Fruitful Multiplication

CONTRACEPTION

No sane person can deny that the Filipino people desperately need birth control. The problem is which methods natural or artificial. The Philippines is a predominately Catholic country but bursting to overflowing with so many poor people. Even if the archipelago were ranked among first world nations, overpopulation would still overburden their welfare systems. Something has to be done to curb that nation's rampant birth rate. Contraception would be a quick fix but studies have proven that where the contraceptive mentality prevails so does abortion. Contraceptives frequently fail no matter how meticulous users are.

What can ease overpopulation back home? I'm a big one for listening to people and perusing the Internet. As I was researching this article I came across a blog written by a former U.S. Marine living in the Philippines (www.untwistedvortex.com-Birth Control vs. the Catholic Church.). Besides being filled with the usual anti-Catholic 'clap-trap' (BS) a lot of what people had to say pro and con made good sense. The Church in the Philippines is in a Catch 22 situation, damned if it does and damned if it don't; a moral conundrum.

Here's a summation of what the hierarchical Church has to say: 'In this encyclical Paul VI reaffirmed the Catholic Church's traditional view (Humanae Vitae-of Human Life) of marriage and marital relations and a continued condemnation of artificial birth control. There were two Papal committees and numerous independent experts looking into the latest advancement of science and medicine on the question of artificial birth control which were noted by the Pope in his encyclical. The expressed views of Paul VI reflected the teachings of his predecessors, especially Pius XI, Pius XII and John XXIII all of whom had insisted on the divine obligations of the marital partners in light of their partnership with God the Creator.' Sorry to say I forgot where I first read that quote. Sorry, my 'bad.'

I read from a number of reliable sources Catholic and otherwise that many if not most bishops on the Pontifical council who assisted Paul VI in drafting the document thought that the birth control issue should best be left up to individual couples. I further read that senior cardinal Alfredo Ottaviani was the only strong voice of dissent in favor of the encyclical. Reader if you're seriously interested in learning more about the origins of this controversial church document I strongly suggest that you investigate further. We writers aren't infallible. We can make some tremendous goofs. Reader, examine all of what I've said and will say as this article continues, okay? I'd hate to face God after I've died and YOUR NAME comes up in ways that would be detrimental to my eternal destiny.

I researched the official documents of some of the early Church fathers, five popes (three cited below), and scientific opinion for answers. There are no easy answers. Governments are twisting the problem of overpopulation to their own selfish/political end. Filipino families back home are bringing children into the world but can't adequately FEED THEM. Religious and political leaders endlessly chit-chat yet don't as JESUS said about the hypocritical religious leaders of HIS time, lift a finger to ease the burdens of their suffering brethren. Its' one thing to talk about the problem of POVERTY but another to help suffering families shoulder the load of feeding so many little mouths. As a famous actor once said: "Money talks and bull**** walks the Marathon!" (Wesley Snipes: New Jack City)

REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH CARE (RH)

The reproductive health (RH) bill promotes information on and access to both natural and modern family planning methods, which are medically safe and legally permissible. It assures an enabling environment where women and couples have the freedom of informed choice on the mode of family planning they want to adopt based on their needs, personal convictions and religious beliefs.

The bill does not have any bias for or against either natural or modern family planning. Both modes are contraceptive methods. Their common purpose is to prevent unwanted pregnancies.

The bill will promote sustainable human development. The UN stated in 2002 that family planning and reproductive health are essential to reducing poverty. The UNICEF also asserts that family planning could bring more benefits to more people at less cost than any other single technology now available to the human race. (Inquirer.net)

NATURAL BIRTH CONTROL

For women natural birth control only works during times when they refrain from sex on days they are most likely to get pregnant. A woman has a regular menstrual cycle about 9 or more days each month when she is able to get pregnant. These fertile days are about 5 days before and 3 days after ovulation, as well as the day of ovulation.

To have success with this method, you need to learn about your menstrual cycle. Then you can learn to predict which days you are fertile or "unsafe." To learn about your cycle, keep a written record of:

• When you get your period
• What it is like (heavy or light blood flow)
• How you feel (sore breasts, cramps)

This method also involves checking your cervical mucus and recording your body temperature each day. Cervical mucus is the discharge from your vagina. You are most fertile when it is clear and slippery like raw egg whites. Use a basal thermometer to take your temperature and record it in a chart. Your temperature will rise 0.4 to 0.8 F on the first day of ovulation. You can talk with your doctor or a natural family planning instructor to learn how to record and understand this information.' Above source: www.womenshealth.gov U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. Also go to www.medicinenet.com/natual_methods for additional information.

There's been a lot of controversy over this method usually from proponents of artificial birth control over the workability of natural BC. When I taught 8th grade Family Life for the Chicago Public Schools we had a young woman sent to our class from central office to conduct a one day seminar on natural birth control. I remember during the course of her lecture she told our class that she is so proficient in her usage of the natural methods that she could feel the exact moment when her eggs came down. Hers' was living proof of the reliability of natural birth control as opposed to contraception.

My first wife and I once spent an evening at a Downtown Chicago clinic to learn about natural birth control methods. During our break we discovered that the place was an abortion clinic. Talking about depressing, we actually felt the negative vibes in that charnel house; more on that place next week when I get into abortion. To make a long story short natural methods do work. You must to take time to seriously learn them for maximum effectiveness.

In light of its teachings is the Roman Catholic Church correct about its ban on contraception: ABSOLUTELY! Are government, business, and religious leaders wrong to sit back, talk s***, but do nothing to ease the suffering of the poor folks back home who still look to them for support moral and monetarily: ABSOLUTELY!! Are these same so-called 'leaders' of the above big three in danger of eternal demise for their complacency in view of this national crisis that's getting worse: ABSOLUTELY!!!

A HOUSE DIVIDED

Last week I talked about the Catch 22 Filipinos were faced regarding birth control. Overpopulation in the Philippines has exceeded critical levels. Birth control isn't an option but a necessity. Catholic Church leaders are right. Every act aimed at birth prevention, except in medical emergencies are sins though only God and the couple involved can determine the severity (mortal or venial).

Social commentators are also correct in saying that governments can and do (See China.) use birth control to their own nefarious ends. Overpopulation is WRONG so whadaya' do? This writer reasoned that natural birth control used CORRECTLY is both safe and moral and all 'sides' win. However there is a 'catch;' it takes considerable time and effort to learn the proper use of NBC (Natural Birth Control) methods as opposed to 'popping' (taking) a small BC pill or slipping on a 'rubber' (condom).

ABORTION

According to the Philippine Inquirer 'one in four women in the mainly Roman Catholic Philippines has had an induced abortion, mainly after being forced to have sex by their demanding partners, according to the Population Commission. The Commission also said that 36 out of every 1, 000 babies in the Philippines die as a result of the endangered health of mothers, while 172 per 100, 000 mothers die from pregnancy related complications.' That study was taken in 2001. Using 2011 estimates and with growing poverty back home this writer estimates that perhaps the number of induced abortions may be as high as 600, 000 or more. Reader that's more than the number of people killed on both sides during the American Civil War-PER YEAR!!

Many look to China for answers. There government abortion vans cruise through streets and alleys in search of young pregnant woman in violation of that country's one child rule. Your writer read a vivid account of a young woman who was snatched from a street near her home. She was kicking and screaming as they shoved her in to a roving abortion van. Government planned parenthood operatives then strapped her on a table, put her legs in stirrups, inserted special medical instruments specifically designed for pregnancy terminations, ripped her preborn baby right out of her body! Reading stuff like that makes me mad! The thought of rivers and streams littered with bodies of aborted infants some still alive struggling for air makes my skin crawl. China's way is never an answer.

The subject of abortion makes people uncomfortable. I don't blame them. Abortion is downright repugnant. Reader here's a partial listing of some of the bloodiest most disgusting audio videos of abortions being performed. WARNING! I wouldn't watch this stuff on a full stomach if I were you. Seeing pre-born babies in various states of gestation some advanced as six months or more being torn apart...well buy the book and watch the videos:

• Read LIME 5 a book you can buy on line. In the Philippines it can be purchased from the Divine Word Catholic Bookstore. This bloody masterpiece describes in gory detail the inner workings of the 'abortion business.' It's an insider's look into this sick industry. Search the Internet for where you can buy this valuable abortion source.

• View CBR/Abortion Audio Video (www.abortion.org) to see what I mean. After you listen and view what Abortion.org has to offer and still remain unconvinced log in to some of the Google Images and type in Abortion Pictures.

Not many reasonable people do away with their children though I've met more than a few women (Catholics included) who use pregnancy termination as their favorite form of birth control and think nothing of it. The abortion debate crosses all lines. I read in one local Chicago Fil-Am (Filipino-American) newspaper where some hot little movie star cutie boldly wrote that she'd get an abortion without giving it a second thought if she was inconvenienced by an unwanted pregnancy.

Like death and taxes abortion is here to stay. I know of people who retain abortionists like businesspeople retain lawyers. Many of these women have had as many as five or more abortions! As a man I feel a bit squeamish in writing on this subject but somebody's gotta' do it. The only way to minimize this horror in this writer's opinion is to:

• Support women with crisis pregnancies by referring them to half-way houses that are geared to handle pregnant girls/women in trouble.

• Take an active part in the various Right to Life programs.

• Practice accepted forms of birth control when needed (Consult your priest/pastor.).

• Learn the politics of abortion and America's policies of funding abortion programs in poor countries to limit births among brown/black peoples.

• Petition government agencies to build and staff safe homes for girls/women with problem pregnancies.

• Counsel girls/women in crisis situations.

• Spiritually 'adopt' pre-born babies in crisis situations.

• Pray and do penance (spiritual acts of self denial/mortification) for girls/women who have to decide whether to have or abort their preborns.

It's easy to be against abortion but faced with that awful dilemma is another matter. My first wife and I unknowingly spent an evening in a Downtown Chicago abortion clinic to take a class on natural family planning. Reader, even before we knew what kind of place we were in the very minute we stepped through the doors, a sudden onrush of negative feelings came over me like water cascading over a high waterfall. I damn near cried. I rarely cry. There were women sitting sobbing their eyes out, some were shaking their heads while others laughed and talked to neighbors to ease their anxieties. I really felt for those women. Unless a person is soulless or just don't know getting an abortion is a horrible choice to make.

First came artificial birth control, next abortion, then forced sterilization, then euthanasia (Read the Netherlands.), then birth/death selection, finally who will live who will die. This satanic culture of death will be satisfied only when that 'master race' of genetically perfect human beings rise up and quench its thirst with the blood of the 'inferior' masses of humanity remaining (See: Nazi eugenics-Wikipedia).

"THEY CAME FIRST for the Communists and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a Communist. THEN THEY CAME for the trade unionists and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a trade unionist. THEN THEY CAME for the Jews and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a Jew. THEN THEY CAME for me and by that time no one was left to speak up."

-Rev. Martin Niemoller-