MANILA, June 20, 2011―The absence of respect for freedom of conscience in House Bill 4244 is among the reasons for a one lawyer's opposing the P3 billion measure.
In a June 17 forum on the RH bill held at Sta. Isabel College, Atty. Marwil Llasos of Filipinos for Life cited the provision concerning refusal to extend reproductive health services (Sec. 28. Prohibited Acts), which states that while the conscientious objector's refusal due to ethical or religious beliefs is acceptable, he is required to "immediately refer the person seeking such care and services to another health care service provider within the same facility or one which is conveniently accessible who is willing to provide the requisite information and services."
In other words, if a doctor refuses to perform a vasectomy, for example, because he believes this to be unethical, the bill compels him to refer the patient to another doctor. The lawyer pointed out that this still goes against the first doctor's conscience "because what you are prohibited from doing directly, you are mandated to do indirectly."
"At mas imoral po 'yon. Bakit? Kasi kung siya lang ang gagawa ng paglabag sa kanyang konsensya―halimbawa, nagbigay siya ng condom o pills, nag-perform siya ng vasectomy o naglagay siya ng IUD sa isang tao, siya lang ang nagkasala. But if he is going to refer to another doctor, dalawa na silang nagkasala," Llasos pointed out.
He then appealed to the high school and college students as well as faculty in the audience to take a hard look at what the bill is leading Filipinos to do.
"My dear sisters and brothers, your faith that was taught to you by the Sisters here in this school tells you that there is such a thing known as the sin of scandal, and that is even worse. Leading people to sin," he lamented.
"Here we have a law that mandates a Filipino, a Catholic to violate his conscience, and if he goes by his conscience he will be imprisoned. Here is a law that commands you to commit the sin of scandal."
The lawyer, who is also an apologist at Defensores Fidei Foundation, continued:
"Lagi na lang sinasabi na ang Simbahan ay kontrabida. Hindi po tayo kontrabida, sinasabi natin ang katotohanan... Ano ang penalty [sa lalabag sa bill na ito]? The doctor or nurse...shall be penalized by imprisonment ranging from one month to six months or a fine of P10,000 to P50,000 or both such fine and imprisonment at the discretion of the competent court. Ano ang kasalanan ng doktor? Ano ang kasalanan ng nars? Ang kasalanan niya, siya ay mananampalatayang Katoliko na naniniwala na imoral ang batas na ito. This is oppressive; this is penalizing us for being Catholic Christians." (Diana Uichanco)
In a June 17 forum on the RH bill held at Sta. Isabel College, Atty. Marwil Llasos of Filipinos for Life cited the provision concerning refusal to extend reproductive health services (Sec. 28. Prohibited Acts), which states that while the conscientious objector's refusal due to ethical or religious beliefs is acceptable, he is required to "immediately refer the person seeking such care and services to another health care service provider within the same facility or one which is conveniently accessible who is willing to provide the requisite information and services."
In other words, if a doctor refuses to perform a vasectomy, for example, because he believes this to be unethical, the bill compels him to refer the patient to another doctor. The lawyer pointed out that this still goes against the first doctor's conscience "because what you are prohibited from doing directly, you are mandated to do indirectly."
"At mas imoral po 'yon. Bakit? Kasi kung siya lang ang gagawa ng paglabag sa kanyang konsensya―halimbawa, nagbigay siya ng condom o pills, nag-perform siya ng vasectomy o naglagay siya ng IUD sa isang tao, siya lang ang nagkasala. But if he is going to refer to another doctor, dalawa na silang nagkasala," Llasos pointed out.
He then appealed to the high school and college students as well as faculty in the audience to take a hard look at what the bill is leading Filipinos to do.
"My dear sisters and brothers, your faith that was taught to you by the Sisters here in this school tells you that there is such a thing known as the sin of scandal, and that is even worse. Leading people to sin," he lamented.
"Here we have a law that mandates a Filipino, a Catholic to violate his conscience, and if he goes by his conscience he will be imprisoned. Here is a law that commands you to commit the sin of scandal."
The lawyer, who is also an apologist at Defensores Fidei Foundation, continued:
"Lagi na lang sinasabi na ang Simbahan ay kontrabida. Hindi po tayo kontrabida, sinasabi natin ang katotohanan... Ano ang penalty [sa lalabag sa bill na ito]? The doctor or nurse...shall be penalized by imprisonment ranging from one month to six months or a fine of P10,000 to P50,000 or both such fine and imprisonment at the discretion of the competent court. Ano ang kasalanan ng doktor? Ano ang kasalanan ng nars? Ang kasalanan niya, siya ay mananampalatayang Katoliko na naniniwala na imoral ang batas na ito. This is oppressive; this is penalizing us for being Catholic Christians." (Diana Uichanco)
