Health Secretary Esperanza Cabral is in trouble with the Catholic Church. She has earned the ire particularly of Lipa Archbishop Ramon Arguelles for the Department of Health’s initiative of distributing condoms, most notably during Valentine’s Day this year.
“It is immoral for a government official to support the distribution of condoms which we know do not really reduce or stop the spread of HIV-AIDS.”
(Archbishop Cabral) said the way to stop the spread of the disease was to follow the teachings of the Church and to respect the sanctity of the human body.
There are three points raised here, and it is important to break it down, as compound generalizations like this do not lend themselves to easy arguments: (1) that condoms are immoral; (2) that condoms do not reduce or stop the spread of HIV-AIDS, or STDs in general; and (3) that the way to stop the spread of the disease is by following Church teachings and respecting the sanctity of the body, which is to say monogamy and abstinence is the way to go.
I do not have the numbers nor the data for number two, so I cannot argue with it. As to condoms being immoral, I will presume the Archbishop said this because he believes it promotes premarital sex and promiscuity. To some extent I think it does, but I don’t imagine the scene being “Uy, may condom ako, makahanap nga ng makaka-sex!” but rather, “Uy mukhang makaka-iskor ako ngayon, may condom ba ako o wala?” and subsequently, “‘Di bale nang wala, mag-iingat na lang kami.”
Point being, unmarried people are already having sex, condoms or no condoms. I do not see these people suddenly having elevated reproductive hormones just because they got their hands on a condom. No, they are just horny, period. Which leads us to number three …
Yes, monogamy and abstinence is a way to stop the spread of the disease … but it surely is not the ONLY way. And the DOH is not claiming that using prophylactics is the ONLY way to go either. They are just helping in what capacity they can, according to the mandate given to them as part of the executive branch of our government. I do not understand why there is a need to condemn one’s effort when clearly, the DOH is not offering it as the only solution, but as a practical option that is in tune with the times. Puwede namang work together ‘di ba, bakit kailangan mag-condemn?
Practicality dictates that we all should move with the times. The Catholic Church has done so on some topics, like believing in aliens or extraterrestrial beings. Supporting the use of condoms does not have to mean that Catholic values have to be set aside. Let us put our efforts in finding common grounds for issues like these, rather than bashing each other.
Amen?
In other news:
He died laughing.
Funny condom commercial:
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