Ep 2. Birth Control in the Philippines; Rancher Nuns
- June 12, 2015
In the second episode of Religion & Ethics NewsWeekly's 18th season, viewers are transported to the Philippines to explore the controversial topic of birth control. The Philippines is a predominantly Catholic country where the Church strongly opposes the use of contraceptives, making the country's population growth unsustainable.
This episode chronicles the experiences of various Filipino women who have been deprived of access to birth control as well as adequate reproductive health services. These women suffer from unwanted pregnancies, leading to unsafe abortions, maternal deaths, infant mortality, and economic hardships.
The episode also delves deep into the Church's teachings on contraception, and how it has hampered the country's efforts to implement policies to control population growth. The show speaks to a number of activists who are fighting for their right to reproductive health care, in defiance of the Catholic Church's controversial stance.
In the second segment of the show, viewers are taken to Montana to meet a group of nuns who are not your typical religious figures. These women are cattle ranchers who are part of the Catholic Church's Franciscan order of sisters. The episode looks at how these nuns have made it their mission to protect abandoned, neglected, and abused cattle and help them to live out their lives in a safe and humane way.
The relationship between the nuns and the cattle is fascinating, as viewers get to see the sisters working with the animals, treating them with kindness and compassion, and even singing hymns to them. The show showcases the sisters' deep connection to nature, and how their Catholic faith motivates them to protect and care for all living beings.
Overall, the second episode of Religion & Ethics NewsWeekly's 18th season is both fascinating and thought-provoking. It challenges viewers to consider the role that religion plays in shaping public policy and how it affects people's lives. The show provides a platform for important discussions about reproductive health care and animal welfare, two issues that are often overlooked.