Bishop to DOH: No condoms on Valentine’s, please

A CATHOLIC bishop has appealed to the Department of Health (DOH) to refrain from handing out to couples free condoms and other forms of artificial contraceptives on Feb. 14 like what it did last year.

“The Church is against the distribution of condoms [especially on Valentine’s Day] because we know how the use of contraceptives affects the morality of our people and our society in general,” said Archbishop Angel Lagdameo of Jaro over Church-run Radio Veritas on Friday.

Archbishop Lagdameo, a former president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines, said the key to an HIV/AIDS-free society was “abstinence, fidelity to one’s spouse and obedience to God’s will.”

The prelate said he was hopeful that the DOH would not distribute free condoms to lovers tomorrow.

Last year, Health Secretary Enrique Ona suspended on Valentine’s Day the distribution of free condoms to adults as part of a campaign aimed at helping curb HIV and AIDS cases in the country.

Ona had said then that the DOH would promote abstinence and monogamy to combat the disease.

Go to church instead

For loving couples who remain clueless as to where to go or celebrate Valentine’s Day, an official of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) said going to church may be a good idea.

“More than the romantic date, this is the opportunity to know each other (better)… so go to church together and do some apostolate work,” Msgr. Melvin Castro, executive secretary of CBCP’s Episcopal Commission on Family and Life, said.

Castro said the problem with some couples is that they are more focused on impressing each other by making their Valentine’s Day rendezvous romantic.

“Although that’s also important to nourish the relationship, but it’s important to also nourish it with prayer,” he said.

“What is important is that during the period of courtship, they get to know each other for them to know if they should marry each other,” added Castro.