.).

Let us oppose very strongly this evil HB 4244!

Two Passionists Deacons Ordained Priests

Bishop Dinualdo Gutierrez ordained priests Rev. Jeffty Madura Mendez, CP and Rev. Ramel Sumatra Poquita, CP on 12 April 2011 at the Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage Parish Church, General Santos City.

Forty priests concelebrated: 10 diocesan and 30 Passionist.

Bishop’s homily.

God sent the prophet Jeremiah (cf. Jer. 1:4-10).

A prophet has two roles: (1) to announce God’s will; build God’s kingdom and promote the integrity of God’s creation; (2) to denounce evil, destroy unjust, sinful structures and speak against immorality.

Specifically, a prophet-in-mission builds the church as a community of Christ’s disciples and church of the poor; inspires the establishment of Basic Ecclesial Communities; promote a healthy environment; and exhorts people to construct a more human, free and just society.

On the other hand the prophet campaigns against corruption, the Mining Act of 1995, coal-fired power plant, exploitation of women and children.

More specifically the prophet must campaign against the passage of H.B. 4244 or Reproductive Health Bill.  Reasons: (1) Human life is sacred because it comes from God; (2) The State has no right no arrogate to itself parents’ primary, inalienable right and duty to educate offsprings, including sexual education; (3) RH Bill 4244 peddles lies: a) condom prevents the spread of HIV/AIDS (Thailand where condom use is prevalent has the most number of HIV/AIDS victims in South East Asia; b) the Philippines is overpopulated (Density per sq. km. is only 73); c) overpopulation causes poverty (several reasons like corruption, greed, but no correlation between population and poverty); d) women are owners of their bodies (God is the owner; women are stewards, etc).

 Priests tend Christ’s flock, willingly; a motive for tending is not profit but service.  This service is a humble service (1 Pet. 5: 1-4).

Effective service is the result of love.  Jesus said: “Love one another as I have loved you”.  Christ’s love is sacrificial, universal and forgiving. (Jh. 15: 12-17).

Rev. Jeffty Madura Mendez, CP was born on 10 July 1982 to Jaime and Eflida in Poblacion Loon, Bohol.  Degrees: AB Philosophy,University of San Carlos, Cebu City.  Bachelor of Sacred Theology, Loyola School of Theology, Quezon City.

Rev. Ramel Sumatra Poquita, CP was born on 19 October 1983 to Rafael and Erlinda in Monkayo, CompostellaValley.  Degrees: AB Philosophy, San Carlos University, Cebu City and Bachelor of Sacred Theology, Loyola School of Theology, Quezon City.

Position Paper On The RH Bills

Faculty, students and alumni of the University of the Philippines came out with a position paper against the Reproductive Health Bills (HB 96 and its related bills)

1) Population is not an obstacle to development. Nobel prize winner Simon Kuznet’s research has shown that there is insignificant empirical association between population growth rates and output per capita (economic growth). Similar studies confirmed Kuznet’s findings: US National Research Council (1986), UN Population Fund Consultative Meeting of Economists (1992), Eric Hanushek and Ludger Wößmann (2007), among others.

2) Instead, the government has to channel limited funds to job creation and education.

3) Fertility rates in the Philippines are progressively decreasing from average rate of 7 in 1960 to 3.1 in 2008. IN 2025 it is expected to reach 2.1., the replacement level – WITHOUT GOVERNMENT INTERVENTION.

4) Resources should be used to address the leading causes of death: tuberculosis, heart disease, diarrhea.

5) Condoms are not wise investments. We have the lowest incidence of HIV cases in the ADB report. Thailand, the model in condom promotion, has the highest.

6) Oral Contraceptive Pills are carcinogens, (International Agency for Research on Cancer).

7) It is the State’s duty to order society by promoting the well being of its citizens. It is not the State’s job to facilitate access to what is harmful.

DUMP THE CONTENTIOUS AND FLAWED REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH BILLS. PASS MORE BILLS STRENGTHENING THE FILIPINO FAMILY, PROTECTING ITS CITIZENS AGAINST THE RISKS OF CONTRACEPTION, DEFENDING THE SCIENTIFIC FACT THAT CONTRACEPTION BEGINS AT FERTILIZATION PRODUCING ESSENTIAL MEDICINES FOR THE MAIN CAUSES OF DEATH, MAKING QUALITY EDUCATION MORE ACCESSIBLE AND PROVIDING MORE JOBS.