austraLasia 1393
Philippines under attack
MANILA: 16th January 2006 -- When we said, late last week (#1389, 13th), that Salesian Cooperators in the Philippines were active in the pro-life movement, you might have wondered why the Philippines, the most Catholic country in Asia and one of the most Catholic in the world, one of the best educated populations too, in Asia, would need to regard this issue as one of high priority. The result of a vote in the Philippines parliament today, possibly taking place as this is being written, may answer that question - a vote on 'reproductive health care' which is in fact a vote for a 2 child policy.
This is what Filipino Salesian Cooperators have been working against. The Bill was introduced in the Philippines House of Representatives before Christmas. It goes to the vote today. The Church has understandably been the strongest voice against the proposed policy. If the bill is passed, it will be called, most likely, the 'Responsible Parenthood and Population Management Act'.
What would such a bill imply, say, for a Salesian school? One of the provisions of the bill is that reproductive health care information must be provided to all children within the education programme, from class 5 onwards. Refusal to do so (there are possibilities for exceptions on ethical or religious grounds, but these too are restrictive) can result in fines or imprisonment up to 6 months. The provision of abortifacients, contraceptives will become standard procedure, usually through health care clinics which teenagers will have the right to visit without parental consent. The bill will not penalise parents who choose to have more than two children. Instead, negative incentives will be in place - meaning the two-child families will receive benefits, those with more, no.
How could such an approach come to pass in this Catholic country? The ground has been well-prepared by international organisations. One such is the International Planned Parenthood Foundation, actually housed in the same premises as the House of Representatives.
Clearly the matter raises many questions. Education and health programmes in a country with the highest population growth rate in the world (2.36% per annum) are inadequate. It has long been popular to take the cause-effect argument along the too many-too much poverty line. Another argument of course, could be the too much poverty-bad government and policies line. Today might indicate whether or not the House of Representatives in Manila is prepared to take the knife to some of its own festering wounds rather than to its families.
_______________________
AustraLasia is an email service for the Salesian Family of Asia Pacific. It also functions as an agency for ANS based in Rome. For RSS feeds, subscribe to www.bosconet.aust.com/rssala.xml
Philippines under attack
MANILA: 16th January 2006 -- When we said, late last week (#1389, 13th), that Salesian Cooperators in the Philippines were active in the pro-life movement, you might have wondered why the Philippines, the most Catholic country in Asia and one of the most Catholic in the world, one of the best educated populations too, in Asia, would need to regard this issue as one of high priority. The result of a vote in the Philippines parliament today, possibly taking place as this is being written, may answer that question - a vote on 'reproductive health care' which is in fact a vote for a 2 child policy.
This is what Filipino Salesian Cooperators have been working against. The Bill was introduced in the Philippines House of Representatives before Christmas. It goes to the vote today. The Church has understandably been the strongest voice against the proposed policy. If the bill is passed, it will be called, most likely, the 'Responsible Parenthood and Population Management Act'.
What would such a bill imply, say, for a Salesian school? One of the provisions of the bill is that reproductive health care information must be provided to all children within the education programme, from class 5 onwards. Refusal to do so (there are possibilities for exceptions on ethical or religious grounds, but these too are restrictive) can result in fines or imprisonment up to 6 months. The provision of abortifacients, contraceptives will become standard procedure, usually through health care clinics which teenagers will have the right to visit without parental consent. The bill will not penalise parents who choose to have more than two children. Instead, negative incentives will be in place - meaning the two-child families will receive benefits, those with more, no.
How could such an approach come to pass in this Catholic country? The ground has been well-prepared by international organisations. One such is the International Planned Parenthood Foundation, actually housed in the same premises as the House of Representatives.
Clearly the matter raises many questions. Education and health programmes in a country with the highest population growth rate in the world (2.36% per annum) are inadequate. It has long been popular to take the cause-effect argument along the too many-too much poverty line. Another argument of course, could be the too much poverty-bad government and policies line. Today might indicate whether or not the House of Representatives in Manila is prepared to take the knife to some of its own festering wounds rather than to its families.
_______________________
AustraLasia is an email service for the Salesian Family of Asia Pacific. It also functions as an agency for ANS based in Rome. For RSS feeds, subscribe to www.bosconet.aust.com/rssala.xml
