Just recently as I watched Al-Jazeera news, an issue catched my attention - "Philippines has the poorest family planning program in Southeast Asia." Few weeks ago, another "not-too-hot" issue also made my ears hot: this is about the issue on "same sex marriage" if it will be allowed in the Philippines or not.
What is happening in the Philippines today? The issue on family planning method is not a matter between the church and the state, but a matter between the state and the citizens. The state is, by mandate of the constitution, has to provide a comprehensive and accessible program to every citizen. The separation of church and state is another mandate, as well. Hence, the church (Catholic Church, to be specific) need not to intervene with the policies of the state only because of religious beliefs or biblical interpretations of the issue. Our legislatures, I believe, are not innocent people who will enact laws that are "unconstitutional" or "inhumane" aiming to propagate principles against the good will of the people.
What's wrong with "contraceptives" if the main purpose is to have a well-planned family? Perhaps, one thing that made the Filipino mentality prone to church's influence is the colonial effect that had rooted since our time immemorial. But the Age of Enlightenment is over. We are already at the "cyber age", hundreds of years away from the "earth-centered universe belief" propagated by the church.
Same sex marriage is another thing. For me, it is not an issue to be debated for if the only ground for its justification is the personal interpretations of the "rights" of an individual. Homosexuality is "absolutely immoral in all angles". If Machiavelli believed that "the end justifies the means", it is only when all the rights an individual are enjoying are taken away from him. Not legalizing same sex marriage is not an oppression of individual's right but a prevention or a watchdog against immorality.
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