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Erik De Castro / Reuters
Mothers with their babies at a ward of Jose Fabella maternity hospital in Manila Sept. 12.
MANILA, Philippines -- Philippine President Benigno Aquino is squaring off against his country's powerful Catholic church in a bid to give people free access to the means to limit the size of their families.
The predominately Catholic country has one of Asia's fastest-growing populations together with significant levels of chronic poverty. While neighbors have accelerated towards prosperity, the Philippines has lagged.
Economists say high population growth is a primary factor for that, but the church disagrees. It says population growth is not a cause of poverty and that people need jobs, not contraception.
Aquino, a Catholic like 80 percent of the population, has thrown his support behind a reproductive health bill that will, if passed by the two houses of Congress, guarantee access to free birth control and promote sex education.
That's something that Liza Cabiya-an might have benefited from, if she'd had the opportunity.
Cabiya-an, 39, has 14 children. The oldest is 22, the youngest just 11 months. Their home is a hut in a Manila slum.
"It's tough when you have so many children," said Cabiya-an, a shy smile revealing poor teeth. "I have to count them before I go to sleep to make sure no one's missing."
Erik De Castro / Reuters
Health workers show the proper use of a condom during a family planning session held in the Likhaan centre, an NGO clinic in Tondo, Manila Aug. 6.
At one time Cabiya-an had access to contraception but Manila mayor Jose Atienza, a devout Catholic, swept contraceptives from the shelves of city-run clinics in 2000.
More photos: Philippines defies church to push family planning
After that, Cabiya-an's efforts to limit the size of her family were patchy, restricted by her meager resources. She went on and off the pill and resorted to an illegal abortion more than once.
5 of 14 kids sent to school
With income of about 7,600 pesos ($180) a month from doing laundry and her husband's pay as a laborer, Cabiya-an has only been able to send five of her children to school. The others would appear doomed to join the quarter of the country's 95 million people stuck below the poverty line.
Contraceptives are generally available in the Philippines although they are not used as much as elsewhere.
In the Philippines, 45-50 percent of women of reproductive age, or their partners, are using a contraceptive method at any given time. Indonesia's rate is 56 percent and Thailand's 80 percent.
PhotoBlog: Mothers give birth in an already overpopulated Manila
Population growth mirrors that. The Philippines population is increasing by 1.9 percent a year, while Indonesia's is 1.2 percent and Thailand's is 0.9 percent. China's population is growing at an annual rate of 0.6 percent.
"If you increase access to contraceptives for women ... you will have births averted," said Josefina Natividad, director of the University of the Philippines' Population Institute.
Though available in most places, the cost of contraceptives is prohibitive for many people. But that should change if the reproductive health bill is passed.
Aquino's government has promised what it calls inclusive growth and it sees slowing population growth as key to that.
"The president has already, at the risk of alienating the church, declared that the bill is a priority," Budget Secretary Florencio Abad said. "That message is very clear."
Church: Contraception immoral
But it's a message the church doesn't like. It says artificial contraception is immoral, and the bill will pave the way to legalizing abortion. The bill does not legalize abortion though it seeks to improve care for women suffering from complications after an illegal abortion.
The church says people should use natural family planning.
It says poverty is a cause, not effect, of a high birth rate. Children are being born into homes without enough food to eat because of the government's failure to end corruption and provide jobs, the bishops say.
"It's our firm belief that contraceptives will never be the answer," said Father Melvin Castro, executive secretary of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines' Episcopal Commission on Family and Life.
Read more stories about the Philippines here
"They are poor not because they have no access to contraceptives but because they have no work. Give them work and it will be the most effective birth spacing means for them."
Economists say the church's persistent opposition has been the most important factor influencing population policy.
"The state ... has been immobilized from effectively addressing the issue by the Catholic hierarchy's hardline position," a group of 30 economists from the University of the Philippines said in a recent paper.
70 percent support family planning bill
But despite the arguments of the church and political opponents who decry using state funds to finance contraception, a poll last year showed about 70 percent of people support the bill. Its backers want it passed during the term of this congress, which ends in June.
Economists say if the Philippines is ever to take advantage of a "demographic dividend," when a large, young workforce is generating the savings and investment to give the economy a sustained boost, it will have to bring down the fertility rate.
The median age in the Philippines is only 22.2 compared with 25 in Malaysia, India's 25.1 and Indonesia's 27.8.
Unlike aging countries such as Japan, where the elderly put a burden on the working population, in the Philippines it's the children who command the resources that could otherwise be diverted to savings and investment.
There are 58 dependents for every 100 working-age people in the Philippines, according to World Bank data, compared with 40 in Indonesia and 29 in Thailand.
"The demographic window will only open if fertility rates are going to go down in such a way that the young-age population will grow at a slower rate than the working-age population," said Arsenio Balisacan, socio-economic planning secretary.
Aquino might seem an unlikely champion of free contraception. His late mother, Corazon Aquino, rose to power at the head of a people power revolution, fostered by the church, that swept away old dictator Ferdinand Marcos in 1986.
Marcos had made reining in population growth a priority beginning in the 1960s and enshrined family planning in a 1973 constitution. But Corazon Aquino, mindful of the church's help in the democracy movement, scrapped that clause when the charter was rewritten in 1987.
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Leave a Comment:
Easy solution. Just have Father Melvin Castro and the catholic church start taking care of all these kids and paying for all of them.
Man. Legal abortion in the Philippines? They'll have to call out the Army and the Marines to protect those clinics. Not that a woman can't get an abortion, it just has to be illegal, expensive and dangerous.
Thank Goodness REASON has won out over RELIGION. I wish it happened more often, the world would be a MUCH better place.
Pointless. So much ignorance and hate. Please, if you insist on criticizing the Church, become informed. It's popular now to bash the Church. It's the haters that are the ignorant sheep. The Catholic Church isn't just Priests, Bishops and the Pope, etc. Of course they belong too, but all Catholics are the Church. The relationship we all try to have with God is the Kingdon on Earth. The Church is good and holy. Nobody is being childlike enough to pretend that all members of the Chruch are angels on Earth. We all sin, including members of the clergy. Some terribly. They sin becasue they're human, not because they're in the Church. I'm sure, if you believe in God, you have to realize it's not your place to judge, it's your place to wish good for those who are your enemies. Judgement is above your pay grade. The secular world doesn't have a monoploy on ignorance, it's inside the Church too. There are people who attend, and pretend. I hear things said all the time in the name of God that make me cringe. Like the pastor in Florida that wanted to burn the Koran. I would describe him as terribly misguided. And he has a following of misguided parishoners. But his teaching is inspired by hate, not love. At it's heart, the Catholic Church is love. Love of God, and love of your neighbor as yourself. Love is God's will; heroic, difficult, healing, inconvenient, uplifting, painful, joyous, and so hard to live up to. We all fail, but to try is to love. So to you all who attack the church, I will try to love you, wish you well, and I will pray that God will soften your hearts.
Maybe if you kept your Catholic sharia laws in your own lives and out of the government there'd be less of a problem?
It might also help if you guys actually reported pedophilia to the cops rather than conspiring to hide it. Also, paying $20,000 bonuses to priests who rape children probably isn't a good idea.
Mike, you're nuts* I'll "attack" you instead. You have a nice day w/your ridiculous superstitious belief system.
oh, and how dare you call someone else "Ignorant" when you yourself are ignoring REALITY. Instead you CHOOSE to believe in some old white bearded dude floating around in the sky manipulating everyone's lives. And oh, by the way .... this God of yours has made the world such a wonderful place to live in for everyone .... even the thousands of innocent children and babies who die everyday because of lack of water, food, or medicine. Yes, I'll be sure to sign up for that nonsense TODAY ....there's obviously and advantage to it.
Mike: this is a dispute among Catholics. Everybody on either side is a Catholic. All religions are constituted of groups of humans, all claiming to interpret devine will. The fact that the Catholic Church is structured so that it is governed by an elite group of males who claim to have the "inside scoop" is always going to generate disagreement. They are human. So are the rest of us. The real question here is whose judgment is better: a group of Catholic guys who live in lush surroundings and contemplate the mysteries of the universe on a full stomach and some decent wine, or a mixed-sex group trying to govern an island nation that sees families with 16 members living in a one-room shack in the Manila slums?
Shrekk you are a feisty one! But here's something to think about. 1) Just stop it. Do you think the Catholic Church pays bonuses to priests who rape children. Of course you don't. Makes you sound like a politician when you play fast and loose with the truth like that. So let's put that aside. 2) The priests and all those who made terrible mistakes make them part of the world we live in, like Joe Paterno, and Jerry Sandusky. God will judge them, not me. They'll pay for their crimes, as they should, we have laws for that. Nobody in the Church condones the behavior. But the fact that it exists doesn't mnake the Church evil, and more than Jerry Sandusky makes everyone at Penn State evil. 3) In most cases the the Church is not imposing laws on those outside the church. Birth control is not illegal, it is sinful. Just don't force believers to contribute to that sinfulness. On the one hand, take gay marriage for instance. I personally don't think the church should stand in the way of it. Just don't expect it to be condoned by the church. In the other hand, is abortion. If you approve of the definition of marriage that includes two peopl of the same sex, then be prepared to approve of a marriage that includes 3 people. Or a man and a child. I suspect those ideas may not appeal to you. Does that make it wrong? I'm just saying it's more complicated than it sounds. But the other side of the legal issue and getting involved. Me, I'm pro-choice. And to me, it's as much a moral issue as it is a point of religious dogma. I'm glad the Church takes a strong position on this issue because it aligns with my worldview. We can't kill babies because the pregnancy and the child are inconvenient. Even if the pregnancy and the child are terribly, tragically, painfully, horribly inconveninet, we can't kill her. On this point, I feel like the Church has an obligation to protect those who can't protect themselves. Gay couples can make their own choices that don;t cause anyone harm (but themselves if that's your belief). Those are my opinions. Don't be a basher, be a thinker.
American Brother. You have stongs feelings. I'll give you that. But eeverything you stated proves that you know nothing about what the Church truly teaches. You should go find out. I promise you, your perception of the Church is wrong. It's not what you think. But you should find out for yourself. Don't take anybody's word for it. I'll pray for you Brother. Seriously.
Mike Q.....you are hilarious.
In defending your position and your church you ask someone with an opposing view point to "be a thinker." A religious person telling a non-believer to "be a thinker" might be the ultimate in hypocrisy. Religion has been the enemy of rationale thought since it was invented.
Referring to pedophilia by priest you state, Nobody in the Church condones the behavior. The FACT that superiors in the church did not report the abuses to the authorities is implicit approval. The FACT that abusive priests were transferred to new parishes to continue their abuses is implied approval. You make excuses for "men of god" raping children. Is that what your religion teaches you? Do you know your own history? The Catholic Church has been a haven for homosexuals for hundreds of years. In the eleventh and twelfth centuries, monasteries were homosexual frat houses, nunneries were whore houses. That is your history.
I'll pray for you Brother. Seriously. Such condescension from a believer.
Catholic Church is love THAT is effing hilarious!
There's that old slippery slope thing again.
1) No one is entitled to multiple spouses, so the equal protection argument being used to advance marriage equality doesn't apply here.
2) Children can't consent to marriage or other contracts. But, if you really want to adopt a biblical style of marriage, perhaps we should start allowing 12 year old girls to marry.
Maybe you should ask Cardinal Dolan why he paid $20,000 bonuses to priests who raped children?
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/31/us/cardinal-authorized-payments-to-abusers.html
How can they if the church doesn't notify the police, but instead hides the crimes and moves the pedophiles to unsuspecting communities?
So why has the church spent many millions funding anti-gay hate groups and lobbying against the civil right of gays to enter a secular legal contract?
Sure sounds like they're trying to impose their sharia laws on everyone, just as they've historically tried to do in regards to contraception and abortion. For example, the Griswold v CT ruling exists because of a Catholic sharia law against contraception.
They can't do that while the government is still enforcing your quaint sharia laws.
Sounds like you're a clueless bigot who doesn't even understand what legal consent means, and who thinks gays should remain 2nd-class citizens because of your sharia laws.
Just an FYI for homophobic Catholics like you.........71% of American Catholics support marriage equality. Bigots like you are a minority not only in the general public, but even within your faith.
http://publicreligion.org/research/2011/03/for-catholics-open-attitudes-on-gay-issues/
Gotta love the Catholic Church! So let me extend their "thinking". If the government ended corruption and provided jobs, no children would be born into homes without enough to eat. So no matter how large any population grows, feeding them will never be a problem? Really? This type of inflexibility is just one of many reasons I am no longer Catholic, even after 16 years of RC schooling. They are just not in tune with today's realities.
Religion itself is not in tune with Reality period.
While the Catholic church has its sharia laws deeply embedded in many Catholic countries, what I find interesting is that it's often these countries which ultimately come to value the separation of church and state sooner than others. For example, many of the countries with marriage equality today are overwhelmingly Catholic (Spain, Portugal, Argentina, etc) and the ones which are about to get it are also Catholic (France, Brazil & Mexico).
Hopefully the issues of contraception and abortion will be an inroad into greater separation of church and state in the Philippines as they desperately need it. It would even help reduce tensions in the south of the country, where Islam is dominant.
This is just another example of why a bunch of celibate old white men should have NOTHING TO SAY about women
and reproduction. 14 kids is too many!!! For anyone!!!
It's a start. The next step should be to deport to Rome all the bishops, priests and nuns, then turn their churches into clinics, schools and other worthwhile facilities.
The Catholic Church's opposition to birth control is not just irrational and unjustified. It's grossly irresponsible and downright evil. This and the child-abuse scandal are among the most despicable acts the Church has committed since the Inquisition.
I think ALL churches should keep there voices about this issue to them selfs..a combat veteran
Good for them. As a born and raised Roman Catholic, I can say there is a lot of good things a lot of people do in the name of the Church and that goes for a lot of other religions. All of that is COMPLETELY WIPED OUT by all the bad these organize religions do. Let's talk about today's Islam and the hate and the violence and the jihads. Let's talk about the history of the Roman Catholic Church and the Church of England and the holy wars (crusades) and the Inquistion. Let's add today's nutty religions: Jehova Witnesses who don't hesitate to drive a car, use sell phones, use computers, but won't even give medicine to their kids BECAUSE God would make people better if that was his wish. Well, if their cell phones or car breaks, I hope they don't go to a repair shop or buy another one BECAUSE if God wanted them to have a cell phone or a car, he would fix it for them. The Scientologists: Some guy in a spaceship. Give me a break. The Mormons: Holy Underwear. Give me a break. AND the Roman Catholic church STILL, TO THIS DAY, AGAINST BIRTH CONTROL? Where in the Bible does it say that? Oh, yeah, go forth and multiply? Doesn't that mean learn math and science (the multiplication tables) so we can figure things out, like how to make electricity, and why do some genes turn into cancer. and the internet so we can communicate. Does the church refuse to use these? I doubt it. What about all these kids in the world with not enough food, no housing, no parents? Does the church take them all in? We know they can't even if they wanted. All this NO BIRTH CONTROL and NO DIVORCE and NONSENSE is about keeping people downtrodden, submissive, and dependent. Then you have to go to them for guidance, help, and forgiveness. How about this? I don't have kids I don't want or can't take care AND STILL, yes, get this, have INTIMATE relationships so that I can AFFORD a decent place to live AND food AND even, oh my God, fun. IF the Catholic Church or the English Church of the Jehova Witnesses or the Scientologists or the Mormons had their way, molding society after their beliefs and ideology, the US would be a CHRISTIAN VERSION OF SAUDI ARABIA or PAKISTAN or AFGHANSTAN. We would all be kept in our place and beholden to appointed religious people. NO F%^%^%^C Thanks. GOOD FOR THE PHILLIPINES. They want their people TO HAVE A CHANCE.
I hate the RCC as they thought me to hate myself for being who I'm.
It is possible to teach RESTRAINT!
What's wrong with teaching the young responsibility and that "the morals of an ally cat" that America has is not the best lifestyle?
What's wrong with teaching that you marry and are able to support your children before you have them?
What is wrong with that education?
Simple, every time they try abstinence only education the results end up in greater instances of oral and anal sex. Also sex ed doesn't encourage sex
And sexually transmitted diseases.
let's help them control their population by any means other than immigration
To me, this is logical: 1. The Catholic Church is very rich
2. The Catholic Church wants us to have many children
3. The Catholic Church will support those children
I think one of the reasons the Catholic Church is so against birth control is that birth control means that woman will have less children and less children means less Catholics. With there being less Catholics that means less money for the church coffers and less money for the Vatican to purchase art, food, wine, and other treasures that it loves so much.
Any civilized institution should be able to see the suffering of its members and realize that it needs to change and allow people to have reproductive freedom. The Catholic church needs to understand the lives and hardships of having so many children and the strain it puts on people's lives, on their future and the future of their children. The Church can use that sorry excuse that the country needs to create jobs, but a country cannot create jobs when it is using the majority of its resources to feed its growing millions of babies. Also, with uncontrolled population growth how could a country create a job for everyone that wants and needs one. And with an uncontrolled number of workers, employers know that the can pay an employee any small salary because there are hundreds of people behind that worker who will take that job. There is no incentive to increase wages or pay a livable wage. Moreover, I am sick and tired of religious institutions threatening and interferring in government and how governments run and manage their population. There should be a true separation of church and state where the church stays out of the affairs of governments and uses its resources to help its members. Even though the Phillipines is a majority Catholic country not everyone is Catholic. Why should they not be allowed to practice their reproductive rights just because a Catholic official says that the country should not have birth control? And when did a Catholic official get elected to a government post? Why do they have any say in what the government does at all, they were not elected by the majority of the people. I hope that their president is able to get this law passed. I'm sure that in 20 years they will see a completely new and more prosperous country.
Philippine is dragged down by her uncontrolled population growth which is a result of Catholic edicts and the poverty. Poor couples especially in the rural areas or city shanty towns have no means of entertainment at night other than going to bed early and indulge in sex.
In the early 1970's Philippine had a populaton of around 65 million whilst current population is 96 million. There is no adequate resources to cater for this massive population increase, the country is poverty stricken. It is good that the government finally desires to do something to tackle this massive population growth.
Here we go again: a religious organization controlled by (supposedly) celibate men making decisions for women's health. What the f*ck?! I grew up in the Philippines and am an ex-Catholic, so reading this makes my head explode. The Philippines lags behind all the other Southeast Asian countries in economic growth because they were unfortunately colonized by Spain, and thus, the rampant Catholicism. Look at the other non-Catholic countries that surround it, and how much better they are doing. I am so sick of hearing how all this sh*t is "against God's will" and thus, it must be banned. Once again, entirely remove all religion from government, and there can only be improvement, especially for women. It's all about control, all about oppression.
Catholicism is better than Islam and that was the choice before Spain colonized the Philippines. Both religions dont want women to have control over their bodies, but Christianity usually gives women more power.
BJMOLEN, your name gives you away. We know what you do during those fertile days.
Vasectomy where thou are you. Time to start in the beginning and then Pa can have all the sex he wants or Ma allows. The Church is on its way to irrelevance at a rapid pace. God speed--pun intended.
What all of us need, all over the world, is for female people and male people to sit down, talk intelligently accross the table about how we feel about our sexual relationships and whether or not we accept the idea that every time we meet together in the bedroom, we feel the same way about whether our meetings should necessarily result in the creation of another human being. What we have been doing, to our own detriment, is not sitting down and LISTENING to each other. Why is this happening? These groups like Catholic bishops offer us nothing in terms of advancement on this problem. It is the willingness of decent people from all sides to sit down and communicate with each other that will result in an equitable solution.
Can anyone tell me me were in the Bible that contraception is forbidden? Book, Chapter, Verse. I can't find it. Thanks.