Anti-RH Lies About The RH Bill

A few hours ago, outside the Manila Cathedral, pro-life activists gave out a couple of leaflets attacking the RH Bill. They are attached below for your enjoyment/irritation; click to view in all their falsehood.

For the benefit of our non-Filipino readers, we’ve taken the liberty of translating a few sections:

The RH Bill No. 96 of Congressman Lagman and any version of it is the road that leads straight to DEATH!

2. What is the Reproductive Health Bill 96?
a. The use of contraception (abortifacients – condoms, pills, IUDs, etc.) endangers the health of mothers and children. This results in:

  • Cancer
  • causes heart attacks and stroke
  • the mother and newborn child will have disabilities and health problems like psychological disorders of the mother and abnormalities in the child.

The spread of AIDS – according to the strongest universal evidence, widespread condom usage leads to the increased spreading of AIDS due to complacence as regards to the dangers of negligent intercourse.

Why is there the desire to pass the RH-Bill?
Capitalists who benefit from the producing and distributing of contraceptives use money and dirty politics.

It is just this sort of misinformation the poor are subject to every day, and when the Church itself preaches this to their flock they are sadly compelled to believe.

183 comments

  1. With or without religion, good people can behave well and bad people can do evil; but for good people to do evil, that takes religion.

    That would be our Church. Justifying their evils in the name of God since the 1800s.

      • I have a much better idea – Tell the Roman Catholic church to sell their real estate then donate the proceeds to those government workers to increase their salaries. Ang yaman ng Iglesia Katolika – why don't they give money instead of empty and manipulative sermons through their pulpits?

    • Addendum to your comment – the Roman Catholic Church has been doing that ever since they allowed Popes to have bastard children. Note Cesare Borgia – he was an illegitimate child of a Roman Catholic Pope. And note too, a character of Jose Rizal's book, Padre Damaso. He lured Maria Clara's mother into believing that sex with a priest guarantees heaven in the afterlife. Pero kahit buhay pa silang dalawa, heaven pa rin ang naranasan. Some Roman Catholic clergy prudes are truly a joke! Ba't di sila gumawa sa ibang Paring Katoliko na enlightened na at Pro-RH bill pa!

  2. Screening and counseling provided by well-trained health personnel can enable women to choose the contraceptive method that best suits their needs and protects their health. A lack of access to contraception is in part responsible for the 2000 maternal deaths that occur in the Philippines each year during pregnancy or delivery.

  3. I found the following article published in 1990 by Villarama RV.
    What's taking you so long?

    PIP: The Institute for Social Studies and Action of the Philippines is endeavoring to encourage the public and the Catholic Church to Recognize the differences between contraception (which prevents the union of the sperm and ovum) and abortion (which terminates pregnancy long before the fetus is viable). Nonetheless, widespread opposition to contraceptives, especially the IUD, persists because they are considered abortifacients. In terms of the IUD, there is accumulating research evidence that the device works primarily by preventing fertilization and, less frequently, by interfering with implantation. The injectable contraceptive, Depo-Provera, which is banned in the Philippines, suppresses ovulation, as does the pill. Despite the evidence that the most widely available contraceptives are not abortifacients, debate over this issue obscures a far more central issue–the right of each woman to plan her family size and the interval between births.

  4. RESULTS: Knowledge was moderately to strongly inversely related to HIV prevalence at the national level (i.e., countries in which many respondents were aware of blood-borne risk had lower HIV prevalence than countries in which few respondents were aware of such risk). At the individual level, respondents who knew about blood-borne HIV risks were modestly less likely to be infected than those who did not show awareness of this risk, independent of demographic and sexual behavior variables. This relationship was stronger in southern Africa than in west, central, and east Africa. In parallel analyses, knowledge of condom use as a way to prevent HIV was positively associated with prevalent HIV infection at both the national and individual levels. West, central, and east African countries with low to moderate HIV prevalence had implemented public education campaigns that included a focus on blood-borne transmission risks. Such campaigns were absent from high prevalence countries in southern Africa.

    CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that knowledge of blood-borne HIV risk protects against HIV infection and that public education campaigns are important for spreading that knowledge.

  5. Abstract
    INTRODUCTION: Accurate, comprehensive knowledge of an infectious pathogen's modes of transmission helps people to avoid infection. Growing evidence suggests that blood-borne HIV transmission is widespread in sub-Saharan Africa.

    METHODOLOGY: I examined the association between knowledge of blood-borne HIV risk and prevalent HIV infection in Demographic and Health Survey data from 16 sub-Saharan African countries. I also searched three online databases for evidence of public education campaigns focused on blood-borne HIV risks in these countries.

  6. Please learn the importance of education and contraceptives such as condom to avoid not only STIs but over population issued in your country.
    I hope the following latest paper helps you understand the truth although this is only the tip of an iceberg.
    As an expert in the field of reproductive medicine in Japan I’ like to state that RH bill is really NECESSARY in the Philippines.

    J Infect Dev Ctries. 2011 Mar 21;5(3):182-98.

    Knowledge of blood-borne transmission risk is inversely associated with HIV infection in sub-Saharan Africa.
    Brewer DD.

    Interdisciplinary Scientific Research, Seattle, WA, United States. [email protected].

  7. ito lang po ang obserbasyon ko dito… ang mga manufacturers ng condom at pharmaceuticals na gumagawa ng contraceptives humihina na ang benta sa mga western countries… kasi matagal ng legalized dito ang lahat ng contraception, abortion etc at ngayon wala nang bata sa population nila… kaya cno pa ang bebentahan nila ng contraceptives in the future… wala na!!! kaya nila sinisiksik dito yan dahil aminin natin business yan… at gusto nila yan ipasa sa congress kasi babudgetan ng government ang pambili ng mga yan at syempre kasma na ang kurakot…. imbes na sa ibang bagay na mas makabuluhan gamitin ang pera ng bayan, gusto nila dito igasta para mas easy access kurakot cla… hindi tayo overpopulated… hindi lang pantay ang development sa bawat probinsya kya nagpupuntahan dito sa manila… pero kung idedevelop ang mga lugar nila, hindi na yan pupunta dito…

    • at kung ang cinasabi nila na ang condom nakakaprevent ng AIDS, e di sana matagal nang na-eradicate ang sakit na to, pero ang totoo lalo lang tong lumalaganap… dahil akala nila safe cla kapag naka-condom cla kaya ariba lang ng ariba.. ang resulta lalong kumakalat ang AIDS… ang cnasabi ng simbahan dito humanizing human sexuality… tao tayo hindi aso na kahit kelan, kahit saan gustuhin natin mag-sex pwede… at itong rh bill na to lalo lang tayong dine-dehumanize… papayag ba kayo non? these are their steps to eradicate humanity…

      • @akoito

        We never said that that condom use is a cure-all; it's meant to be used as a preventive measure to keep those infected (or those who think they're infected) from spreading the disease further.

        It should be treated as part of a comprehensive process of educating the people, which it has in the ABC program that's promoted by anti-AIDs organizations such as the Red Cross.

        And while there have been incidences where irresponsible use of the condom lead to a rise in the incidences of AIDs, that only drives home the point for said comprehensive program to be available to the people. You cannot expect people to use a new piece of technology properly and responsible if you intentionally withold vital information from them
        http://www.avert.org/abc-hiv.htm

      • ayusin natin yung comment ni akoito… ayan…

        "at kung ang cinasabi nila na ang pagiging Kristyano ng mga Pilipino nakakaprevent ng paggawa ng masamang gawain, e di sana matagal nang na-eradicate ang krimen sa Pilipinas, pero ang totoo lalo lang tong lumalaganap…"

        • @akoito Bumibili din ang gobyerno natin ng bakuna sa ibang bansa dahil mahina pa ang kakayahan ng lokal na industriya ng gamot. Halimbawa nito ang mga bakuna para sa sanggol at bata: BCG, DPT, polio, tigdas. Siyempre mga dayuhang negosyante din ang nagtitinda nito kaya kumikita sila mula sa pondo ng gobyerno. Ngayon, kung ikaw pala ang namumuno sa ating bansa, ipapahinto mo pala ang bakuna sa mga bata. Kung may asawa ka at anak, o mga pamangkin o kapitbahay na bata, sabihan mo sila ng posisyon mo para madagukan ka at matauhan.

      • If you've actually read the RH bill, you'd probably understand that it's not about giving free condoms so that people can have sex whenever and wherever they want.

        Eradicate humanity? If that's our ultimate goal we would have pushed for nuclear war!

    • I am from Cagayan de Oro – probinsiya rito. Malaki ang populasyon dito dahil ignorante kami sa mga family planning methods. Ginagawa ng paraan ng LGU rito para gumanda ang buhay namin pero dahil sa laki ng populasyon, mahirap pondohan ang mga makabulahang programa. At best, they can do palliative measures – which is not enough. Even if corruption is totally eliminated in our society but if still our population continues to balloon, there will be not enough resources to sustain everyone born in our country. Your line of reasoning is more emotional and conspiratorial than logical. And logical solutions and thinking are what we so badly need now but is in extremely short supply…

  8. People who support the RH Bill are most thinking only about themselves without considering the future implications of this law. Contraceptives are not the solution to over-population. Responsibility is the right solution. We do not foster responsibility in people when we encourage "Sex without consequence" through the use of unnatural contraception. Yes, there is NATURAL contraception but there's no profit in that, so capitalists and politicians dismiss the idea entirely. http://contraception.about.com/od/naturalmethods/

    • The RH Bill is not presenting a solution to overpopulation, but a means to a better reproductive health, most especially to women. I, myself, am taking contraceptive pills, but not as a means to prevent getting pregnant, but for hormonal balance.

    • The last time the Roman Catholic did that years ago, it merely increased the population further. And it's the people's choice to decide and use whatever family planning they want to use – kahit natural o artificial. THE CHURCH HAS NO RIGHT TO IMPEDE THE USE OF FREE WILL OF ANY CITIZEN OF THIS DEMOCRATIC COUNTRY BY IMPOSING ITS WAY ON THE ISSUE OF REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH!
      As a citizen of a free country, may karapatan ako sa pagpili kung anong legal na paraan gusto ko para sa pag-plan ng family ko! Daig pa ni Former President Marcos ang mga RC officials, ah! Since when did they think dictatorship is divine intervention?

  9. RH BILL is not merely ANTI-LIFE. In a matter of fact it is PRO-LIFE, PRO-QUALITY LIFE further.
    and think of it:
    PHILIPPINES is the only country in this world which do not have any law regarding reproductive health.

  10. Overpopulation would cause a high unemployment rate which would then lead to more people living below the poverty line. Poverty breeds ignorance and ignorance breeds poverty. Ignorance which the church feeds upon resulting to more flocks…more flocks means more income.

    Thus:
    Overpopulation = the poor gets poorer while the church gets richer.

    rather than trying to stop this bill, they should sell the vatican and give it to the poor!

    • Churches don't get rich if they have poor constituents. So why would they petition against a reproductive health bill that could make people "richer" – the Filipino church isn't after money, but politicians are.

      RH Bill = funding from capitalists = politicians get richer, the poor stays poor and become baby killers

      There are other ways to fight poverty, but the RH Bill is an immoral way.

      • Using your logic that the RH bill is about "politicians getting richer", can we say that your NFP crusade is about NFP-promoters getting richer? From a PCIJ investigative report: http://www.pcij.org/stories/2007/population-polic

        In 2004, DOH even awarded P50 million to the religious group Couples for Christ to fund a government program called Responsible Parenthood-Natural Family Planning (RP-NFP). According to its own website, the CFC considers sex education, contraception, sterilization, in vitro fertilization, and population control as “anti-life.”

        Couples for Christ was one of the first groups to mobilize its members during Edsa II, which resulted in the ouster of then President Joseph Estrada and Arroyo’s ascension to power. In a June 2004 report to then Health Secretary Manuel Dayrit to cover the first tranche of the money, CFC said it used the fund to conduct almost a hundred lectures on natural family planning, “chastity education” campus tours, and media and public relations expenses.

      • [Churches don't get rich if they have poor constituents.]

        Maybe if they stopped spending so much money trying to protect their child molesters, they'd have a bit more cash to spend on their poor constituents, hmmm? 😉 http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeq

        [The church paid out 436 million dollars in 2008 for sex abuse cases involving clergy members, according to an official report last year.

        The bulk of that money — more than 374 million dollars — was paid out in settlements to victims, according to the report that tracks how well the church is implementing a charter to protect children.]

        As for your other assertion:

        [So why would they petition against a reproductive health bill that could make people "richer" – the Filipino church isn't after money, but politicians are. ]

        This isn't about money. This is about them losing influence and control over their flock – they're afraid that people will finally have access to information that will grant them the ability to think for themselves, whether or not it ties with their dogma.

        [There are other ways to fight poverty, but the RH Bill is an immoral way.]

        Poppet, the NFP-only stance the RCC has pushed for has been proven on more than one occassion to be a failure.

        When the US implemented it during the Bush years, the rate of unwanted pregnancies in several states spiked; the ultimate irony is that the states with the biggest teen pregnancy increases were in the South, specifically, in the Bible Belt.
        http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/134873.p

        You call those who support the RH Bill to be capitalists and greedy politicians.

        I call those who oppose it using your reasoning to be bloody stupid twats who wouldn't know what reality is if it kicked them in the balls.

  11. Maybe a more effective means of population control would be to "off" this so-called Pro-life people. We'd be lessening the population and we'd be getting rid of stupid people in the process!!!

    And to you priests, all you do is spread misery. You don't even know what it feels like to have a child of your own to raise. Do you even know how it feels, to not be able to provide for your child's needs, because there are too many mouths to feed? Will you and your church be the ones to feed these hungry children? You say give life a chance. But a life lived in endless squalor… What kind of life is that?
    You give license to the uneducated, to just continue to pro-create without regard for the consequences.
    Do not say you are Pro-life. You're PRO-MISERY. You just want people to be miserable and poor so that you can come along and dole out alms, so that they will worship you. I hope before you old men die and rot in your miserable graves, that you have a change of heart.

    • Misery comes to people who refuse to accept that God DOES HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO COMMAND them. If people obey God's commandments, they will not have misery. It is a sin to be lazy. To be miserable in laziness is not an effect coming from the teaching of the Church because in FACT, the Church teaches people that LAZINESS IS A CAPITAL SIN, which leads to poverty and misery. The Church does not give licence to LUST after one another. The Church teaches that LUST IS A CAPITAL SIN!!!! The Church teaches people to ABSTAIN!!!!!!!!!!! If people want to be lazy and lustful, that is THEIR choice.

        • Opinion is different from FACT.
          Fact is, generalization without evidence is poor judgment.
          Calm down and you will judge more rationally.
          The Church teaches that abusing boys is a MORTAL SIN.
          And that teaching has never changed.
          And the integrity of that teaching has nothing to do with my intelligence, or absence of it, if you please.
          And I am not a priest, but that has nothing to do with my intelligence, or absence of it, too.

          • That does not change the fact that your church did nothing to have its sex offenders arrested.

            And rather than isolated cases, recent investigations have shown that it is was condoned by the Vatican – they systematically hid these rapists instead of bringing them to justice. That's not an opinion, that's fact.
            http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/panorama/53

      • Misery also comes when people demand that their way is the correct way according to their god and their church while refusing to acknowledge the rights of people who believe otherwise. Why should we who do not follow the church obey the teachings of the church?

  12. i swear these people are all a joke, the vatican and the pope he himself has ascertained that uses of condoms are acceptable in certains scenarious there fore not completely demonizing the condom yet the phil. church is still deaf to even their popes words

  13. I think that people who made this leaflet does not understand the whole picture is. The thing that strikes me the most is that have this people read HB no 96? did they know that there are other provisions of the RH bill that does not only talk about contraception? i have read HB 96. it does not fully address to contraception, but it is about giving the right to responsible choice for couples and women. Responsible parenthood.

    I also think that the solution to controlling the population, the cases of HIV-AIDS and STD, and preventing maternal and infant deaths from happening is this bill. the right to access to information about the options on how to plan the family and the human reproductive health.

  14. dahil sa mga pinapakalat ng simbahan kaya ang mga mahihirap lalo naghihirap– wala ng trabaho at dalawang dosenang anak. yan ang gusto ng simbahan eh.

    ang hirap talaga kapag kulang sa edukasyon.

    • The Church teaches the people that SLOTH is a capital sin. So to be lazy and be poor, it is a SIN! The Church also teaches the people that LUST is another capital sin. So, to engage in sexual pleasures illicitly is a SIN. When people are lazy and lustful, it is not because of the Church. It is because they DISOBEY God.

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