Passage of Contraceptives Law in Philippines Shows Times Have Changed for Catholic Church
Jim Gomez and Teresa Cerojano at The Associated Press report on Filipino President Benigno Aquino III’s approval of the Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health Act of 2012, which provides state funding for contraceptives, a controversial decision in the highly Catholic country. Gomez and Cerojano believe the law indicates the diminishing influence of the Catholic Church. Giselle Labadan, a practicing Catholic in the Philippines, stated, “People today are more practical. In the old days, people feared that if you defy the church, it will be the end of the world.”