Given at the Church of St Anne in Singapore on March 7th 2014, more details at http://prolife.caritashost.sg/

1. Singapore in Context – Culture of Life?
Benedict Tang
Pro-life Seminar
8th March 2014
St Anne’s Church

2. Culture of Life?

3. Family

8. “We are facing an
enormous and dramatic
clash between good and
evil, death and life, the
"culture of death" and the
"culture of life". We find
ourselves not only "faced
with" but necessarily "in
the midst of" this conflict:
we are all involved and we
all share in it, with the
inescapable responsibility
of choosing to be
unconditionally pro-life.”
Pope John Paul II
Evangelium Vitae 28
25th March 1995

9. Culture of Death
Latest updates on these current issues:
• Hot-button issues
• Homosexuality: LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bi-sexual, Transgender)
• Abortion
• Other issues
• Pornography
• Sex education in schools
• Divorce
• Destroying the embryo baby
• Embryonic stem cell research
• In-Vitro Fertilization (IVF)
*not a moral debate, will be covered in other talks
**some explicit images displayed

10. LGBT in Singapore

11. ‘Outrages on decency’
Section 377A of the Penal Code
Any male person who, in public or private,
commits, or abets the commission of, or
procures or attempts to procure the
commission by any male person of, any act
of gross indecency with another male
person, shall be punished with imprisonment
for a term which may extend to 2 years.

12. Chastity and homosexuality
• 2357 Homosexuality refers to relations between men or between women
who experience an exclusive or predominant sexual attraction toward
persons of the same sex. It has taken a great variety of forms through the
centuries and in different cultures. Its psychological genesis remains largely
unexplained. Basing itself on Sacred Scripture, which presents homosexual
acts as acts of grave depravity, tradition has always declared that
"homosexual acts are intrinsically disordered." They are contrary to the
natural law. They close the sexual act to the gift of life. They do not proceed
from a genuine affective and sexual complementarity. Under no
circumstances can they be approved.
• 2358 The number of men and women who have deep-seated homosexual
tendencies is not negligible. This inclination, which is objectively disordered,
constitutes for most of them a trial. They must be accepted with respect,
compassion, and sensitivity. Every sign of unjust discrimination in their
regard should be avoided. These persons are called to fulfill God's will in
their lives and, if they are Christians, to unite to the sacrifice of the Lord's
Cross the difficulties they may encounter from their condition.
• 2359 Homosexual persons are called to chastity. By the virtues of self-
mastery that teach them inner freedom, at times by the support of
disinterested friendship, by prayer and sacramental grace, they can and
should gradually and resolutely approach Christian perfection.

13. HPB debate
• @
http://www.hpb.gov.sg/HOPPortal/gamesandtools-
article/HPB055647
www.hpb.gov.sg/HOPPortal/gamesandtoo
ls-article/HPB055647

15. MARCH 9, 2014, Vol 64, No 05

16. “We believe that the best way forward is for all to calmly and
purposefully engage in constructive dialogue in a spirit of
patient understanding, mutual respect and compassion,
always working towards the promotion of justice and dignity
of the individual and for the greater good of society.
However, the Church's position on the matter of LGBT
relationships has always been consistent; that sexual activity
outside of a heterosexual relationship is not in accordance
with the laws of creation because such acts are not open to
new life. It is in this spirit of compassion that I am exploring
the setting up of support groups to assist those who are
struggling with same sex attraction and their loved ones who
have difficulty accepting them.”
Archbishop William Goh
The Catholic News (9th March 2014)

17. The condition is not a sin
“But let us say it again, psychological conditions that are not
freely chosen cannot possibly be morally wrong or
disordered. The Church has never said that homosexuality is a
sin. The Church is very clear about this: “the homosexual
condition is not itself a sin” (CDF 1986, #3).
Homosexual acts are intrinsically disordered and in no way
can they be approved (CDF 1975, Persona Human X, and CCC
2357). On the other hand, the homosexual person should be
treated with respect, compassion and sensitivity and “every
sign of unjust discrimination in their regards should be
avoided” (CCC 2358).
Father David Garcia O.P.
The Catholic News
(9th March 2014)

19. Fr James Yeo, a diocesan priest and Parish Priest of St Anne's Church (in 2008), replied
on behalf of the Archbishop of Singapore Nicholas Chia who was contacted by Fridae
last week:
1. There is no current or past official position of the Catholic Teachings on the laws
that criminalise homosexual acts. The Catholic Church stands united so the position of
the Archdiocese of Singapore is that of the Official Catholic Church, namely that there
should be no violence and discrimination towards homosexual persons. The Church
teaches that all persons have dignity and must be treated with respect, love and care.
2. If we read the latest Vatican's statement, there is nothing new. It merely says that
we must not criminalise homosexuals. But the constant teaching of the Catholic
Church is to differentiate between homosexual persons (orientation) and homosexual
acts. Homosexual acts are morally wrong. The Church differentiates the sinner from
the sins. We condemn sins but not the sinner.
3. I don't think that we need to campaign for anything as our teachings are clear unless
people wants to misinterpret them. Laws in Singapore do not criminalise homosexual
persons. But homosexual acts are different.
4. Whether one is homosexual or heterosexual, one has to be responsible in the use of
one's sexual faculty. Any abuse of one's sexuality regardless of whether one is a
homosexual or heterosexual is wrong. It does not mean that if one is heterosexual, he
or she can express this irresponsibly in any way he or she wants. Similarly the Church
does not condemn persons with homosexual tendencies (orientation) but asks that
they like anyone should refrain from irresponsible sexual acts.
5. The Church always differentiates between what is legal and what is moral.
Something which is legal may not necessarily be moral.
From http://www.fridae.asia/gay-news/2008/12/29/2181.homosexual-persons-vs-homosexual-acts-singapore-catholic-church#sthash.wbbglJry.dpuf

23. Alex Au Wai Pang

24. January 2014

25. January 2014

26. January 2014

29. Gary and Kenneth – 15 years

31. “There are gay bars and clubs. They
exist. We know where they are. Everybody
knows where they are. They do not have to
go underground. We do not harass gays. The
Government does not act as moral
policemen. And we do not proactively
enforce section 377A on them.”
Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong
23rd October 2007
Parliamentary debate

32. @ http://www.utopia-asia.com/map/singchin.htm

36. pinkdot.sg
Year Turnout
2009 2,500
2010 4,000
2011 10,000
2012 15,000
2013 21,000
2014 26,000?

37. Pink Dot 2013

39. Termination of Pregnancy Act (CAP 324)
• First enacted in 1969
• Legal up to 24 weeks
• No age limit, no parental consent necessary for minors
• Foreigners
• Married to a citizen
• Residing in Singapore for > 4 months
• Work permit
• Counselling and 48 hours waiting period?
• Girls under 16
• No counselling needed for:
• Foreigners
• Rape victims
• Citizens with 3 or more children
• Doctor may refuse on personal grounds
*Passed in Parliament on 29th Dec 1969 by 33 votes to 10 with 1 abstention and 15 absentees.

40. Abortion
CCC 2270 Human life must be respected and protected absolutely from the moment of
conception. From the first moment of his existence, a human being must be
recognized as having the rights of a person - among which is the inviolable right of
every innocent being to life.
Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated
you.
My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately
wrought in the depths of the earth.
2271 Since the first century the Church has affirmed the moral evil of every procured
abortion. This teaching has not changed and remains unchangeable. Direct abortion,
that is to say, abortion willed either as an end or a means, is gravely contrary to the
moral law:
You shall not kill the embryo by abortion and shall not cause the newborn to perish.
God, the Lord of life, has entrusted to men the noble mission of safeguarding life, and
men must carry it out in a manner worthy of themselves. Life must be protected with
the utmost care from the moment of conception: abortion and infanticide are
abominable crimes.
2272 Formal cooperation in an abortion constitutes a grave offense. The Church
attaches the canonical penalty of excommunication to this crime against human life.
"A person who procures a completed abortion incurs excommunication latae
sententiae,""by the very commission of the offense,“ and subject to the conditions
provided by Canon Law. The Church does not thereby intend to restrict the scope of
mercy. Rather, she makes clear the gravity of the crime committed, the irreparable
harm done to the innocent who is put to death, as well as to the parents and the
whole of society.

41. Abortion
CCC2273 The inalienable right to life of every innocent human individual is a
constitutive element of a civil society and its legislation:
"The inalienable rights of the person must be recognized and respected by civil society
and the political authority. These human rights depend neither on single individuals
nor on parents; nor do they represent a concession made by society and the state;
they belong to human nature and are inherent in the person by virtue of the creative
act from which the person took his origin. Among such fundamental rights one should
mention in this regard every human being's right to life and physical integrity from the
moment of conception until death."
"The moment a positive law deprives a category of human beings of the protection
which civil legislation ought to accord them, the state is denying the equality of all
before the law. When the state does not place its power at the service of the rights of
each citizen, and in particular of the more vulnerable, the very foundations of a state
based on law are undermined. . . . As a consequence of the respect and protection
which must be ensured for the unborn child from the moment of conception, the law
must provide appropriate penal sanctions for every deliberate violation of the child's
rights."
2274 Since it must be treated from conception as a person, the embryo must be
defended in its integrity, cared for, and healed, as far as possible, like any other human
being.
Prenatal diagnosis is morally licit, "if it respects the life and integrity of the embryo and
the human fetus and is directed toward its safe guarding or healing as an individual. . .
. It is gravely opposed to the moral law when this is done with the thought of possibly
inducing an abortion, depending upon the results: a diagnosis must not be the
equivalent of a death sentence."

45. 0
2,000
4,000
6,000
8,000
10,000
12,000
14,000
2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012
Abortions
Singaporeans PR Foreigners Total Abortions
Source: Parliament (8 April 2013, Question No. 477, Name of MP: Mr Gerald Giam Yean Song)
http://www.moh.gov.sg/content/moh_web/home/pressRoom/Parliamentary_QA/2013/abortion-statistics.html

56. Mr. Chua Sian Chin, Health Minister who
spearheaded the Abortion Bill said in 1969:
“There have been similar minority groups before who, in their
out-of-date beliefs, have stood opposed to the introduction of
birth control in Singapore and whose stand, as we know
today, has found itself in the dustbins of history. In the same
way, I am certain that the opposing stand to this Bill taken by
this minority group will also in the course of time end up in
the dustbins of history.”
“I would just like to invite these groups to visit the Mental
Defective Section of the Woodbridge Hospital to see for
themselves the mental defectives or "mongols" whom we
have to care for. Perhaps then they may begin to think in
more rational terms and start to question the very purpose
of the Divine creating such mental defectives, the nature of
whose existence in this world is just to vegetate.”

58. Pray for the end
to the ‘silent
holocaust’

60. Anti-life policies

65. Youths turn to internet
forums, instead of parents,
counsellors, teachers, etc

71. Anson Wee
(son of Andy Wee)
3D image @ 23 weeks
Today @ 6 years old

77. Singapore
February 2014

78. http://www.moe.gov.sg/education/programmes/social-emotional-learning/sexuality-education/files/eteens-2012.pdf
http://www.catholichigh.moe.edu.sg/CHSWeb/secondary/departments/sexuality-education-programme/
http://www.cjc.edu.sg/cos/o.x?c=/wbn/pagetree&func=view&rid=1082021

79. Divorce

80. http://www.aware.org.sg/information/divorce/

81. http://sgphappening.blogspot.sg/2013/07/divorce-rate-in-singapore.html

82. January 2014

83. Destroying the embryo baby

84. In-Vitro Fertilisation (IVF)
CCC 2377: Techniques involving only the married couple
(homologous artificial insemination and fertilization) are perhaps
less reprehensible, yet remain morally unacceptable. They
dissociate the sexual act from the procreative act. The act which
brings the child into existence is no longer an act by which two
persons give themselves to one another, but one that "entrusts
the life and identity of the embryo into the power of doctors and
biologists and establishes the domination of technology over the
origin and destiny of the human person. Such a relationship of
domination is in itself contrary to the dignity and equality that
must be common to parents and children." "Under the moral
aspect procreation is deprived of its proper perfection when it is
not willed as the fruit of the conjugal act, that is to say, of the
specific act of the spouses' union . . . . Only respect for the link
between the meanings of the conjugal act and respect for the
unity of the human being make possible procreation in conformity
with the dignity of the person."

85. In-Vitro
Fertilisation
(IVF)

86. Bio-ethics
CCC 2275: "One must hold as licit procedures carried out on
the human embryo which respect the life and integrity of the
embryo and do not involve disproportionate risks for it, but
are directed toward its healing the improvement of its
condition of health, or its individual survival."
"It is immoral to produce human embryos intended for
exploitation as disposable biological material."
"Certain attempts to influence chromosomic or genetic
inheritance are not therapeutic but are aimed at producing
human beings selected according to sex or other
predetermined qualities. Such manipulations are contrary to
the personal dignity of the human being and his integrity and
identity" which are unique and unrepeatable.

90. Adult Stem Cell research

91. “By virtue of our sharing in Christ's royal
mission, our support and promotion of human
life must be accomplished through the service
of charity, which finds expression in personal
witness, various forms of volunteer work,
social activity and political commitment. This is
a particularly pressing need at the present
time, when the "culture of death" so forcefully
opposes the "culture of life" and often seems
to have the upper hand.
But even before that it is a need which springs
from "faith working through love" (Gal 5:6). As
the Letter of James admonishes us: "What
does it profit, my brethren, if a man says he
has faith but has not works? Can his faith save
him? If a brother or sister is ill-clad and in lack
of daily food, and one of you says to them, Go
in peace, be warmed and filled', without giving
them the things needed for the body, what
does it profit? So faith by itself, if it has no
works, is dead" (2:14-17).”
Pope John Paul II
Evangelium Vitae 87
25th March 1995

92. • Join as a volunteer with Family Life Society (e.g. Pregnancy Crisis
Services)
• Pray daily to end abortion (www.PrayerCampaign.org)
• Lobby your Members of Parliament
• Encourage pro-life doctors
• Side-walk counselling
• Utilise the power of post-abortion testimonies
• Use the power of graphic images
• Respond effectively to someone you know who had a abortion
(Rachel’s Vineyard)
• Dominate the Internet (especially on social media)
• Know how to answer the question of incest and rape abortions
• Encourage your priests
• Distribute pro-life materials (e.g. cards and pamphlets)
• Influence your child’s school

93. Family Life Society

94. Questions?
*not a moral debate, will be covered in other talks

95. Pray and take concrete action for Singapore.
Thank you.
Benedict Tang