Okay, enough, people. She’s a runner-up, and he won. Let’s not be sore losers. Jessica Sanchez is a brilliant talent in her own right. She’s young, and she’s going to go places. My bet is on that.
The RH Bill
And speaking of going places, I was watching Boy Abunda’s Bottomline interview with UNPF (United Nations Population Fund) Executive Director Babatunde Osotimehin late last night. Indeed, the RH Bill is probably not going to go places anytime soon, given that the Philippines is comprised of 80% Catholics, and the Catholic Church is very pro life.
Me thinking out loud
The points discussed about the issue of overpopulation being tied to poverty were all valid. Although that is NOT a rule of thumb – overpopulated nations are poor, that is – it holds true among many poor Filipinos, which is rather sad.
The Catholic Church vs. the RH Bill
This is just me thinking, but with the Catholic Church rallying so forcefully against the passing of the bill, who knows where it’s going to end up? And we can’t deny it, the Catholic Church has a point, too.
Me thinking out loud … again!
I’m not going to delve into issues involving morality, but there’s always the possibility of things snowballing into something unsavory once the bill is enacted into law, especially since law enforcement is not the government’s strong suit.
And in case you’re wondering, just like everyone else, I have my own reproductive health concerns, but those are mine to contend with.
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“Indeed, the RH Bill is probably not going to go places anytime soon, given that the Philippines is comprised of 80% Catholics, and the Catholic Church is very pro life.”
Is the RH Bill NOT “very pro life”?
Hey, Julio, thanks for stopping by. Regarding your question, I guess it would all depend on who you’re asking. 😀
Thanks for posting! And thanks for the reply, Maricel. I wish to address the question to you. 🙂
Hi, Julio.
The operative word here is, in my opinion, “life.” When does life start? Some groups would say life starts at the act of copulation. Others would say the moment the egg and the sperm fertilize. Others even say beyond that. This is why this subject is so controversial.
Now regarding your question to me personally, RH Bill proponents do not, I believe, call themselves pro life. Instead, they’re referred to as pro choice. In the phrase you quoted above, I was referring to the meaning the Catholic Church gave to the phrase “pro life,” which – now I stand corrected here – is the protection of life that starts at the act of copulation.
I didn’t answer your question, I know. But I don’t want to spark any more controversy. 😀
Thank you, Maricel. You are most gracious. 🙂
And by the way, I misused the phrase “I stand corrected” in the above comment. It should have been “correct me if I’m wrong.” 🙂
You are welcome, Julio. Feel free to drop me a comment anytime. I will be most honored. 🙂
Hi Maricel! Thanks a lot! 🙂
“Some groups would say life starts at the act of copulation. Others would say the moment the egg and the sperm fertilize. Others even say beyond that. This is why this subject is so controversial.”
These statements made “Me Thinking”. I understand the controversy. Let’s just say none of us can really know when human life begins. If this were the case, could this be a good reason for us not to interfere with [human] life at any point in its initial stages since we are not really sure when life begins? 🙂
Hi, Julio,
Now you really are making me think, LOL. Let’s turn the tables for a second here. What about you, what do you think? I’ll ask you the same question you’re asking: If this were the case, could this be a good reason for us not to interfere with [human] life at any point in its initial stages since we are not really sure when life begins?
🙂
I kept on wondering why this bill has not yet been approved. 🙁
Herbert, thanks for dropping by. It’s still being discussed, LOL, by me and Julio. Seriously, it’s a state vs. the church thing, I think.
Ayayay! Too bad about the RH bill. I’m all for it.
It’s so easy for the Catholic Church to rally against it, no? But supporting that bill doesn’t address the problem of our economic situation. I hope people can see that.
And I don’t get why a lot of people think that the RH bill is just plain evil. Hello?! It would just provide people the options and the necessary information to decide for themselves.
Peter, you’re here! Thanks for visiting. I guess one of the reasons why this bill is having a real hard time getting passed is the varying opinions in a lot of things. Now my strict Catholic background is probably not going to be very happy about this, but yes, as long as the RH Bill is not abused, some people tweaking and turning it to serve their own agenda, I’m all for it.
Hi Maricel! Thanks for throwing back the question. Table’s on me. 🙂
Before answering it, we have to know when human life begins. Science has already answered the question: human life begins at fertilization [10 quotes below]. If life begins at fertilization, in no way can we interfere with it from the moment of fertilization (within the context of the RH Bill).
Our very own Philippine Medical Association claimed that “life begins at fertilization.”
******
T.W. Sadler, Langman’s Medical Embryology, 10th edition. Philadelphia, PA: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 2006. p. 11.
“Development begins with fertilization, the process by which the male gamete, the sperm, and the female gamete, the oocyte, unite to give rise to a zygote.”
******
Keith L. Moore, Before We Are Born: Essentials of Embryology, 7th edition. Philadelphia, PA: Saunders, 2008. p. 2.
“[The zygote], formed by the union of an oocyte and a sperm, is the beginning of a new human being.”
*******
J.P. Greenhill and E.A. Friedman Biological Principles and Modern Practice of Obstetrics (Philadelphia: W.B. Sanders, 1974), 17.
“The zygote thus formed represents the beginning of a new life.”
******
Ronan O’Rahilly and Fabiola Miller, Human Embryology and Teratology, 3rd edition. New York: Wiley-Liss, 2001. p. 8.
“Although life is a continuous process, fertilization… is a critical landmark because, under ordinary circumstances, a new genetically distinct human organism is formed when the chromosomes of the male and female pronuclei blend in the oocyte.”
******
William J. Larsen, Essentials of Human Embryology. New York: Churchill Livingstone, 1998. pp. 1, 14.
“Human embryos begin development following the fusion of definitive male and female gametes during fertilization… This moment of zygote formation may be taken as the beginning or zero time point of embryonic development.”
[Continuation]
******
The Developing Human: Clinically Oriented Embryology, 6th ed. Keith L. Moore, Ph.D. & T.V.N. Persaud, Md., (Philadelphia: W.B. Saunders Company, 1998), 2-18:
“[The Zygote] results from the union of an oocyte and a sperm. A zygote is the beginning of a new human being. Human development begins at fertilization, the process during which a male gamete or sperm … unites with a female gamete or oocyte … to form a single cell called a zygote. This highly specialized, totipotent cell marks the beginning of each of us as a unique individual.”
******
From Human Embryology & Teratology, Ronan R. O’Rahilly,
Fabiola Muller, (New York: Wiley-Liss, 1996), 5-55.
“Fertilization is an important landmark because, under ordinary circumstances, a new, genetically distinct human organism is thereby formed… Fertilization is the procession of events that begins when a spermatozoon makes contact with a secondary oocyte or its investments… The zygote … is a unicellular embryo..”
******
Essentials of Human Embryology, William J. Larsen, (New York: Churchill Livingstone, 1998), 1-17.
“In this text, we begin our description of the developing human with the formation and differentiation of the male and female sex cells or gametes, which will unite at fertilization to initiate the embryonic development of a new individual. … Fertilization takes place in the oviduct … resulting in the formation of a zygote containing a single diploid nucleus. Embryonic development is considered to begin at this point… This moment of zygote formation may be taken as the beginning or zero time point of embryonic development.”
******
Human Embryology, 3rd ed. Bradley M. Patten, (New York: McGraw Hill, 1968), 43.
“It is the penetration of the ovum by a spermatozoan and resultant mingling of the nuclear material each brings to the union that constitutes the culmination of the process of fertilization and marks the initiation of the life of a new individual.”
******
Keith L. Moore, The Developing Human: Clinically Oriented Embryology, 7th edition. Philadelphia, PA: Saunders, 2003. pp. 16, 2.
“Human begins at fertilization, the process during which a male gamete or sperm (spermatozoo developmentn) unites with a female gamete or oocyte (ovum) to form a single cell called a zygote. This highly specialized, totipotent cell marked the beginning of each of us as a unique individual.”
“A zygote is the beginning of a new human being (i.e., an embryo).”
Maricel says, “Seriously, it’s a state vs. the church thing, I think.”
Hi Maricel. It doesn’t have to be a state vs. the church thing, I think, although the Church is vocal about it. The Church must have its own reasons to oppose the bill. But one can argue for or against the RH Bill without involving the Church. I think the bill can be questioned making use of scientific, health and economic arguments.
Peter S. says, “It’s so easy for the Catholic Church to rally against it, no? But supporting that bill doesn’t address the problem of our economic situation. I hope people can see that.”
Hi Peter! I’m glad you can join us. 🙂
– It’s also so easy for people to put the blame on the Catholic Church, no?
Could you clarify: What do you mean exactly by “supporting that bill doesn’t address the problem of our economic situation”? Or perhaps you mean to say that the RH Bill is one that can address the economic problem of our society?
Wow, Julio, that was very thorough. I’m sure our readers will benefit from what you just imparted.
And yes, you’re right. It really doesn’t have to be a state vs. church thing. 🙂
Hi Maricel! Hi to Career Mom Online’s readers!
Thanks for posting, Maricel. I wish to share the following which I got from a friend:
In a debated issue, one position is true and the other false. Since the questions (regarding the RH Bill) are crucial, it is a grave obligation for the nation (and each one of us) to arrive at the truth.
If you would allow me to continue our discussion…
15th Congress – House Bill 4244
SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy (Paragraph 3):
The State likewise guarantees universal access to medically-safe, legal, affordable, effective and quality reproductive health care services, methods, devices, supplies and relevant information and education thereon even as it prioritizes the needs of women and children, among other underprivileged sectors.
What comes to mind when one comes across “reproductive health care services, methods, devices, supplies”?
No problem at all, Julio. And I’m glad you’ve chosen this platform to impart your message. I can certainly appreciate that. I’m sure our readers do, too.