Catholic Church resists birth-control coverage

A top American bishop said Tuesday the Roman Catholic Church will not comply with the Obama administration requirement that most employers provide health insurance that covers birth control for free. Cardinal Timothy Dolan, the archbishop of New York and president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, said church leaders are open to working toward [...]

Women and the bishops in US polls

Who made Barack Obama win a second term, what many called a “second chance,” as US President? A wire report attributed his victory to a coalition of “Hispanic, African-American and young voters.” But Nancy K. Kaufman, a blogger for “Politics Daily,” wrote a day before the elections that the “deciding demographic of this year’s election” [...]

‘One last push’ for RH bill

“This substitute (RH) bill was not meant to convince the recalcitrant (in the House),” declared Rep. Edcel Lagman at a consultation with civil society and women’s groups yesterday. “(The amendments) were made to convince the open-minded and the fence-sitters, and we succeeded. So many of my colleagues have approached me and said their concerns and [...]

Vatican reminds Obama of differences on healthcare, abortion

The Vatican congratulated U.S. President Barack Obama on his re-election but reminded him on Wednesday of the thorny differences between the Catholic Church and his administration over abortion and healthcare. The Vatican hoped Obama would be able to serve law and justice “in respect of the essential human and spiritual values and the promotion of [...]

India: Answers sought over malnutrition deaths

A state human rights body has demanded the Madhya Pradesh government explain why at least 25 children have died in the space of two weeks, allegedly as a result of malnutrition. Justice A.K. Saxena, acting chairman of the Madhya Pradesh human rights commission, yesterday directed the state government to conduct a study and present a report within [...]

Philippines gears up for battle over reproductive health bill

Standing in line under the blazing sun with dozens of other young women at a makeshift prenatal clinic in a Manila slum, 14-year-old Jasmin Balute says she is too young to have a child. “It’s too late now,” she reflects, “but I realise girls my age should be in school, playing around – not taking [...]

Deadlock over RH bill

The Senate has removed controversial provisions that purportedly promote abortion and the use of birth control devices in a bid to break a deadlock in its version of the reproductive health (RH) bill. Senator Jose “Jinggoy” Estrada on Thursday  said the upper chamber was evenly split 10-10 on the measure a day after contentious issues [...]

Health chief ties RH bill to basic health care

The enactment of the Reproductive Health (RH) bill is a precondition to the universal health care program of the Aquino administration, Health Secretary Enrique Ona said, in effect passing the ball to Congress on whether or not Filipinos are provided with basic health services.

House votes to end debate on RH bill

The House of Representatives yesterday voted to terminate the period of debate on the highly divisive Reproductive Health (RH) bill.

Officials deny epidemics in Indian relief camps

Medical officials in the Indian state of Assam have denied reports that epidemics have struck down thousands of children in relief camps set up to house 350,000 displaced people who fled ethnic clashes in the state.

Nobel Prize winner contradicts bishops on RH bill

Nobel Prize-winning economist George Akerlof contradicted the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines’ use of his research in a public statement opposing the Reproductive Health (RH) Bill.

Catholics brave rain to denounce RH bill

Thousands of Catholics on Saturday braved rain and foul weather to join a Catholic Church-led rally at the historic Edsa Shrine to protest a proposed law that would provide free contraceptives in a bid to curb population.

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