...CATHOLICS CAN SUPPORT THE RH BILL IN GOOD CONSCIENCE (Position paper on the Reproductive Health Bill by individual faculty* of the Ateneo de Manila University) (Note: The opinions expressed in this paper are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of other faculty. Neither do they represent the official position of the Ateneo de Manila University nor the Society of Jesus.) We, individual faculty of the Ateneo de Manila University, call for the immediate passage of House Bill 5043 on “Reproductive Health and Population Development” (hereafter RH Bill) in Congress. After examining it in the light of Philippine social realities, and informed by our Christian faith, we have reached the conclusion that our country urgently needs a comprehensive and integrated policy on reproductive health and population development, as provided by the RH Bill. We also believe that the provisions of the bill adhere to core principles of Catholic social teaching: the sanctity of human life, the dignity of the human person, the preferential option for the poor and vulnerable, integral human development, human rights, and the primacy of conscience. Catholic social theology since Vatican II has evolved, on the one hand, from the emphasis on order, social cohesiveness, the acceptance of some inequality, and obedience to authorityto the recognition, on the other, of the centrality of the human person, and the concomitant need for human freedom, equality, and participation (Pacem...
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...Introduction Reproductive life planning includes all the decision an individual or couple make about having children (2007, Pillitteri). It is important for the health of children that as many pregnancies as possible be intended, because when a pregnancy is unintended, the mother is less likely to seek prenatal check, less likely to breast feed and less careful to protect the fetus from harmful substances. An individual’s or a couple’s choice of contraceptive method should be made carefully, with complete knowledge about advantages, disadvantages, and side effects of the various options. Important things to consider include the following: * Personal values * Ability to use a method correctly * How the method will affect sexual enjoyment * Financial factors * Status of a couple’s relationship * Prior experiences * Future plans The widespread use of contraceptives points to both an increased awareness of responsibility for contraception and options available. Understanding this concept, its work and how they compare in terms of benefits and disadvantages is necessary for successful counseling. Legal and ethical issues must also be considered when counseling clients. The arguments about contraception fall into several groups: * philosophical arguments such as the "natural law" argument * arguments based on different ideas of marriage, sex and the family * human rights arguments such as * 'procreative liberty' * a woman's right to...
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