Great News from the Philippines..........yes, really.
After many years of fruitless struggle, the Philippine Congress passed a bill that would allow poor women to obtain contraception that they can use and afford. Here's the link:
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-philippines-birth-control-20121218,0,4439221.story
By Kenneth R. Weiss and Sol Vanzi, Los Angeles Times
December 18, 2012
MANILA — Ignoring the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines' warning that "contraception corrupts the soul," the Philippine Congress on Monday passed a sweeping bill that would provide birth control to millions of poor women.
The historic votes, with bishops and nuns sitting glumly in the gallery, came after the Catholic hierarchy and its political supporters had thwarted the legislation's passage for more than 14 years.
The measure, which President Benigno Aquino III has pledged to sign, would override the de facto ban on contraceptives in Manila's public health clinics, make sex education mandatory in public schools and require hospitals to provide postabortion care, even though abortions will remain illegal.
Although more than 80% of Filipinos are Catholic, polls have shown the church was out of step with its followers on this issue: More than 70% of Filipinos supported the so-called Reproductive Health Bill in a nation where 39% of married women want to avoid pregnancy but are not using modern contraceptives.
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Nice to hear something refreshing and productive going on in the world. 
I've been following this story for some time, and I was overjoyed to see this development today.
Philippine women have been struggling with too many babies and no way to control their fertility until now. This legislation really opens a door for a better life for them and their families.
Amazing progress for the Filipinos! Truly amazing.
Thank you Peggy!
A huge K&R!
Thank you for this. They are so predictable as to be ridiculous.
Strictly speaking, because of copyright laws, DU asks that we limit any direct quotes to four paragraphs, with a link to the rest. You might want to do that...
Thank you, and welcome to DU!
Still learning the ropes.
... The Catholic Church and the NRA in one week.. The world is indeed making some changes! Thanks CAPeggy for this excellent very good wonderful news!
1.) NRA back down 2.) the Catholic Church in the Phillippines & 3) Ted Nugent kicked off Discovery Channel!
Now this is what REAL progress looks like! I'm doing the Snoopy dance! 
A major step forward in public health and excellent news for Filipino families!
