Church to flex muscles vs Obama 'abortion' policy

MANILA, Philippines - The Catholic Church in the Philippines will "flex" its muscles against new US president Barack Obama's reversal of a controversial abortion policy. Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines Episcopal Commission on Family and Life (ECFL) assistant secretary Fr. David Clay said Obama's policy may affect their "pro-life" campaign. "It's going to be difficult. Sad to say, it's going to be a boost for those who are campaigning for abortion," Clay, an American missionary, said in an article on the CBCP website. Clay said that in the Philippines, Obama's decision can also boost the campaign of individuals and groups seeking for the passage of the Reproductive Health bill in the country. He said the CBCP faces an "uphill battle" in its fight against a bill on maternal health care, which requires the government to push artificial contraception if it becomes a law. But he said he is not entirely losing hope even if Obama reversed the Mexico City policy, thus making federal money available to promote abortion internationally. Clay claimed that many people in the US are "very much opposed" to what Obama did and ready to raise their voices against the new US population policy. "I'm more optimistic that it's not going to take hold... sooner or later it's going to die. We just have to be patient and pray more right now," he said. Obama recently repealed an eight-year Bush administration policy, allowing funding support to family planning organizations abroad which advocate abortion or provide abortion services. He signed the executive order canceling the eight-year-old restrictions last week. - GMANews.TV