MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Supreme Court ruled a reproductive health law constitutional April 8 and declared it effective immediately.
Republic Act No. 10354, also known as “The Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health Act of 2012” or RH law, guarantees universal access to methods on contraception, fertility control, sexual education, and maternal care.
Though both pro-life and pro-RH camps claimed victory, Catholic Bishop Conference of the Philippines President Socrates Villegas said the high court watered down the law when it struck down some provisions of the law.
“The Supreme Court has decided on the RH issue based on existing laws in the Philippines. The Church must continue to uphold the sacredness of human life, to teach always the dignity of the human person and to safeguard the life of every human person from conception to natural death,” he said.
Bishop Villegas added the high court’s decision “consequently upheld the importance of adhering to an informed religious conscience even among government workers. It has also stood of the side of the rights of parents to teach their children.”
Another official of the bishops’ conference to called it a “partial victory.”
Father Melvin Castro, executive secretary of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines’ Commission on Family and Life, told Catholic News Service: “The Supreme Court struck down a number of important provisions that were weakening the conscientious objections for Catholic hospitals, government workers, health care providers.”
He said the commission also was glad that the court ruled unconstitutional a portion that would require health care providers to give access to family planning to minor girls, who had already borne children or miscarried, without their parents’ permission. “All in all, we would have wanted the entire law to be declared unconstitutional,” said Father Castro. “But nonetheless … we see a glimmer of hope that … if we are going to point out its constitutional and moral weaknesses, that the Supreme Court of the land is willing to listen to it, then we are happy with that.”
Bishop Villegas said it is time to move on. “The Church can continue its mission even with such unjust laws. Let us move on from being an RH-law-reactionary-group to a truly Spirit empowered disciples of the Gospel of life and love. We have a positive message to proclaim,” he said.

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with additional report from CNS