Condom battle in Philippine congress
Source: Agencies |
May 19, 2011, Thursday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
THE Philippine president says he is ready to face excommunication from the Catholic Church for advocating free access to condoms.
After simmering for months, a wide-ranging and acrimonious debate over government-funded access to contraceptives in the Philippines has entered the country's Congress.
The issue pits the powerful and conservative Catholic establishment, which says contraceptives are as sinful as abortions, against reformers who want more openness about condoms and other birth control in the Southeast Asian nation to slow population growth and help prevent disease.
The reproductive health bill introduced on Tuesday in the House of Representatives would require the government to provide information on family planning methods, make contraceptives available free of charge and introduce reproductive health and sexuality classes in schools.
President Benigno Aquino III has backed artificial birth control even if it means going against the dominant Catholic church. He said last month he was ready to face the consequences and if necessary risk excommunication.
Not picking fights
"I have been taught in school, which was a Catholic institution, that the final arbiter really is our conscience," Aquino said yesterday. "We are not looking for a fight with the church. This is on the record. I have invited them many times so that we can have discussions, and we have focused on areas where we can agree on."
Supporters believe the measure will slow the Philippines' rapid population growth that some believe contributes to the country's poverty.
Independent opinion polls in recent years have showed strong public support for such legislation and Aquino's supporters have a majority in Congress, but the bill is expected to draw a tough fight with debates likely to last through the end of the year.
Church leaders have lashed out at Aquino and mobilized a formidable public campaign to defeat the bill, with some bishops threatening to launch civil disobedience protests. Some activists have even vowed to campaign against paying taxes.
Influential bishops have blocked family planning bills in the past by arguing that they would erode moral values and encourage promiscuity and early pregnancies.
After simmering for months, a wide-ranging and acrimonious debate over government-funded access to contraceptives in the Philippines has entered the country's Congress.
The issue pits the powerful and conservative Catholic establishment, which says contraceptives are as sinful as abortions, against reformers who want more openness about condoms and other birth control in the Southeast Asian nation to slow population growth and help prevent disease.
The reproductive health bill introduced on Tuesday in the House of Representatives would require the government to provide information on family planning methods, make contraceptives available free of charge and introduce reproductive health and sexuality classes in schools.
President Benigno Aquino III has backed artificial birth control even if it means going against the dominant Catholic church. He said last month he was ready to face the consequences and if necessary risk excommunication.
Not picking fights
"I have been taught in school, which was a Catholic institution, that the final arbiter really is our conscience," Aquino said yesterday. "We are not looking for a fight with the church. This is on the record. I have invited them many times so that we can have discussions, and we have focused on areas where we can agree on."
Supporters believe the measure will slow the Philippines' rapid population growth that some believe contributes to the country's poverty.
Independent opinion polls in recent years have showed strong public support for such legislation and Aquino's supporters have a majority in Congress, but the bill is expected to draw a tough fight with debates likely to last through the end of the year.
Church leaders have lashed out at Aquino and mobilized a formidable public campaign to defeat the bill, with some bishops threatening to launch civil disobedience protests. Some activists have even vowed to campaign against paying taxes.
Influential bishops have blocked family planning bills in the past by arguing that they would erode moral values and encourage promiscuity and early pregnancies.
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