Bishops, doctors hold consultative meet on RH bill

Catholic Church officials on Monday held a "consultative meeting" with the country's largest organization of doctors regarding the controversial reproductive health (RH) bill currently pending in Congress. The Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) said the meeting between its officials and the Philippine Medical Association (PMA), led by its president, Dr. Oscar Tinio, was held in Quezon City. Neither side has so far issued a statement on what was discussed in the meeting, according to an article on the CBCP news site. The bishops had said they would consult legal and medical experts to help them prepare for a dialogue with Malacañang on reproductive health. CBCP president and Tandag Bishop Nereo Odchimarhad said they would seek opinions of lay people, as church officials admitted that they have their limitations. “Since our major line is on morality, we would be enlisting help from the lay people who would be with us representing their specific expertise," Odchimar said earlier. Odchimar said the bishops would seek to tackle the demography, economics, legal and medical aspects of reproductive health. On the other hand, Tinio said the PMA will offer its scientific and medical expertise on the reproductive health issue to both the government and the church. “Medical doctors are major stakeholders and front liners in the reproductive health and wellness of our nation and we should be involved in any discussion concerning this issue," he said. The Catholic Church had been vocal against the reproductive health bill, which allows the use of contraceptives. - KBK, GMANews.TV