Let us live not as fools but wise men! (Cf. Eph. 5: 15)

INTRODUCTION

"So you must live like people who belong to the light, for it is the light that brings a rich harvest of every kind of goodness, righteousness and the truth."[1] Impelled by these words of the Apostle Paul, I feel there are things to be clarified in the RH bill, so that the continuing dialogue, between the Church and the government on the issue, may truly be the common concern of all of us, who are called to live not us unwise but wise men.

THE HEART OF THE RH BILL

The defenders of the RH bill[2] want it passed into law for it shall guarantee the health of all, particularly maternal and infant health, even as it will help prevent infant and maternal deaths. The heart of the bill is the right of informed choice of couples over all the methods of family planning, both natural and artificial that shall: 1) promote responsible parenthood 2) ensure the reduction of population growth 3) uplift the quality of life 4) assure sustainable human development.

SPECIAL CONCERNS ON THE RH BILL

1.     Reproductive Health, Population Control and Development

2.     Methods of Family Planning and Responsible Parenthood

3.     Mandatory Age-appropriate Reproductive Health Education

4.     Contraceptives as "Essential Medicines"

5.     No distinction between Contraceptives and Abortifacients

6.     Abortion as a Crime

7.     Prohibited Acts and Penalties that violate Freedom of Conscience and Religious Freedom

THE CHURCH'S RESPONSE TO THE REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH ISSUES

Reproductive Health, Population Control and Development

The Church recognizes that population is a concern of the government.[3] Yet it is also the Church's, especially because of its moral aspect. She maintains that the real issue on population is not primarily one of numbers, but of the care of persons, and the improvement of the quality of human life.[4]