Filipino bishops confident that birth-control bill can be defeated

March 18, 2011

Church leaders and pro-life legislators in the Philippines are expressing confidence that they will be able to secure enough votes to block an aggressive birth-control bill.

Cardinal Ricardo Vidal, the retired Archbishop of Cebu, met this week with former president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to plot legislative strategy against the legislation. After a long planning session, a spokesman said that they were optimistic that “we have the numbers to uphold life.”

The Filipino bishops have strongly opposed the proposed law, going as far as to say that they would join in civil-disobedience campaigns and risk arrest if the measure became law. The legislation would allow for the sale of abortifacient pills, promote family-planning programs in schools, and offer no conscience protection for health-care workers.

 

---

For all current news, visit our News home page.

---

 
Further information:

• Cardinal plots birth bill’s defeat (UCAN)
• Philippines: bishops ready to risk arrest in opposing birth-control law (CWN, 2/4)