Bishops asked to stop distorting truth on reproductive health bill

MANILA, Philippines - Family planning advocates asked Catholic bishops yesterday to stop “distorting the truth” about the Reproductive Health Bill pending in Congress.

Ben de Leon, The Forum for Family Planning and Development president, said Catholic bishops must be held accountable for the deaths of 11 mothers every day due to pregnancy-related complications.

“Contrary to what the oppositionists are saying, reproductive health promotes the freedom of an individual to found a family,” he said. 

“Reproductive health does not promote abortion but rather prevents it.”

Reproductive health includes safe and legal family planning methods like vasectomy and tubal ligation, De Leon said.

Ramon San Pascual, Philippine Legislators’ Committee on Population and Development Foundation, Inc. executive director, said Catholic bishops should allow Congress to do its work.

“Congress should now approve House Bill 5043 and Senate Bill 3122 because the people demand family planning and reproductive health education and services,” he said.

“Various surveys conducted since 1991 until 2009 reveal that 87 percent of Filipinos say that family planning is important while 74 percent believe that the government should provide budget for family planning education and services.”

De Leon urged the public to go for presidential candidates who support family planning and the reproductive health bills.

“Presidential candidates supporting reproductive health show that they are aware of the people’s needs and the duty of government to provide the right information and services on reproductive health,” he said.

Bishop Rodrigo Tano of the Interfaith Partnership for the Promotion of Responsible Parenthood said he was “disturbed that some Church people are threatening presidential candidates.”

“That’s quite a misuse of religious authority,” he said.

“I don’t think religious authority should be used to intimidate candidates concerning their stand. I hope our presidentiables will not be cowed. There may not even be such a thing as a Catholic vote.”

San Pascual said almost all the presidential aspirants have positioned themselves with the RH bill.

“Let’s put the RH bill as a central issue in this election. It is a legitimate electoral issue… The candidates should make their positions very clear.”

Beth Angsioco, Reproductive Health Advocacy Network secretary general, said aspirants for elective posts supporting the RH bill are now under attack.

“The (Catholic Church) will put pressure but such pressure, based on past elections, will not work,” she said. – Sheila Crisostomo, Reinir Padua