Circumcision (Filipinos Only Answer)?

Question

I am British, my wife is a Filipina, my son is adopted Filipino and we live in U.K. I do not believe it is our right to circumcise my son. I believe it is his right as a human being to make that decision himself when he is older. Unfortunatly my Filipino family are annoyed that I will not have him circumcised and they say he cant be a Roman Catholic without it. Now I know that later in life if he marries a Filipina she will probably ask for him to have a circumcision, but don't you think I am right and it should be his Decision.

Answer 1

Yes it should be his decision and that the church won't accept him is utter BS. It is the Jewish religion that requires circumcision.
If the R.C.s don't want him because of that, he'll be better off anyway. No priest molestation to put up with.
BTW, there is NO good reason, medically speaking, for this barbaric custom!
(I was married to a Filipina for 14 years and am familiar with their customs and superstitions!)

Answer 2

Yes, you are right. I would leave the decision to the boy, the same thing we are doing for our son (Im Filipina, hubby Brit) who is still a baby.

So it's been quite established that Catholicism does not require circumcision. Fine. On the issue of health, whether circumcised or not, the penis should be kept clean all the time anyway. I think teaching your son good personal hygiene is of utmost importance before anything else.

If you deduce from some of the arguments posted above going pro on circumcision, does it mean that you clean your penis less just because you're cut? hell, no!

Even if I grew up with the mindset that all guys should be circumcised because it's the macho thing to do, I now realize it should be a personal decision of the individual.

Heaven forbid if we girls were raised to believe that our clits should be sliced off, because society dictates it, as some hard-core Islamic states do.

Answer 3

Official Catholic doctrine specifically forbids circumcision (see link), so your relatives are grossly mis-informed.

The Filipino procedure that Filipinos call a circumcision is not a circumcision at all, but is a supercision. This means that rather than cutting around the foreskin and removing it, only a 1/2" slit is made in the top of the tip of the foreskin, extending from the end of the skin tube toward the body. This allows the foreskin to splay and expose the glans, but NOTHING IS REMOVED. The most exquisitely sensitive frenulum on the underside is untouched.

Of course, you have no right to make a genital mutilation decision on behalf of your son, and it is none of your relatives' business. If the boy will not be living in The Philippines, where lack of the procedure is taken as a mark of cowardice, being intact will not cost him anything. Even if he lived in The Philippines, he would typically not volunteer for the procedure until between ages 14 and 20.

-Ron

Answer 4

Circumcision based on the Bible is when Abraham circumcised Isaac as a symbolic act of covenant with God. While Abraham himself was circumcised by his wife. The uncircumcised then were considered gentiles or pagans.

Among Filipinos, before reaching puberty, it is best to have the surgical procedure done bec aside from hygiene & the religious factors, the social consideration is because of the healing process it will be more awkward for a teen to be seen wearing a "skirt" or bandage. Circumcision is done mostly during summer, school break, and gives the kids "man pride" as they compare notes & experiences, when they have the show & tell among themselves when they're in school, gym or restroom. In the provinces, for lack of meds & facitlities, they use a machete, jump off the river immediately after, or use guava leaves as a coagulating agent, stops bleeding & infections. As for the sudden growth of height, when circumcision and puberty coincides so the simple folks attribute it to the process, & not to the genetic or physical onset of puberty.

As a parent, trust your parental rights & instincts to decide what's best for him, he'll thank you later. The Jews, Catholics & Muslims can't be absolutely wrong about this time-honored tradition, consider the merits.

Answer 5

I'd say do some online research on the downside and possible side effects on circumcision.

Also I'd probably tell them that you know, in the UK, male circumcision is not common at all, in contrast to the Philippines.

Foreskin is a valuable part of a man.
You should research on how having a foreskin feels good and that sex/orgasm lasts longer and more intense later on when he has that kind of relationship.

Last but not the least, if you're circumcised, you might be intimidated that you should have your son circumcised but if you're not, DO NOT circumcise your son!

Answer 6

circumcision has nothing to do with roman catholicism. in fact this was settled by the early church fathers when the jewish christians had an argument with the gentile christians(biblical sholars help me here). nowadays, it is more a cultural and health concern for filipinos. cultural, maybe because of the islamic requirements for circumcision because before the arrival of spanish influences, there was a strong islamic presence in the islands. although most people are christians, this is a carry over practice of filipinos.

Answer 7

He should be circumcised. Whether he decides to be circumcised or not, he should be. Every Pinoy is circumcised. Even if he's a half Filipino, he should be circumcised. Yet, he can't be circumcised when he's an adult because it's too late. And it's more painful.

Answer 8

unlike many nationalities, Filipinos tend to be circumsize the moment he reaches 13 (the age where puberty really begins for male). it has been a custom for us. for one, we tend to see it as an acceptance as a young adult. two, medically speaking, it really is a must - to remove microbes dwelling inside the foreskin automatically cleaned when circumcise especially after urinating (and this is medically true).

no, it isn't true one cannot be a roman catholic if not circumcise. does that mean a discrimination exists due to some skin? what a laugh that would be, right? imagine the situation kids, having communion yet not circumcise and they are not at all catholics? no, it isn't true at all... so relax on the religion part.

yes, that would be his decision, not yours... but the point remains in medical terms... we tend to stay clean especially as a young adolescent one. it's during this time that young boys masturbate, right? and sometimes, not all ejaculated semen are excreted. some are left in the skin and if not cleaned, emanates an odor and develops a microbe inside of it. now if unattend, it may cause itchiness and who knows, maybe an infection would occur, right? now, you wouldn't want that to happen to your kid, right? (pardon for the impression "filipinos tend to be clean", it's not that i'm implying other nationalities aren't, but filipinos tend to to "be clean").

i hope this would aide your outlook on how filipinos look at being circumcised...

Answer 9

Circumcision is not a matter of culture but rather a matter of hygiene. In the Philippines, circumcision takes place when the boy is in his puberty age. Now tell me, if for example we will wait for the boy to decide as he gets older whether he like or not like to be circumcised, isn't it awkward to be circumcised at an older age. My answer is ewww!!!!

Answer 10

its better if he gets circumcision while he is younger because some doctors might refuse doing the surgery to adult for the reason that the skin of an adult is much tougher than that of the young ones making the procedure difficult to perform! I think its a must for him to be cut because Filipino women prefers cut men for the reason of hygeine.but its always the Family who gets to decide in the end so think about it!