Touching the Third Rail

Politicians in the Philippines are often combative, even outrageous. But when it comes to the issue of contraception, they keep awfully quiet. They know the Catholic Church considers artificial birth control immoral, unholy and akin to abortion, and they know the church plays hardball. Senator Rodolfo Biazon dared to propose a family-planning bill last fall that is still looking for a co-sponsor. For his trouble, the ex-Armed Forces Chief of Staff was branded "antichurch" by the president of the hugely influential Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines, and "Satan" and "anti-Christ" by the faithful. That the impoverished nation's birthrate (2.36%) is negating any economic growth (3.1% of GDP) and that the population is projected to double by 2030 hasn't moved the church to reconsider its stance. In fact, its spokesmen disavow links between population size and poverty.

President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo recently dipped a toe into these charged waters. In a speech she wrote for the 4th World Meeting of Families opening ceremony on Jan. 22, Arroyo asserted that poverty and the birthrate are indeed connected and that the government should promote "fertility-awareness education" using "modern technology" and "birth spacing." Her words seemed intentionally vague, but the church, hearing contraceptive allusions, snapped back. "I want the President to make clear what she means," said Teodoro Bacani, a bishop in Manila, adding that he was "hurt" by her remarks. Arroyo, herself a devout Catholic, quickly qualified her statements, saying that she supported "natural family planning," thereby disappointing those who hoped she would be less beholden to the church now that she's no longer seeking re-election. A source inside Malacañang Palace insists she plans to push the issue further. The church will be watching.