SC declares Reproductive-Health (RH) Law not unconstitutional; CBCP encourages respect, esteem for SC decision

‘RH law to boost MDG drive’

Business Mirror, 08 Apr 2014

 

Written by Cai U. Ordinario & Joel San Juan

The United Nations (UN) in the Philippines said the Supreme Court’s (SC)declaration that the reproductive-health law was constitutional will be a big boost to the country’s effort to achieve a key objective under the Millennium Development Goal (MDG) centering on maternal mortality, or MDG 5.

In a statement, the UN said the ruling of the SC comes at a crucial time given that the country’s maternal mortality ratio (MMR) has yet to improve to a more desirable level. Upholding the constitutionality of Republic Act 10354, or the Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health Act of 2012, will place the country on track to meeting the goal on the Post-2015 agenda. 

MDG 5 aims to halve the MMR of the Philippines to 52 out of 100,000 live births. With the country’s MMR increasing to 221 out of 100,000 live births, the Philippines will not achieve that goal by next year.  

“The Supreme Court ruling hence comes at a crucial time. The full and speedy implementation of the law will be critically important in reducing maternal mortality and ensuring universal access to reproductive-health care and also sets the country on the right track for the post-2015 development agenda. The UN expresses its support to the government of the Philippines as it now moves forward and leads the full implementation of the law,” the UN said. 

In Baguio City, reproductive-health law activists on either side of the debate on Tuesday each claimed victory after the Supreme Court (SC) unanimously declared the law “not unconstitutional” but, at the same time, struck down eight key provisions for being unconstitutional.

Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) President Socrates Villegas, in a statement, lauded the Court for watering down the RH law. BUSINESS MIRROR

Boac Cathedral

CBCP Statement on the RH Law

I encourage our Catholic faithful to maintain respect and esteem for the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court has decided on the RH issue based on existing laws in the Philippines.

The Church must continue to uphold the sacredness of human life, to teach always the dignity of the human person and to safeguard the life of every human person from conception to natural death.

Although the Supreme Court has upheld the constitutionality of the RH law, it has truly watered down the RH law and consequently upheld the importance of adhering to an informed religious conscience even among government workers. It has also stood on the side of the rights of parents to teach their children.

We cannot see eye-to-eye with our pro-RH brethren on this divisive issue but we can work hand-in-hand for the good of the country.

On the part of the Church, we must continue to teach what is right and moral. We will continue to proclaim the beauty and holiness of every human person. Through two thousand years, the Church has lived in eras of persecution, authoritarian regimes, wars and revolutions. The Church can continue its mission even with such unjust laws. Let us move on from being an RH-law-reactionary-group to a truly Spirit empowered disciples of the Gospel of life and love. We have a positive message to proclaim.

+SOCRATES B. VILLEGAS,  Archbishop of Lingayen Dagupan

 CBCP President, April 8, 2014