WASHINGTON, D.C., AUG. 26, 2005 (Zenit.org).- Filipino-Americans are pitching in to help fight population-management legislation in the Philippines that aims to limit families to two children.
The Filipino Congress is now considering the Responsible Parenthood and Population Act of 2005.
According to the Washington-based Filipino Family Fund, the bill discriminates against Catholics who work in education and in health care.
Under the legislation, those citizens who will not provide sex education to children as young as fifth grade or offer contraception, sterilization and other «reproductive health care services» could be imprisoned up to six months.
According to this bill, the Philippines would accept $26 million from the U.N. Population Fund (UNFPA) for the purpose of «reproductive health care.»
This health care is defined as «availability and access to a full range of methods, techniques, and services that contribute to reproductive and sexual health and well-being … [including] family planning information
and abortifacient birth prevention.»
Last June, the U.S. House of Representatives rejected the proposal to subsidize the UNFPA because of its refusal to dissociate from coercive population control and forced abortion programs.
Now, concerned Filipino-Americans are predicting the same disregard for human life if the bill in the Philippines is passed.
Health care workers would be prohibited from invoking pleas of conscientious objection, with a penalty of six months’ imprisonment if they refuse to practice these «reproductive health care» methods.
The Filipino Family Fund is trying to rally support for the Catholics in their country of origin, and is urging people to sign a petition to oppose the bill.
