“If the Church or the Pope or a bishop is wrong on science, it is the duty of the scientific community to point this out.”
by Ducky Paredes
Guyana’s Health Minister Leslie Ramsammy, president of the World Health Assembly, has openly criticized Pope Benedict XVI for being wrong on the use of condoms inthe fight against the spread of HIV and AIDS.
Ramsammy said: “The statement by the pope is inconsistent with science, it’s inconsistent with our experiences and it is not in sync with what Catholics have experienced and believe.”
Guyana’s health minister went so far as to accuse the Pope of attempting to “create confusion” and “impede” proven strategies in the battle against the disease.
One has to agree with Ramsammy that the Pope is “absolutely and unequivocally wrong” on condom use. What strikes me is that the same lie about condoms has come outof the mouths of our own bishops. In fact, there is that other lie aboutcondoms bursting and leaking in ordinary use which have come out of the mouths of our prelates. Thus, this untruth is actually part of the way that the Church discourages condom use which it regards as contrary to Church doctrine.
Still, why should it resort to lying about scientific facts? Is lying allowed at the official level to prove false Church doctrine?
Ramsammy says: “Whilst I would hope that Catholics would continue to be extremelysupportive of their church and the pope … on this issue, they [should] relyon the evidence, and we need at this time to come out forcefully with the evidence to demonstrate that condoms and lifestyle matter.”
Why can’t we have health officials who will speak as bravely as Guyana’s health minister does – on health matters? If the Church or the Pope or a bishop is wrong on science, it is the duty of the scientific community to point this out. Keeping silent in the face of untruth is a bigger sin than pointing out that the Pope and the Church are wrong on certain scientific facts.
Embarrassing them is a venial sin while allowing them to condemn people to die from believing in the ignorance that the Church preaches has to be a larger and more mortal sin.
* * *
Asit turns out, Manny Pacquiao was fooled by ABS-CBN into making an announcement that his fight with Hatton would be aired exclusively only by the second most watched TV station in the country.
Explains the boxing idol: “Ang usapan kasi namin ng ABS ay huwag muna tayo maggawa ngfootage o video. Susuriin ko muna ang kontrata ng Solar kung may breach ofcontract at saka tayo maglabas ng ganoong videos. And then sabi nila sa akin naitatago muna namin, hindi namin ipapalabas, gawin mo na lang ito, sasabihinnamin pag papalabas na, kaya ginawa namin.”
If that is the case and ABS-CBN still went ahead and aired the announcement even without the approval of Pacquiao, then, clearly the television station is notprotective of Manny’s interests and, worse, even disregards what is good for the boxing champion.
Continues Manny: “Wala namang nakitangbreach of contract at wala namang kasalanan, wala namang nilabag ang Solar so dapat hindi maipalabas ang video na iyon na hindi naman karapat-dapat.”
Accordingto the TV network: “Manny Pacquiao approached ABS-CBN to be his media partner in airing his next fights. We thank him for trusting us. He signed a contract with us, but we will not stand in the way if he decides to change his mind. We respect it, wish him good luck and we wait to hear from him.”
Yeah, Sure!
Clearly,ABS-CBN has been caught in its own web of lies. Champion and People’s Idol Pacquiao is best advised to choose his friends and associates more wisely.
* * *
The suspension order on Samuya Food Manufacturing Inc. following the results of a laboratory examination that its peanut butter products ‘Yummy Sweet and Creamy Peanut Spread’ and ‘Ludy’s Sweet and Creamy Peanut Butter’ were contaminated with Salmonella bacteria impacts on me personally.
I love peanut butter and foolishly thought that buying a local product was a better choice than buying an imported, perhaps tainted, product. Now the Department of Health has personally led by Health Secretary Francisco T. Duque III has found after an inspection that Samuya failed to comply with CurrentGood Manufacturing Practices. Samuya bought its peanuts from China and India but Salmonella does not come with the raw material; it can also come from the lack of sanitation and hygiene practices of the workers in the manufacturing plant.
TheDOH order reads: “It is hereby declared that all your food productsmanufactured are imminently injurious, unsafe or dangerous. Thus, pursuant to article 10 or Republic Act no. 7394 or the Consumer Act of the Philippines, you are hereby directed to immediately recall or cease from public sale or distribution all your food products manufactured by your establishment at the above address. Further, on the strength of section 16 of Republic Act no. 3720, as amended, your license to operate as food manufacturer is immediately suspended and as such you are ordered to submit to BFAD, for its appropriat eaction, the original copy of your license to operate from receipt of this order.”
As for this hypochondriac, I am watching out for symptoms. According to the MayoClinic, this is what to watch for:
First stage: Once signs and symptoms do appear, you’re likely to experience: Fever, often as high as 103 or 104 F (39 or 40 C), headache. weakness and fatigue, a sore throat, abdominal pain, diarrhea or constipation, Rash (small, flat,rose-colored spots on your lower chest or upper abdomen).
Second stage: Continuing high fever, either diarrhea that has the color and consistency of pea soup or severe constipation, considerable weight loss,extremely distended abdomen.
The typhoid state: By the third week, you may: become delirious, lie motionless and exhausted with your eyes half-closed in what’s known as the typhoid state.
In the meantime, that half-eaten jar of Ludy’s has been flushed down the drain.
* * *
The First leg of the San Mig 3-in-1 Coffee Senior Tournament for the Federation of Philippine Amateur Senior Golfers, Inc. (FPASGI) this year will be held at Eastridge Golf and Country Club on Thursday, March 26. 2009 .FPASGI President Clyde Fernandez promises a great raffle, good food and entertainment. Eastridge is among the finer golf courses within easy travel from Metro Manila.
This is a FPASGI members only tournament. To find out more about joining FPASGI, please call 421-3861 or go to: www.fpasgi.com.The basic requirement is that one is 55 or over and a member of a FPASGI-affiliated golf club.
# # # #
hvp 03.24.09)
Post a Comment