Position Paper Against HB 5043 (Catholic Alumni United for Life)
We, concerned alumni of Catholic Universities, have united to express our stand against the anti-life, abortion-promoting Reproductive Health Bill authored by Edcel Lagman et al, now also known as HB (House Bill) 5043.
As graduates of Catholic universities well-known for their spiritual and moral values and academic excellence, we are also deeply dismayed that certain faculty members in some of our own respective alma maters have aired support for the said Bill despite the clear guidelines of our Catholic Faith.
We have therefore chosen to release this cover letter and position paper in response to the confusion and scandal caused by the actions of those who have made the false claim that one can support HB 5043 and still be consistent with the teachings of our Faith.
- We believe that HB 5043 uses wrong means to achieve questionable ends. HB 5043 cannot achieve its stated ends, and that there are more acceptable – and more effective – means of achieving these ends.
- HB 5043 promotes abortion by funding and promoting abortifacients. Many studies show that the abortifacient action of many contraceptives cannot be justifiably dismissed. The grave stakes involved (the death of a human being) places the burden of proof on those who would provide such contraceptives to prove that these are in fact non-abortifacient. Until such a conclusive determination is achieved we must err on the side of caution and not place the lives of the unborn at risk. HB 5043, however, explicitly promotes and funds such abortifacients. We also note that there is a safe, modern, and effective alternative to abortifacients: Natural Family Planning.
- HB 5043 violates explicit Catholic teaching. Catholic doctrine has always held human life begins at conception. It has also always taught that artificial contraception is a grave evil. HB 5043 promotes and funds abortifacients and artificial contraceptives. The claim, therefore, that HB 5043 is pro-life and consistent with Catholic doctrine is totally false. No Catholic can support HB 5043 without violating the moral teaching of the Catholic Church.
- HB 5043 violates the Philippine Constitution. Article II, Section 12, recognizes that human life must be protected from the moment of conception. Since HB 5043 promotes and funds abortifacients, it violates the Philippine Constitution.
- HB 5043 is anti-women and anti-poor. The great majority of maternal deaths are caused by the lack of proper medical facilities and care. HB 5043 does not address this lack of basic health care services, and will allow the problem to persist while it wastes funds on abortifacients and other ineffective reproductive health measures.
- HB 5043 is coercive and violates freedom of speech. It punishes anyone who “maliciously engages in disinformation about the intent or provisions of this Act”, which can be broadly interpreted as prohibiting the expression of objections to the Bill, such as what we are presently doing. It coerces employers to provide for free abortifacients and artificial contraceptives, removing any choice for those who may believe that distribution of such is immoral. Doctors and health workers are also coerced to dispense such abortifacients or to refer those who want to use these to another person who will dispense them. HB 5043 eliminates any choice for conscientious objectors and makes no room for their legitimate concerns.
A call for Catholic unity and fidelity to Christ
No Catholic can support HB 5043 and remain faithful to the teachings of Christ, given to the Apostles and handed down through the centuries by the Church. To claim otherwise is deceptive and involves distortions of authentic Catholic teaching and flawed reasoning, if not outright falsehood.
For these reasons, we vigorously oppose HB 5043 and call on our respective alma mater–respected Catholic institutions – to unambiguously, unequivocally and publicly take a stand against HB 5043.
We also call on all Catholic educational institutions to rigorously examine their own
different situations to determine whether the education they impart to Catholic students in their charge is faithful to the Magisterium, and to take steps to correct any contradictions being taught in the name of the Church.
In Christ,
The Signatories
Emmanuel R. Amador
Ateneo de Manila University
AB Communication Arts (1984)
AB Philosophy (1985)
Marietta M. Aguada
Xavier University (1958)
Maryknoll College (1960)
De La Salle University (2006)
Bernard Bagaman
Ateneo de Manila University
AB Communication Arts (1984)
