Contraceptives and Minors

7 lawmakers have proposed bills that will let minors (below 18 of age) get free contraceptives from government agencies allegedly to stop them from getting pregnant when they have sex. In the bills, minors age 15 to 17 years old can get reproductive health services and commodities (pills, condoms etc.) without a parent or guardian’s consent. Minors below 15 who have begun child bearing, experienced sexual abuse, miscarriage, engaged in high risk sexual behavior and are sexually active will also have full access to reproductive health services without a parent or guardian’s consent. The 7 lawmakers justify this “in keeping with the evolving capacities of the child” and in keeping with the “mature minor doctrine.”

I am against this for 6 reasons. 1. Asian tradition stresses family modesty love, togetherness, and respect for elders. If an eleven year old daughter, granddaughter, niece of one of the 7 lawmakers tell them, “Pa, Lolo, Tiyo, I am now taking contraceptive pills.” How will the lawmaker, his wife, or the grandparents feel? Will they proudly say “congratulations, you are a real modern minor!” There will be great pain, anger and divisiveness.

2. Religious Values of Christians, Muslims, Buddhists have great duties on parents to teach/raise children who will know what is bad and good, right and wrong, moral and immoral and practice humility, obedience, honesty. This bill will make a 10-year old girl believe that having sex and getting pregnant is not a problem because they can get free contraceptives/abortion. Are these inspired by religiosity or by the evil one? It is like telling a 10 year old girl that the government is giving her a gift so she can enjoy her life without fear or shame. The lawmakers are indirectly saying sex by minors is not a sin nor is it bad.

3. Because of electronic advances in the internet which are mostly free, minors can see X rated films anytime and anywhere. This will greatly embolden minors to go ahead. You’ll not get pregnant or in trouble because contraceptives are free. The government understands and will protect you from your over reacting parents.

4. The government will be the cause of family breakups and troubles, it will be the 10-year old girl/boy versus parents, boy’s parents vs. girl’s parents blaming each other. Family Honor, decency respect will lose to shame and scandal.

5. These bills might be against two constitutional provisions (Art. 2, section B, Art. 13, Section 17, paragraph B).

6. Minors will be greatly exposed to venereal diseases because they have the go signal from lawmakers to have sex without fear. These naïve, innocent, children will be a cause for a rise in V.D. The New Testament regarding protection and love of children is clear. Christ says you (referring to adults) must do everything to take care of them and not to let them go astray.