Catholic Church Expects Defeat Of Philippines Family Planning Bill, Drafts Alternate Measure

Main Category: Women's Health / Gynecology
Also Included In: Sexual Health / STDs;  Pediatrics / Children's Health
Article Date: 21 Nov 2008 - 9:00 PST

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Officials with the Roman Catholic church in the Philippines said they expect to defeat a proposed reproductive health bill that would promote contraceptive use and sex education, AFP/Yahoo! News reports. Maria Fenny Tatad, executive director of the Catholic lobby Bishops-Legislators Caucus of the Philippines, said the bishops are "confident they have the numbers" to defeat the bill because only 99 members of the 238-member House have openly voiced support for the measure. The remaining members are expected to side with the church in opposing the bill, she said. According to AFP/Yahoo! News, "Population control is a highly politicized issue in the Philippines," where more than 80% of the population is Catholic and the church "wields considerable public influence." The church has been leading a high-profile campaign to defeat the bill (AFP/Yahoo! News, 11/20). In addition, some bishops have said they will refuse Holy Communion and other sacraments to politicians who support the bill (Mogato, Reuters, 11/20).

AFP/Yahoo! News reports that the bill would create a national family planning program that includes sex education and advisements on contraceptive use, which the church considers "immoral." International aid agencies and economists supporting the bill say it is necessary if the country is to curb its population growth rate of 2.04%, one of the highest in Asia (AFP/Yahoo! News, 11/20). The Philippines already is the world's 12th most populous nation, "putting a huge strain on its creaking health system, schools and other services, and its ability to feed itself," Reuters reports.

Tatad said the current bill is "not acceptable" and that the bishops want "an alternative bill that will address the real need of the poor people and to address the issues of development in an authentic way." Melvin Castro, head of the Episcopal Commission on Family and Life, said bishops have been collaborating with lawmakers to draft an alternative measure to the current bill. He said that the new bill "should not be labeled as a church bill," adding that there are "many Catholics there in Congress who are willing to sponsor the bill, and the church is only helping draft it" (Reuters, 11/20).

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