CBCP to continue fight vs RH bill despite SWS survey

MANILA, Philippines - The Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) on Thursday belittled the recent survey showing that a majority of Manila residents favor a law on reproductive health. In a statement posted on CBCP website, Episcopal Commission on Family and Life (ECFL) executive secretary Fr. Melvin Castro assured that despite the Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey, the Church would still campaign against the measure now pending at the House of Representatives. "It's not a numbers game. We are not really what others will say. We are just following what is stated in the Bible,” Castro said. The survey, which was conducted from December 27 to 29 last year, showed that six out of 10, or 62 percent of the 600 respondents, think religious sectors involve itself in government efforts on family planning and reproductive health. This indicates the church is prying on government’s family planning programs, which are favored by about 90 percent of city residents, the survey said. The study also revealed that 88 percent of the 600 respondents agree that Manila should have a policy on reproductive health, while 95 percent said that city health centers should further improve their services. Castro said the Church is not meddling with what he calls the government's supposed "weak policy on population." He said they are just campaigning against immoral laws." He added that while people and surveys claim that the reproductive health bill and population control will create benefits, “it is the course of things that is wrong.” - Aie Balagtas See, GMANews.TV