Catholic institutions are seeking exemption from a law that does not allow them the right to enforce disciplinary action on unwed students or employees, according to a report by Inquirer.net.
Republic Act 9710, or the Magna Carta for Women, signed into law by Pres. Arroyo on Aug. 14, bans the dismissal of unwed mothers from schools or employment. However, at the national convention of the Catholic Educational Association of the Philippines (CEAP) being held Sept. 16 to 18 at the Manila Hotel, CEAP’s national president, Monsignor Gerardo Santos, said: “It is important that we respect the religious affiliation of these institutions, the schools, or company the persons [concerned] belong to.”
Women’s rights activists on the other hand said that under the new law, unwed mothers who are kicked out can file a civil case and sue for damages while government officials who dismiss them can be sanctioned under administrative and civil service laws.
Well, I kinda get why the institutions want this. For example, I’m not Catholic but I like teaching. Unfortunately for me, I can’t teach at a Catholic school kasi hindi raw ako Catholic. Ask ko why is my religion taken against me? Sagot: “We start the class with a prayer, the day with the rosary. You don’t make the sign of the cross and you don’t believe in the rosary. How’s that when those are the fundamental part of what we teach?”
So I guess same din with unwed mothers. The nuns teach the students to remain chaste and then you have “unchaste” women walking around. Parang weird, diba? Hindi consistent. So though I don’t agree, I understand.
And correction: Hindi unwed mother si Virgin Mary. In those times, as long as you’re betrothed, you are considered married.
topazbeauty, I’m no expert on the mores of Middle Eastern people from 2000 years ago, so I’ll take your word for it. Or maybe I won’t because I’ve never heard of the idea of betrothal equals marriage before.
How I see Mary? A single girl with a good story.
What idiot actually support this? ROFL!!!
kabobohan na to….
I hope those who agree with this and believe that it is in line with the catholic teachings toward salvation will realize that compassion, mercy, and forgiveness is also part of the catholic teachings.
Setting a bad example? Dismissing teachers who got pregnant out of wedlock would mean that these people do not get/deserve a second chance nor should they be forgiven by the institition. Where is compassion in that? They are against abortion because they believe that one mistake cannot be corrected by another one and isn’t this a case of one mistake, aggravated by another mistake?
If they are afraid that it would set a bad example since tolerating it may make students believe that it is okay, why not let them take a leave of absence instead of immediately dismissing them? The Catholic schools accept single,unwed parents after all.