Palma airs sentiment over condom ads

Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma has echoed calls for concerned agencies and television networks to stop the airing of advertisements promoting the use of condoms.

“I’m sad about what we see now. The condom commercials have become popular in terms of being spread out. We know that whatever we hear and see impacts on people. The commercial entails a very bad message,” he told reporters after celebrating Mass concluding the diocesan process for the cause of sainthood of Bishop Teofilo Camomot at the Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral last Friday.

For Palma, condom advertisments tries to put in the public’s mind that it is alright to use contraceptives, although in reality it is “immoral.”

“It’s like telling people that having sex that will not lead to pregnancy or HIV is okay. But to the Catholic Church, it’s not okay because it has other implications in the life of persons. The value of mariage, chastity and true love is put down,” the prelate explained.

The Catholic Church has repeatedly emphasized that sexual intercourse should always be “open to life.” Any method or manner that impedes life, including the use of contraceptives, is considered by the Church as serious offense.

“Let us avoid the pitfalls of misinformation or wrong information about sex. We should stand up to what we believe. We should stand up for the real expression of true love and marriage,” Palma said.

Last year, Congress passed the Responsible Parenthood Law despite the Church’s opposition but the Supreme Court suspended its implementation pending review on its constituionality.
The Catholic Church continues to lobby against the RH Law whose provisions include public access to government-funded supplies of condoms and other contraceptives.

Those who brought the matter to the High Court said RH Law offends religious beliefs and fosters abortion, which remains illegal in the country.

Palma was president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP). He said the Church shall continue to proclaim that some provisions of the RH law, like making contraceptives available to anyone for free, is immoral.

The archbishop is hopeful that the High Court will eventually declare the law as unconstitutional.

Fr. Melvin Castro, executive secretary of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines’ Commission on Family and Life, recently urged television networks and some agencies to stop airing condom advertisments. He said condom ads are corrupting the minds and hearts of young people especially since these are aired on prime time.