Noy’s RH position unchanged, but… By Aytch S. de la Cruz 11/09/2010

.Noy’s RH position unchanged, but…
By Aytch S. de la Cruz 11/09/2010

President Aquino’s policy on responsible parenthood as the focal point of the contentious Reproductive Health (RH) bill which the 15th Congress has been pushing, has not changed, even as Church leaders reportedly anticipate a “head-on collision” with his government just to have this measure junked.

At the same time however, Aquino, even as he said he was standing firm on his position on the RH bill, also claimed that if Congress passes the bill that will include something for which he stands against, and does not
follow his stated position, he will also be against the HR mission.

Cebu Archbishop Ricardo Cardinal Vidal recently came out with a statement comparing the bishops’ stand against the bill to the position they took during the People Power revolt in 1986 that led to the toppling of former President Ferdinand Marcos.

Vidal wielded the so-called significant contributions of the Church during the first Edsa revolt that led to the downfall of the Marcos dictatorship which indirectly reminded Aquino that the Church sector remains a force to reckon with.

Substantial developments to arrive at a peaceful settlement between the Church and the State on the controversial RH issues are yet to unfold as Aquino told reporters yesterday that his point person, Presidential Management Staff (PMS) director-general Julia Abad, is still trying to arrange his appointment with the officials from the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) for a bigger dialog.... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20101109hed5.html