Abortion Supporters Behind Philippine RH Bill
Posted on | August 8, 2012 by Lisa Correnti |
For the past 17 years the Reproductive Health bill in the Philippines, better known as the RH bill has deeply divided Congress, but members did agree this week to end debate on the bill and push it forward to begin the amendment process. Both groups believe they will be successful with proponents saying they have the votes to pass it out of the House and opposition believing they can successfully put it to rest by adding “killer amendments.”
While advocates of the bill say it’s not about abortion, a look at those pushing the bill should raise concern. A recent blogpost identifies pro-abortion groups and individuals supporting the bill that seem to all be connected through a group called “WomenLEAD.”
Abortion groups cited in the post include Women on Waves, the Dutch ship that travels to countries where abortion is illegal to perform medical abortions, Center for Reproductive Rights (CRR), IPAS, Catholics for Choice – the U.S. group said to advise Catholics 4 RH, EnGendeRights, and Leadership Development for Mobilizing Reproductive Health (IIE-LDM).
A post at American Life League’s STOPP Planned Parenthood blog cites ten years of advocacy by Planned Parenthood in the Philippines for enactment of the RH bill, which in Section 20 addresses ideal family size and reads that the state will “encourage [couples] to have two children as the ideal family size.” This will be done through compulsory pre-marriage counseling.
