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TechnoratiMANILA, Philippines - Roman Catholic Church leaders opposing a new family planning bill that promotes contraceptives said Thursday they will help lawmakers craft an alternative law that addresses poverty. ADVERTISEMENT
The controversial bill approved last month by the Health Committee in the House of Representatives calls for contraceptives to be provided in government hospitals and sex education to be taught in elementary schools, among other provisions.
But the influential Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines says the bill is unacceptable in the majority Catholic nation and violates the church's ban on artificial birth control.
The Rev. Melvin Castro, an officer from the bishops' organization, said the church wants the use of contraceptives removed from the bill and religious values to be incorporated into sex education.
Jo Imbong, a consultant to the bishops' conference, said the alternative bill may look at penalizing stores selling over-the-counter contraceptives, including condoms.
Contraceptives are legal in the Philippines, but abortion is not.
President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, a devout Catholic, has left it to local governments to decide whether to allow contraceptives. She is also known to favor natural family planning methods.
Advocates of the bill say family planning, including the use of contraceptives, is necessary for a population growing at an average annual rate of about 2 percent. At 90 million, it ranks as the second most populous country in Southeast Asia behind to Indonesia, which has 222 million people.
Rep. Edcel Lagman, the bill's sponsor, said contraceptives are "essential medicines" and "part of family planning that reduces the incidence of maternal and infant mortality."
The bill's proponents have expressed confidence they have enough support among 238 House members. It was not clear when the bill will be put to a vote.
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