Birth Control Law of the Philippines approved by the Supreme Court

The Philippines' highest court approved Tuesday a controversial birth control law that supporters said would transform the lives of millions of poor Filipinos, despite bitter opposition from the powerful Catholic Church.

"The RH law is not unconstitutional," Supreme Court spokesman Theodore Te told reporters, announcing a ruling that struck down petitions against the reproductive health law by church groups.

However, the high court partially granted the petition of pro-life advocates by declaring several provisions of the highly divisive Reproductive Health (RH) Law unconstitutional, including the access of couples to family planning.

One provision that was struck down is section 7, which provides that: “All accredited public health facilities shall provide a full range of modern family planning methods, which shall also include medical consultations, supplies and necessary and reasonable procedures for poor and marginalized couples having infertility issues who desire to have children…”

The justices are on their summer session in Baguio, where both pro- and anti-RH Law advocates also made camp.

The controversial measure was signed into law last December amid a strong lobby against it by the Catholic Church. The law allows the state to use public funds to educate the youth on reproductive health. It also allows couples the use of contraceptives.

In signing the law in 202, Malacanang said: "The passage into law of the Responsible Parenthood Act closes a highly divisive chapter of our history—a chapter borne of the convictions of those who argued for, or against this Act, whether in the legislative branch or in civil society. At the same time, it opens the possibility of cooperation and reconciliation among different sectors in society: engagement and dialogue characterized not by animosity, but by our collective desire to better the welfare of the Filipino people. "

The Catholic Church remained undaunted, however. Masses were done in several churches ahead of the SC’s decision.


From: http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/