Odds and Ends 10/11/20

DSWD services strained by 'overpopulation' -Soliman

BAGUIO CITY, Philippines - If there is one government agency that is feeling the impact of overpopulation, it is the Department of Social Welfare and Development.

Social Welfare Secretary Corazon “Dinky” Soliman made the statement even as she expressed full support for the reproductive health bill in Congress...

I feel so sorry for the word 'overpopulation' being blamed over and over again. The most popular and convenient scapegoat of all times: balagoong at lagi na lang taya. Of course Soliman's statement should have been "If there is one government agency that is feeling the impact of poverty and/or overcrowding in urban centers, it is the Department of Social Welfare and Development". At any rate she should not be surprised at all that her agency would have its hands full, considering more than 30% of Filipino's live below the poverty line - what can she expect. As if her agency is the only one hard-pressed. Certainly, there are many public service agencies that have tough jobs alleviating poverty, and there are public service agencies (and officials) and economic policies that aggravate this poverty. It never ceases to amaze me that even intelligent (?) and well-meaning people get mesmerized by the overpopulation myth.
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Woman is ordained as Catholic priest in Canada

MONTREAL, Canada—Despite a Vatican ban and threats to excommunicate her, a sixth Canadian woman was ordained as a Roman Catholic priest Saturday, an official with a group supporting women in the priesthood said.

The group Roman Catholic Womenpriests ordained Linda Spear, a retired teacher from Quebec, in an Anglican church in Sutton, Quebec, eastern Canada...

Another misnomer. At least the reporter in the previous item had the good sense to put 'overpopulation' in quotes, so 'ordained' should have been place in quotes likewise here. The correct title would be "Woman thought she was 'ordained' as Catholic priest in Canada". This report is wrong on so many levels that one does not even know where to start. For starters, how can the Vatican possibly excommunicate a person who has already separated herself from the Catholic Church. And there is no such thing as Womenpriests, much less Roman Catholic Womenpriests.
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The Church in the public sphere
By Randy David
Philippine Daily Inquirer, 10/10/2010

...It is difficult to argue against the Church’s assertion of its public role. We may disagree with its pronouncements on today’s burning issues and problems, but public discourse is not served by excluding its voice. It has as much right as any public institution to be heard on any issue it considers important. At the same time, the Church must respect the autonomy and independence of the political system, and the Pope himself has said so many times...

At last a non-partisan, non-religious columnist who knows what he's saying. All of you who holler "Separation of church and state!" and "Church meddling!", repeat after me:

We may disagree with its [the Church's] pronouncements on today’s burning issues and problems, but public discourse is not served by excluding its voice. It has as much right as any public institution to be heard on any issue it considers important.
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