Roman Catholic Church-State relations in the Philippines and its implications on the passage of House Bill 5043: The Reproductive Health and Population Development Act of 2008

• Main Author: Carandang, Julien L.
• Format: text
• Language: English
• Published: Animo Repository 2009
• Subjects: Reproductive health; Population growth; Contraception; Catholic Church > Philippines
• Online Access: https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/etd_masteral/3718; https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/context/etd_masteral/article/10556/viewcontent/CDTG004450_P__1_.pdf
• Institution: De La Salle University

Government concern over the rapid population growth and its consequences spurred the promotion of contraception as the solution to fertility control. This goes against the moral doctrine of the Catholic Church which advocates natural family planning and creates tension between church and state. Notwithstanding Church influence in Philippine politics, the study of the dynamics of church-state interactions in resolving the fertility problem would be useful to arrive at a rational and meaningful recommendation for action amicable to all stakeholders. As it stands, The Reproductive Health and Population Development Act of 2008 will most likely remain in legislative limbo, unless its authors revise the framing of the bill in order to conform to Church moral doctrine. Only through policy compromise or ideological sacrifice can the Philippine population debate be settled.