Sex education debate heats up in Philippines

[Alon]

MANILA, June 21, 2010 (AFP) – A new sex education campaign in Philippine schools has sparked widespread debate in Asia's bedrock of Catholicism, where the high birth rate is blamed for desperate poverty.

The United Nations-backed programme, which is being piloted this month in primary and high schools, aims to promote safe sex, limit the spread of HIV-AIDS and prevent unwanted pregnancies.

However, the Catholic Church and powerful conservative crusaders have struck back with a high-profile campaign to shut down the project, saying it breaks the nation's religion-based moral codes.

Full story here

Another news story on the continuing clash of, I dunno, culture?

[Brianne]

I completely support sex education in school because "Ignorance is bliss" does not apply here.  For a third world country just like ours, it's imperative that we educate everybody about options out there.  It is foolish to die just because of ignorance. 

[Nurse]

i don't know about this catholic beliefs...i am a catholic yet i do not believe in all their teachings
because i think some of them are wrong i.e confession to a priest,
can't receive communion if you are divorced...its crazy
nways these conservative catholics or any church should separate themselves from politics
i believe in separation of church and state   

[Alon]

I'm not Catholic so I don't quite know what the doctrine is. 

I'd say it's great for anyone (including the church) to promote happy and healthy families. 

It's the idea that people should be persuaded to procreate as much as possible without any thought to their ability to provide a certain level of care that gets me. 

I dunno, I just don't get it.