AtheistRamblings.net

Father Castro’s argument against a proposed law that would provide free or low-cost reproductive health services in the Philippines. “Birth Control Bill Has Enemies in Philippines” (via NYTimes.com)

The Philippines population is increasing by more that 2% per year, one of the highest in Asia. According to the Guttmacher Institute 54 percent of the 3.4 million pregnancies in the Philippines in 2008 were unintended. These unintended pregnancies lead to an estimated half-million abortions (despite the procedure being illegal). Most of these abortions are done in unsanitary conditions or many women resort to crude methods such as jumping down stairs and herbal concoctions.  And the Catholic Church still opposes access to cheap birth control for the Philippines poor.