Same old

[afuna]

The reproductive health bill in the Philippines has just been shot down by Congress. Wish I could say I was shocked or disappointed, but I'm not -- just frustrated.

It pains me to look around, and see things that are taken as basic facts of life in other countries get repeatedly shot down here because "no good Catholic would ever want that". I am not religious, but I would still like to believe that I have a place in my country, somehow. (But sometimes it feels that maybe that's wrong).

Comments

[yvi]

And this is why I hate religious reasoning for laws so much. Quite apart from the fact that most countries are supposed to be secular, it also completely leaves out everyone with a different belief and makes them feel like they don't belong and aren't important.

*hugs*

[zorkian]

Felt the same when Proposition 8 here in California passed. The bill was sponsored and voted for largely by the immigrant Catholic population. Very frustrating.

[oona]

I'd like to say that many times one's ethics and beliefs, whilst not based on religion, might agree with people who are religious. I think there are a lot of things 'taken for granted' in other countries that I view in a negative way.

[pauamma]

*sigh* (I assume that a "good Catholic" is defined after the fact as "one who doesn't, in fact, want that"? (which is obviously circular, and in addition stigmatizes those, if any, who would want (part of) what the bill provided)

That said, I'm curious: if you know, what proportion of women in the Philippines favor (some of) the services the bill would have provided? (Regardless of whether they would actually consider using those, if relevant.)

[afuna]

A bit simplistic, but yeah, it does feel that way. (The bishops threatened to refuse communion to the authors of the bill, who were Catholics, because they couldn't be good Catholics if they had authored that bill, right?).

I don't know the breakdown of nationwide opinion, unfortunately :( (Any surveys would probably slant towards the rich/middle class, who can well afford the benefits of the bill on their own, should they want to. I'm actually not sure how that would affect statistics).

[afuna]

Ah, someone left a comment further downthread, which seems relevant to the second half of your comment.

[mrklo-olstphn.livejournal.com]

^ Well proponents says that those who are below the poverty line really want to support the bill but because of lack of resources they cannot properly lobby. As such, the majority is gravely misrepresented or neglected.

Those with resources whose families aren't really going to go 2-3 kids are the ones really opposed to the bill. But since they are with resources they can freely lobby.

[afuna]

Thanks for the info! Any statistics on this?

[mrklo-olstphn.livejournal.com]

Stat huh? hmmmm, well i am not credible... I only get second hand info from a Reproductive Health bill supporter Carlos Celdran. You should scour his blog for his comments/posts on the subject. I know he posts detailed informaton there. His blog is named walk this way.
I think it is the first hit if you google his name or the name of his blog.

But I do remember reading a SWS survey report saying that those on and under the poverty line want some sort of avenue to birth control but are ignorant or unable to.

[afuna]

Thanks! Found the blog, and it's interesting stuff, adding to my reading list.

[pauamma]

*nod* Not surprised.

[eula-tequila.livejournal.com]

The bill may sound good on the surface, but there it has flaws. Such as the proposal to make contraceptives essential medicines, when iron and folate supplements for pregnant women are not. The sex education curriculum also focuses on pregnancy prevention (as if it were a disease) rather than a holistic view of sex and its natural purpose (procreation). It still needs major revisions, and I think it was wise for Congress not to pass the bill.

[afuna]

I think I'd feel more positive if I thought there was any chance that we'd get a better bill in the near future. Even though the bill is not perfect, I think that the benefits outweigh the flaws.

With the example you gave, about contraceptives versus supplement being essential medicines, if the bill had passed, at least one group would benefit. But right now, everyone gets nothing. We're back to the status quo, with little hope of getting anything changed.