Women’s group seeks RH bill dialogue with CBCP

MANILA, June 6, 2011— Women’s rights group Gabriella that pushes the reproductive health (RH) bill is seeking a dialogue with the Catholic hierarchy on the issue.

In a letter to the CBCP, the party-list group said that details of the controversial measure should be discussed to have sound arguments about it.

The CBCP secretary general Msgr. Juanito Figura, said they received an invitation for a dialogue from Gabriela last week “to present their side and also get our side.”

He said the women’s group wanted the dialogue to be held last June 3 but Figura said the bishops are yet to decide on the matter.

“We are still studying the situation if there is a favorable atmosphere for a dialogue and the other difficulty is that it’s hard to gather (our) panel,” Figura said.

He said the group wanted the dialogue to be held last June 3 but because of the cited difficulties, the CBCP deferred it for the meantime.

Last May 18, the CBCP affirmed it will not be holding anymore talks with the government, even in the near future, over the birth control measure.

The Church continues to lobby against the RH bill, whose provisions include public access to government-funded supplies of condoms and contraceptives. (CBCPNews)