What the Catholic church has done, and continues to do, in the Philippines, is a crime against humanity.
From the New York Times:
He compares the Philippines to Thailand.
In 1975 both countries had similar population sizes of 41 to 42 million. Then Bangkok launched a major family planning effort.
Now Thailand has a population of around 64 million and is the world's top exporter of rice. Meanwhile, the Philippines with a population of 90 million is the world's top importer of the grain.
Thailand had a gross annual income per capita of $7,880 in 2007, while in the Philippines it was $3,730.
"Our studies show that if the Philippines had followed the (population) growth trajectory of Thailand between 1975 and 2000 the per capita income would have been at least 22 percent higher and there would have been 5 million less poor people," said Pernia. "That is a conservative estimate."
Yet the proposed reproductive health bill will likely never see the light of day as the influential Catholic Church is staunchly opposed to artificial birth control as a violation of its religious tenets.
[...]
Couples attending compulsory family planning seminars before their weddings are often warned off using artificial methods.
"One of the women leading our workshop told us the pill had given her varicose veins, diabetes and made her deaf in one ear," said one newlywed, who declined to be named.
Catholic clerics say natural family planning methods such as abstinence when the woman is ovulating are effective.
[...]
A lack of artificial contraception means that many women literally burst into tears when their period is even one day late as the only recourse for an unplanned pregnancy is an illegal abortion or giving birth to another child they can ill afford to feed.
Without an effective birth control policy, the Philippines, already the world's 12th most populous country, is projected to have a population of over 140 million by 2040. This will put a huge strain on its creaking health system, schools and other services, and its ability to feed itself.
