RH Bill Misconception #1

The Reproductive Health (RH) Bill does not promote or pave the way to abortion, since it even states that abortion remains illegal in the Philippines.

Clarification
The RH Bill does not legalize surgical abortion, but it does promote all types of abortion and does legalize abortion of 5 day old babies. Section 4 (Definition of Terms) of the proposed bill states:

h. Reproductive Health Education -- is the process of acquiring complete, accurate and relevant information on all matters relating to the reproductive system, its functions and processes and human sexuality; and forming attitudes and beliefs about sex, sexual identity, interpersonal relationships, affection, intimacy and gender roles. It also includes developing the necessary skills to be able to distinguish between facts and myths on sex and sexuality; and critically evaluate and discuss the moral, religious, social and cultural dimensions of related sensitive issues such as contraception and abortion. To critically evaluate and discuss the moral, religious, social and cultural dimensions of related sensitive issues such as contraception and abortion paves the way to abortion because it will present abortion as a hypothetical (as of now in the Philippines, while practical in other countries) solution to an unplanned pregnancy. The next step will be to push for safe and legal abortion. This reflects the mentality presented in some sex education modules, which could very well go this way:

Ang pagkontrol sa kakayahang mag-anak ay isang karapatang makabago para sa kababaihan. May dalawang uri ng batas na nagkakaroon ng impluwensiya sa gawaing ito. Ang una ay may kinalaman sa pag-gamit ng kontraseptibo, kusang-loob na pagpapa-opera upang hindi magkaanak. Ang ikalawa at pagpapalaglag ng sanggol. Ang ilegal na pagpapalaglag ng sanggol ay ipinagbabawal ng batas sapagkat hindi makabubuti sa kalusugan ng ina. Ito ay nagbibigay ng karapatan sa kababaihan sa pagpaplano ng pamilya. Note that in such a formulation, illegal abortion is considered wrong because it is bad for the woman's health. The child being killed is insignificant. The solution insinuated is to legalize abortion so that it could become safe. Safe for the mother (they claim, though abortion is always traumatic for her), but not for the baby. Some candidly say that if legislators and teachers insist on asking their students to discuss the pros and cons of abortion, then parents should also insist on discussing the

pros and cons of killing legislators and teachers (for example, if they are inefficient, involved in graft and corruption, etc.).

RH Bill Misconception #2

The Reproductive Health (RH) Bill does not promote sexual promiscuity.

Clarification
Section 4 (Definition of Terms) of the proposed bill states:

c. Reproductive Health -- the state of physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity, in all matters relating to the reproductive system and to its functions and processes. This implies that peopleare able to have a satisfying and safe sex life, that they have the capability to reproduce and the freedom to decide if, when and how often to do so, provided that these are not against the law. The law will guarantee children and teenagers (since they are people) the right to have a satisfying and safe sex life with anyone, and to decide if, when and how often to reproduce. Hence, children have the right to have information and access to contraceptives, and to learn all possible options in case they get pregnant, including abortion, which unfortunately (as they will be made to fee), is still illegal. Parents who object to this right act against the law, a law which of course goes against the parents' inherent right to educate their children.

RH Bill Misconception #3

The Reproductive Health (RH) Bill will strengthen parental rights in forming and educating their children.

Clarification
Section 3 (Guiding Principles) of the proposed bill states:

L. Respect for, protection and fulfillment of reproductive health rights seek to promote not only the rights and welfare of adult individuals and couples but those of adolescents' and children's as well... Section 4 (Definition of Terms) of the proposed bill states:

d. Reproductive Health Rights -- the rights of individuals and couples to decide freely and responsibly the number, spacing and timing of their children; to make other decisions concerning reproduction free of discrimination, coercion and violence; to

have the information and means to carry our their decisions; and to attain the highest standard of sexual and reproductive health. In the Bill, children and adolescents have the right to have a satisfying and safe sex life and to decide freely and responsibly the number, spacing and timing of their children. In such a case, parents (and teachers, public authorities, priests, etc.) who do not want children to have sex with classmates will be going against the children's rights, and hence they can be considered as coercing the children to stay away from sex. Earlier bills have even proposed fines and/or imprisonment for similar acts; this is indicative of their real intention. In some countries, school clinics are prohibited from informing parents if their child seeks or has undergone abortion, whereas they are required to do so for treatment of a minor wound. Reproductive health rights will therefore weaken parental authority and rights over the upbringing of their children. Children are brainwashed into this promiscuous, anti-parent, anti-authority mentality through value-free sex education modules.

RH Bill Misconception #4

The Reproductive Health (RH) Bill is an original idea of Filipino Congressmen.

Clarification
Reproductive Health Bills are pushed by PLCPD (Philippine Legislators' Committee for Population and Development), a foreign funded NGO with offices questionably located in Congress, precisely where our laws are made. This is in complete violation of our national sovereignty and our pro-family and pro-life Constitution. PLCPD has access to formidable financial resources and is backed by a powerful conglomerate of NGO's.

RH Bill Misconception #5

The Reproductive Health (RH) Bill promotes health.

Clarification
We would rather call them the Reproductive Death Bill. They are totally silent on the aforementioned ills which will bring DEATH not only to the body, but to the person, family and society as well: Divorce, Euthanasia, Abortion, Tyrannical population control, Homosexual unions.

RH Bill Misconception #6

Filipino families cannot do anything to stop the Reproductive Health bills.

Clarification
A Call to Defend the Filipino Family Against the Reproductive Health Bill We call on all Filipino Families to defend ourselves by defending life. We have so far succeeded in foiling many of the attempts of our lawmakers to enact reproductive health statutes. We believe they are being enticed by monetary and other compensation, but we hope that they will see the grim reality behind reproductive health. But now could be our last chance. Many countries have fallen into the subtle and the blatant attacks against their families. It is time to organize ourselves better and pressure our leaders to come up with pro-family and pro-life legislation and programs. We call on all men and women of good will, of all creeds, social standing, and political affiliations, to further promote the family. Let us patronize family-safe establishments and complain to our civil authorities against those offering drugs, gambling, pornography and prostitution, especially those surrounding our homes and our children's schools. Let us boycott products and services that degrade sex and women in their advertisements. Let us review the textbooks used by our children for promiscuous and anti-parental content. Let us make the TV stations know that we want wholesome family entertainment. Recovering the Family's True Nature We hope that in the end, children may see their parents as role models of family warmth and citizenship, and that parents and grandparents may experience the appreciation and respect of their children whom they have truly loved and guided. Humanae Vitae prophetically warned that we could lose our values if we go against God's design on the responsible transmission of life within the family. May the Filipino Family, which is the sanctuary of life and love, rediscover and reclaim the peace and joy that rightly belongs to us.