Let’s Talk About Sex, Contraceptives and Abortion
As I write this post, an event is going on at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC), namely the 7th Asia Conference on Reproductive Sexual Health and Rights. It has been dubbed an "abortionists’ conference" by pro-life groups and there is currently a pending temporary restraining order filed against it, because abortion is one of the topics that will be discussed.
Earlier this week, Atty. Jo Imbong, senior counsel of the St. Thomas More Law Society, filed a complaint before the Pasay City TRC, saying, "Under the law, publicly spousing crime like abortion is also a crime. So those who are promoting that discussion are violating the law."
Now we all know that the RH Law is currently under suspension until further notice. And while RH proponents insist that they are advocating primarily maternal health and access to reproductive health services, we also know that contraceptives -- the distribution of which is advocated under the Law and the above mentioned Conference -- can cause more harm than good. Just read the statements below, taken from this article on ABC News in the U.S.:
"The American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology asserts the pill is safe, but acknowledges it is associated with a heightened risk for blood clots."
"Several studies in recent years have also suggested a possible link between the pill and breast cancer, with organizations like the World Health Organization even calling the pill a carcinogenic."
Further on in the article, Dr. Erika Schultz, a New York City-based internist who specializes in women and hormone issues, told Good Morning America that she’d found that "some women who've been on birth control pills for a while have trouble conceiving."
She also said "she believes the pill can do more harm than good, and worries that doctors are over-prescribing the pill to a generation of teens seduced by glossy ads put forth by an oral contraceptive industry that generates sales of $4 billion per year."
A Conference Promoting Contraception and, Indirectly, Abortion
So what does all this have to do with the ongoing conference at the PICC?
Well, the conference focuses on reproductive sexual health and rights, based on the program, which is available on the official conference website. Everyone knows that the promotion of reproductive sexual health and rights includes the promotion of contraceptive use more than abstinence, chastity and responsible sexuality. Most of the "modern" world has adopted a "contraceptive mentality" and tells women, especially young women, "It’s okay to have sex, just be 'safe' and use contraceptives. After all, you wouldn’t want to end up with an unwanted pregnancy right?"
What happens if the woman or girl does end up pregnant? What then? Do we tell her, "Your life isn’t over. You have options that don’t necessarily mean terminating the life within you?"
The sad truth is, "No." Cultures that are Westernized -- considered more "modern" and "progressive," and therefore should be considered the example to follow -- usually give this message, "You have the right to decide what to do with your body, including that 'lump of tissue' you have in your womb. You can choose to keep it or have it removed. Ultimately, it’s your body and your life."
A message like this dehumanizes the life that is growing in a pregnant woman’s womb. So can promoting contraceptive use indirectly promote abortion? This may be a rather strong statement to say, but I say, "yes."
Promote Chastity, Fidelity and Abstinence Instead
When we say, "Go ahead and have sex but be 'protected,' what message are we conveying? Be 'protected' from what? Stay 'safe' from what?
Pro-choice advocates may answer, "Problems that arise from unwanted pregnancies, sexually transmitted diseases, etc."
Think about this though: If we promoted fidelity among married spouses, sexual abstinence and purity among the youth, and chastity in general (for married and single people alike) instead of "the easy way out" i.e. contraception (and in other countries where it’s legal, abortion) wouldn’t the need to "stay safe" disappear because you are already practicing safe practices in the first place?
Wouldn’t it make more sense to use the funds that go into contraceptive promotion and distribution, etc. for programs that promote education, health and livelihood instead?
Wouldn’t it also make greater sense to teach people how to live with dignity, including how to see their sexuality as a gift that is not to be used indiscriminately and abused?
I don’t know about you, but that makes greater sense to me.
