Obama won! Although my prediction on how many electoral votes he will win is way off the chart (I said 32, latest projection is 365 with Missouri's 11 votes unsettled), he won nevertheless.
As the US election campaign came to its close, it became dirtier. A lot of name-calling and fear-mongering. Obama was tagged a socialist, a radical, a liberal, a Muslim... not that they are bad or wrong to be one (definitely, I don't mind being called a radical, liberal, left-leaning Muslim.. it is just that, they are untrue).
Towards the end, McCain's campaign became more negative. In one of his speeches, he accused Obama and Democrats that "they are now planning to increase your taxes. My friends, they will raise your taxes... they are tax and spend liberals..."
There is one outrageous allegation that Obama is a baby-killer or that he will allow babies to die. With Obama and the Democrats generally pro-choice and pro-abortion, some people (especially conservative evangelicals) actually believed it.
It is actually disheartening to see the level of discourse to go that low. I am actually surprised by Mccain's gracious concession speech. It was McCain the statesman, the war hero, the maverick who reaches across the aisle speaking... not the desperate, bumbling presidential candidate.
Turning to local politics, I am disheartened and disappointed by the way the Catholic Church has responded to the Reproductive Health (RH) Bill in the House of Representatives (HB 5043). For the past few weeks, I have listened to priests denounce the RH Bill in their homilies. However, instead of focusing on the Catholic Church's belief regarding life, intimacy and creation, they often resort to fear-mongering and name calling.
Priests talk about the evil intents of lawmakers to promote DEATH. They warn that the RH bill will destroy families, lives and values. One said that human life will cease if lawmakers have their way. From yesterday's homily, the parish priest said that if children were taught reproductive health in schools then parents lose their right to teach it to their children.
(I remember one negative ad against Obama saying that Obama promotes "teaching sex education to kindergarten. Learning sex before learning how to read." Obama actually promoted age-appropriate sex education, designed to prevent sexual abuse).
A few months back, I saw on TV a priest spraying holy water on the seats of congresspeople who supported the RH bill (is he implying that RH bill supporters are possessed by the demon?).
A lot of half-truths and misleading statements are said from the pulpit. And I am in shock and awe. As far as I know, priests are required to finish a college degree. They study theology, sociology, history, language and philosophy, on top of other subjects. Those who go up the hierarchy (Monsignors, Bishops and Cardinals) study much more. Of all people, they should be able to defend the faith based on the Bible, doctrines, dogmas and Church teachings. The Catholic Church should not resort to sweeping statements or making it just a fight between good and evil (with them on the good side).
I understand the difficulty and complexity of discussing the RH bill. It deals with two sensitive topics, privacy and faith. It is very difficult to debate on faith... sometimes it is even futile. But it should not stop us from elevating the level of discourse. The discussion can be raised on so many levels, economic, scientific, medical, political, philosophical, social and theological. It must be debated and then let the people, the couples and families decide.
As the US campaign has shown, fear mongering and name calling are typically used by desperate people who are losing the debate. I am not exactly sure who is winning right now...
Kudos to professors of UP School of Economics and the Ateneo de Manila University for spearheading moves towards a meaningful discussion of issues!
Read here:
Full text of HB 5043: Reproductive Health and Population Development Act of 2008
Position papers of faculty members of:
UP School of Economics: Population, Poverty, Politics and the Reproductive Health Bill
Ateneo de Manila University: Declaration of support for the Reproductive Health Bill's immediate passage into law
and
ADMU Professors: Catholics can support the RH Bill in good conscience
Statement from the National Academy of Science and Technology in support of the RH Bill.
Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines: Our Firm Stand Against Contraceptive Mentality
Documents and Position papers by Couples For Christ: Foundation for Family and Life (CFC:FFL) including Catholic Teaching on Voting for Pro-Abortion Candidates.
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