RH Bill Dilemma - A Call for the Laity

The RH bill that is a hot issue now has awakened the age old debate regarding contraceptives. Ever since my seminary days, this dillema has been discussed. The signs of the times, especially pertaining to the economy and population, call for more radical stands. The Church, however, taking from the standpoint of morality and life-theology, advocates conservatism.

It is a great debate among Vatican theologians, in the USA and other Western countries, where the number of Catholics are dwindling. But take the discussion in a country, where majority of the population is Catholics, with an influential clergy, and a new administration that is trying to please all sectors, the result can be equivalent to a hurricane.

That is exactly what happened days ago when a protester disturbed a Holy Mass in the Manila Cathedral. Despite his message, the means employed I found very offensive. It is not a civilized approach. But the event and similar others, poins to how hot this issue is right now, more than ever.

Debates about this can be endless. Each point of views will never reach their truthful finality. When the smoke clears, only one question remains...

What am I gonna do about it?

So what are my actions following all the words? I looked at myself and the answer is clear.

I am Catholic. I am part of the Church. It is my faith. To think apart from my Church would not be proper, as a person, as an individual.

So does this mean I agree with the stand of the clergy and the bishops?

The answer to that is... not necessarily. Sure they may have spent a lot of time studying the doctrines and the traditions. In this regard I acknowledge their authority.

But they are not perfect. It is possible that they are committing a mistake with their stand right now. The thing is, as a Catholic, disagreeing with the clergy is not necessarily wrong. These priests and bishops are also human. And I'm sure they will not deny the limitation of the experience in speaking about family life. A bunch of celibates, for me, does not have and will not have the authority to talk about the intimacy of the sexual life, no matter how bright they are.

So they are limited. But that is why we are here, the laity. We non-priests are also part of the Church, and part of the Church's teachings. And what the clergy lack, we can complete.

So with the RH Bill dilemma, the question for Catholics like me is not whether the Church is wrong with her stand. It's how the Church's teachings can guide the RH Bill so it can be right, so it will have a moral dimension. And at the same time address the economic signs of the times.