Pope’s stand on condoms ‘double standard’–Garin
Iloilo First District Rep. Janette Garin said she is disappointed over the statement of Pope Benedict XVI on condom use.
Garin in statement yesterday said she is “wonder(ing) why the Pope considers it morally upright for male prostitutes to use condom and yet condemn couples using it to protect the spread of HIV and AIDS among their offspring.”
“I call this a double standard of morality,” she said.
Garin, main author of House Bill 101 or the “Reproductive Health and Population Development Act of 2010,” said that as a medical doctor, she has been exposed to real life experiences where innocent children are infected with HIV and AIDS because their parents failed to use anything for their protection.
“My heart bleeds for these children, they are innocent and they are just victims by circumstances,” she said.
Garin, however, said she is undeterred and will continue to push for the passage of the reproductive health bill.
“As a responsible legislator, I owe it to Filipino people to continue pursuing this advocacy until such time that it becomes a law so the Filipino people will have the opportunity to live quality lives and enjoy the benefits of reproductive health,” she said.
Garin added: “The government is under obligation, not only to educate the people, but also to provide reproductive health services to those who want to avail of them, despite what the Pope or some Catholic leaders say on the issue.”*
