Wednesday, August 15, 2012
Finger-pointing Iglesia ni Cristo
Executive Minister Eduardo V. Manalo: The INC Executive Minister is
opposed to abstinence from sex
A CRITIQUE OF IGLESIA NI CRISTO EXECUTIVE
MINISTER EDUARDO V. MANALO’S STATEMENT ON THE RH BILL
PART V
[This
is the fifth part of my critique of Iglesia ni Cristo Executive Minister
Eduardo V. Manalo’s position on the RH Bill. The words of Mr. Manalo are in green while
my comments are in black.]
Abstinence is self-control: A deacon of the Iglesia ni Cristo molests 3 victims
We do not support the natural family planning
method and all its variants.
Iglesia
ni Cristo Executive Minister
Eduardo V. Manalo categorically declares that his church does not support the
natural family planning method. But what is natural family planning?
The Institute of Reproductive Health of
Georgetown University defines Natural
Family Planning (NFP):
“Natural Family Planning (NFP) refers to a variety of methods
used to plan or prevent pregnancy, based on identifying the woman's fertile
days. For all natural methods, avoiding unprotected intercourse during the
fertile days is what prevents pregnancy. Natural methods are also known as
fertility awareness-based methods.
The effectiveness and significant advantages of NFP address the needs of diverse
populations with varied religious and ethical beliefs. They also provide an
alternative for women who want to use natural methods for medical or personal
reasons.”[1]
Angel or maniac? Iglesia ni Cristo founder Felix Y. Manalo was himself accused of sexual immorality
The Natural Family Planning Outreach says that
the “NFP is
completely natural and does not use drugs, devices or surgery. It is simply a
method of recognizing and charting the easily observable signs of fertility
exhibited by a woman's body. Then by applying a few simply guidelines, these
observations can be used by a couple to avoid a pregnancy or to assist in
achieving one. Studies by the World Health Organization have concluded that
couples who learn the Ovulation Method from a certified instructor and apply
the guidelines conscientiously can achieve a 98.6-99 percent effectiveness rate
in avoiding pregnancy.”[2]
Abstinence presupposes discipline: A minister of Iglesia ni Cristo stands accused of attempting to rape an 87 year old woman
These so-called birth control methods depend
upon abstinence on the part of the married couple when the woman is fertile but
allows marital relations only when she is not.
Abstinence simply means not having sex. It
entails discipline. Only abstinence is 100% effective in preventing pregnancy.
Birth control methods can have high success rate when used properly, but they
fail occasionally.[3]
Iglesia ni Cristo shuns adultery but its deacon stands accused of raping a daughter of a deaconess
These methods are not only unnatural and ineffective …
Mr. Manalo failed to explain why Natural Family Planning is unnatural when it uses only natural methods.
The problem with Mr. Manalo’s worldview is that he calls unnatural what
is natural and considers natural what is unnatural. Isaiah 5:20 says
this:
“Woe
to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light
and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter”
(NIV).
Self-control, not birth control: A 16 year old teenager reported to have been raped by a fellow member of the Iglesia ni Cristo
What about artificial contraceptives?
Are these natural? Mr. Eduardo V. Manalo must answer these questions? Is putting condom on one’s penis natural? Is
popping contraceptive pills natural? Is it natural to insert copper or
progesterone IUD into a woman’s uterus natural? Is tying the fallopian tube
natural? Is vasectomy natural?
Also, what is Mr. Manalo’s basis in saying
that natural family planning methods are ineffective? Clearly, Mr. Manalo’s
assertion is plainly gratuitous. It is not backed by solid research.
Science Daily reports that “[r]esearchers have found that
a method of natural family planning that uses two indicators to identify the
fertile phase in a woman's menstrual cycle is as effective as the contraceptive
pill for avoiding unplanned pregnancies if used correctly …”[4]
Mr. Manalo, not being a man of science, has no
credentials to judge the effectiveness of natural family planning methods. He
should refrain from doing so; otherwise, he would turn out to be a mere charlatan.
Abstinence means mastery over one's lust: This is the consequence when people do not know abstinence from sex
Let’s take the case of sexual abstinence as a
form of natural family planning. “Abstinence is the only
one-hundred percent effective method of birth control. Abstinence works for
people of all ages,” admits Christian Family
Planning.[5] It’s
failure rate is 0%. Moreover, it has no physical side effects or health risks.[6]
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