HOTSPOT
Like many of my friends, I was surprised by the recent Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) rally that appeared to be against the impeachment process being initiated against the Vice President.
Then, many were surprised to find out that a group called “National Coalition for the Family and the Constitution” is behind a coordinated effort to block the passage of the Prevention of Adolescent Pregnancy Act.
It is as if we are being brought back to a time when religious leaders would dictate laws. There is no full-throated defense of the rule of law, and in this case, the separation of church and state — or the ban on having a state religion, or against any particular religion or church dictating on the fate or path of the country.
I believe many would agree with Juan Ponce Enrile’s view that even the most fervent expression of faith by the INC should not be allowed to suspend the operation of the Constitution. The House has a constitutional obligation to open the impeachment process, and for the Senate to hold a trial. That’s the only way to hold the Vice President and other impeachable officials accountable.
If religious leaders would like to oppose it, they should participate in the House proceedings, and submit their opposition to the House justice committee. There’s nothing in the Constitution that expressly allows a church to move to suspend the impeachment process.
On the so-called sex education bill, its supporters and the Members of Congress should look into the backgrounds and funding sources of the “national coalition” that opposes it.
The language used by the coalition is not different from those used in anti-women and anti-LGBT campaigns in many African countries. Independent investigations have found such campaigns to have been financed by US and international evangelical groups.
Sociologist Haley McEwen, who has written the book “The US Christian Right and Pro-Family Politics in 21st Century Africa,” said in an interview: “The pro-family movement is a transnational network of conservative activists and organizations. They claim they are ‘pro-family.’ But they’re clearly only interested in protecting and defending one kind of family: the heterosexual, monogamous, married nuclear family structure.”
“Key to this is opposing the recognition of gender and sexuality diversity. Pro-family groups campaign against issues such as access to contraception and abortion, same-sex marriage and the availability of sexuality education in schools. They claim these issues threaten the nuclear (or, in their terms, ‘natural’ or ‘traditional’) family,” the sociologist added.
A similar campaign had been initiated in South Africa, targeting the country’s Comprehensive Sex Education Program, according to McEwen.
The topic of sex education is a sensitive issue to some, especially those of conservative beliefs and upbringing. While there’s this difference in belief, I think most would agree that we must educate and empower children, women, and men about their bodies, their dignity and about the idea of consent and personal autonomy. This could be a most potent response not just to teenage pregnancy, but to rape, sexual assault, sexual harassment, sexual slavery, and sex trafficking – including those perpetrated by persons in authority like pastors, ministers or priests. Such crimes have thrived, partly because of a sense of shame brought about by the idea that body parts and bodily functions cannot be talked about, and social constructs that demonize and stigmatize minorities and those deemed “different.”
There’s an opportunity here for secular and religious voices that are progressive, to initiate a coalition of their own, and mobilize all types and forms of Filipinos families that exist today, to support the bill pending in the Senate after the House unanimously passed its own version.
The INC and the evangelicals have taken bold and powerful actions on the impeachment and the sex education bill. Who are ready to match those with bigger and more potent steps, and a broader and more stunning alliance?
Hopefully such an alliance would be formed, and push not just for the passage of the sex education bill, but the bills on SOGIE rights, divorce, and marriage equality. I’m certain there are progressive theologians and religious leaders, constitutionalists, civil libertarians, academicians, family advocates, survivors of rape, and a veritable alphabet soup of legitimate Filipino organizations raring to debate anyone on these issues, take political action, and win for children, women, and men in the battles against ignorance, sexual abuses, and foreign interference in policy-making.
As for the impeachment, the clock is ticking on Congress. It must take action on the pending complaints, because that’s an obligation in the Constitution.