My view on this is as follows:
Firstly, as someone alluded earlier, a key consideration is education. Whether in da Phils or in UK, US, etc. it is invariably the uneducated and mostly unemployed that have the largest families which they cannot afford to maintain. That has nothing to do with the church or catholicism surely.
Secondly, contraceptives don't absolve people of the need to behave responsibly. How many of our wive's parents have excessively large families that they cannot afford? Some sure, for a variety of reasons, but mostly they only had children they could afford to raise.
Natural methods of contraception work when people are responsible and motivated. The truth of the matter is that people have large families because they only think of the moment's gartification and dont care enough about the consequences. A harsh truth but still a truth. Additionally, there still exists the belief it is beter to have large families as the children can provide for the parents in their old age. Plus, culturlly i Believe Filipinos like large families. Me too. But I can't afford to have one. That's my reality. Contraception won't help, only my intelligence and wilingness to look after my wife, children and extended family can.
If you were told that you would die instantly if you and your partner created a baby, I bet you would be motivated and not create one. That in itself proves that the outcome of pregnancy and the associated poverty is not a serious enough deterent. I guess in this context contra ception would help.
I am not pleading a case for support of contraceptive controls but am merely saying that whether these controls are wrong or right there are still things that the responsible and educated individual without access to contraception can do to prevent them worsening their situation and their families futures - if they care enough.
The story of the girl living within the large family was saddening. They mentioned that the husband could not find work, so the mother sold items to raise cash for them to survive. Hmmn! If the mother can do it why can't the father? It says muc about him which is why he does not appear on film.
I still find so much to admire in the ingenious ways that families survive in countries like da Phils, Brazil, Nigeria, etc. where altjough its hard people try and are enterprising. It contrasts starkly with the West where people just rely on others to fix their problems.
In summary, no single place is perfect but we just have to thrive as best we can within the context we are placed. Being responsible goes a long way in any context.
