For more than a decade, the passage of a basic Reproductive Health Law in the Philippines has faced stiff opposition from the hierarchy of the Roman Catholic Church. It has propagated misinformation and blatant lies on the RH Bill, sowed fear, uncertainty and doubt among Filipinos, threatened to excommunicate legislators supporting the RH Bill, and even warned of civil disobedience among its members should the Bill pass into law.

As a result, the Roman Catholic Church in the Philippines continues to deny Filipino women the rights and services necessary in order to make free and informed decisions concerning the governance of their bodies.

Our stand is that this injustice must end. We must come together and, with one voice, express our support to those legislators who let the principles of social justice and secular morality guide their actions.

Last November 26, 2010, more than 100 reproductive health advocates from all walks of life various religious denominations gathered at the first Excommunication Party in the Philippines. There, a document was presented and signed by those in attendance to reaffirm the commitment of each individual to ensure the passage of the reproductive health bill, despite the RCC's threat of excommunication and blatant disregard of the Philippine situation.

Below is the text of the document.

A MANIFESTO IN SUPPORT OF CHOICE

Tonight, we advocates of social justice and free and informed choice, come together in an expression of solidarity towards the passage of the Reproductive Health Bill.

Whereas the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines has repeatedly imposed its agenda upon the government, in clear violation of the principle of the separation of Church and State;

Whereas the CBCP has threatened to withdraw its support of politicians and legislators who endorse the Reproductive Health Bill;

Whereas the CBCP and its allies consider Catholics who support the Reproductive Health Bill as “oxymorons”, “dissidents”, and “not real Catholics”;

Whereas the CBCP and its allies equate the Reproductive Health Bill to abortion, when nothing in its provisions promotes such;

Whereas the CBCP and its allies have knowingly and wilfully disseminated misinformation in their attempt to stop the passage of the Reproductive Health Bill by sowing fear, uncertainty and doubt among its constituents;

Whereas the Catholic Church has continued to uphold edicts and dogma that result in bigotry, human suffering and loss of life;

And whereas legislators who support the Reproductive Health Bill have remained stalwart in their efforts to combat bigotry, human suffering and loss of life, despite the Catholic church’s threat of excommunication;

We hereby declare that if supporting the Reproductive Health Bill means excommunication…

Then excommunicate me!

By signing this document, we, Filipinos of various creeds and beliefs, express our full and unwavering support to our legislators who believe that social development transcends religious dogma.

We who believe in a just and free society, know that the immediate review and passage of the Reproductive Health Bill is a positive step in the alleviation of poverty in the Philippines.

And we who believe in free and informed choice call upon the hierarchy of the Roman Catholic Church in the Philippines, the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines, and its allies to stop imposing its agenda on the state in the name of social justice.

We will deliver the petition to the CBCP (in order for them to know our dissent) and to the legislators in the House of Representatives and the Senate (for them to fast-track the passage of the bill into law).