Church running out of argument on birth control issue, says solon

DAVAO CITY, Philippines—The Catholic Church’s declaration of an all-out war against the passage of the Reproductive Health Bill was “a symptom of scarcity of arguments,” a party-list lawmaker said.

"Bankruptcy of reasons... resorting to threats and name-calling are the recourse of those who have become bankrupt of arguments. They ran out of reasons and have resorted to emotional tantrums," Gabriela Representative Luz Ilagan told the Inquirer on Thursday.

Early this week, leaders of the Catholic Church said they will cease talking with Malacañang following the announcement by President Benigno Aquino III of his responsible parenthood agenda.

The Church considered the agenda similar to House Bill 4244, which it opposes.

Church leaders also warned they will withdraw their support to the Aquino administration. Supporters of the Catholic Church, on the other hand, said they will call for civil disobedience once the bill is passed.

"They should stop these threats and open lines of communication," Ilagan said.

She said it appears that those opposing the bill have not entirely read it.

"Have they read the bill? Are they true Christians looking after the welfare of the least of their brethren? Are they pro-life when the RH Bill seeks, among others, the prevention of the deaths of 11 women daily?" Ilagan added.

She said pro-RH bill groups were not cowed by the threats.

"It only firms up our resolve to fight for the rights of women—the right to health, to reproductive health services, right to informed choices—and to demand for government responsibility to respond to these needs," Ilagan said.