Aquino: RH issue shouldn't be divisive

President Benigno Simeon Aquino III said on Wednesday the reproductive health (RH) issue shouldn't be divisive. In a speech during the 104th annual convention of the Philippine Medical Association in Davao, Aquino said “Let us work together. This single issue does not have to be as divisive as it has become." The RH bill has drawn strong opposition from the Catholic Church and other religious groups. The Catholic Church accepts only natural methods of family planning while the RH bill promotes both natural and artificial methods of contraception. Aquino, a Catholic, said he is willing to be excommunicated by the Church for his stance on the RH issue. He is pushing for the responsible parenthood (RP) bill. He has yet to give his nod on the House Bill 2422 or the RH bill that is being deliberated at the House of Representatives. While Aquino acknowledges the opposition of some sectors on the passage of a law on responsible parenthood, he said “it is the right thing to do." “It is right to educate our people, instead of holding them hostage to the scant resources available to them, and it is right to grant them free will, the concept upon which this democracy and, not to mention, the Catholic Church were built," he said. He said does not want to force anyone to go against their individual consciences. “All we want is to give our people a chance to make their own intelligent and well-informed decisions," he said. Knowing that he could no longer change their stance, Aquino just asked Church officials to “work with us instead on the many areas where we do agree— poverty, peace and order, or even mining." Young girl raising two children During his speech, Aquino narrated the story of a 16-year old girl he met in Baseco in Manila. The young girl, he said, is already the mother of two children. “She went from childhood to motherhood with no decent high school education," the President said. “She already had enough trouble feeding herself, much more two babies who needed milk, diapers, and, most importantly, time. Who’s responsible for this? What brought about this situation?" he added. Aquino said this is the reason it is important to talk about responsible parenthood. “We need legislation that prevents this from happening," he said. “I hope when Congress does send me the bill, it is consistent with my five point position," he added. The President said RH must: