Gary Pekas
By Estanislao Albano, Jr.
TABUK CITY, Kalinga – The Roman Catholic (RC) clergy only talks about natural family planning methods but is doing nothing to promote it among their members.
That is the observation of Dr. Rosendo Roque, a full professor at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the RC-run University of Santo Tomas and a past president of the Philippine Obstetrical and Gynecological Society (POGS).
Roque led a team of 14 obstetricians and gynecologists who came to the province October 8 to conduct a medical mission and lecture on teenage pregnancy.
“The church is adamant on refusing to accept artificial contraction methods and yet there are no strong moves on its part to immerse in the community to strengthen natural family planning methods. If you talk, you offer options and alternatives to what is offered by the other side so you will offer an equal choice so that the population can make a decision on their own,” Roque said.
He added that the church cannot go on “imposing urgent sensitive matters concerning people without adequate study and consideration of what the people really need and what they really desire to improve their situation.”
Regarding the emotion-charged debate on the Reproductive Health (RH) bill, Roque said that the government and the church should strike a compromise because of the survey finding showing that majority of RC people favor the passage of the bill.
“I wish that all the parties will try to analyze in detail the contents of the RH bill that needs to compromise approach so that we can approach our goal to finally improve our society’s conditions because this is just a matter of supply and demand. The bigger the number of people, the bigger is their need for food, housing social services, infrastructure and jobs,” Roque said.
Once both sides understand the contentious provisions, then they can work out compromises that will be acceptable to both, the doctor said.
Citing as sample the issue of the participation of the government in providing contraceptive methods to the population, Roque said that the two parties could talk about alternatives which could include the church strengthening its education efforts on the subject of natural family planning method.
“If they don’t want condoms, they can teach the rhythm method,” Roque said.
He clarified that he is not talking for the POGS albeit he claimed that most members of the organization share his opinion.
Regarding the POGS advocacy against teenage pregnancy, Roque who heads the project said that they teach teenagers “abstinence and substitution of their activities to help them mature responsibly.”
He said that since sexual development is natural, the POGS want the teenagers to be aware that they can channel their excess energy to other productive activities.
“Most teenagers are left to themselves and they cannot cope with the rapid changes in their physical, emotional and social development. A good majority have no guidance especially so that many parents are overseas.
