imbong vs ochoa_leonen

90
EN BANC G.R. No. 204819 - James M. Imbong, et al. v. Hon. Paquito N. Ochoa, Jr., et al.; G.R. No. 204934 - Alliance for the Family Foundation Philippines, Inc. (ALFI), et al. v. Hon. Paquito N. Ochoa, et al.; G.R. No. 204957 - Task Force for Family and Life, Inc., et al. v. Hon. Paquito N. Ochoa, Jr., et al.; G.R. No. 204988 - Serve Life Cagayan de Oro City, Inc., et al. v. Office of the President, et al.; G.R. No. 205003 - Expedito A. Bugarin, Jr. v. Office of the President of the Republic of the Philippines, et al.; G.R. No. 205043 - Eduardo B. Olaguer, et al. v. DOH Secretary Enrique T. Ona, et al.; G.R. No. 205138 - Philippine Alliance of Xseminarians, Inc. (PAX), et al. v. Hon. Paquito N. Ochoa, Jr., et al.; G.R. No. 205478 - Reynaldo J. Echavez, M.D., et al. v. Hon Paquito N. Ochoa Jr., et al.; G.R. No. 205491 - Spouses Francisco S. Tatad, et. al. v. Office of the President of the Republic of the Philippines; G.R. No. 205720 - Pro-Life Philippines Foundation, Inc., et al. v. Office of the President, et al.; G.R. No. 206355 - Millennium Saint Foundation, Inc., et al. v. Office of the President, et al.; G.R. No. 207111 - John Walter B. Juat, et al. v. Hon. Paquito N. Ochoa, Jr., et al.; G.R. No. 207172 - Couples for Christ Foundation, Inc., et al. v. Hon. Paquito N. Ochoa, Jr., et al.; and G.R. No. 207563 - Almarim Centi Tillah, et al. v. Hon. Paquito N. Ochoa, Jr., et al. __ __ _ _ LEONEN, J.: DISSENTING OPINION "The most important thing we decide is what not to dec id e. " Brandeis, J 1 The Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health Act of 2012 should not be declared unconstitutional in whole or in any of its parts given the petitions filed in this case. None of the petitions properly present an "actual case or controv ersy," which deserves the exercise of our awesome power of jud icial review. 2 It is our duty not to rule on the abstract and speculative issues barren of actual facts. 3 These consolidated petitions, which contain bare allegations, do not See P. A. Freund, Mr. Justice Brandeis, in ON LAW AND J UST ICE 11 9, 140 ( 1968) and A. M. Bickel, TH E LEAST DANGE R OUS BRANCH 71 (1962), as cited by v. v. Mendoza, J UDI CIAL REVIEW OF CONSTI TUTI ONAL Q UESTI ONS : CASES AND MATER I ALS 91 (2004 ). See Southern Hemisphere Engagement Network, Inc. v. Anti-Terrorism Council, G. R. No. 178552, October 5, 2010, 632 SCRA 146, 166 (Per J. Carpio-Morales, En Banc] . See Angara v. Electoral Co mmission, 63 Phi l. 139, 158 ( 1936) [Per J. Laurel, En Banc]; See also Sec. Guingona, Jr. v. Court of Appeals, 354 Phi I. 4 15, 429 ( 1998) [Per J. Panganiban, Fi rst Di v is ion ]. I

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The dissenting opinion of J. Leonen on the RH Case (Imbong vs Ochoa)

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Page 1: Imbong vs Ochoa_Leonen

EN BANC

G.R. No. 204819 - James M. Imbong, et al. v. Hon. Paquito N. Ochoa, Jr., et al. ; G.R. No. 204934 - Alliance for the Family Foundation Philippines, Inc. (ALFI), et al. v. Hon. Paquito N. Ochoa, et al. ; G.R. No. 204957 - Task Force for Family and Life, Inc., et al. v. Hon. Paquito N. Ochoa, Jr., et al. ; G.R. No. 204988 - Serve Life Cagayan de Oro City, Inc., et al. v. Office of the President, et al. ; G.R. No. 205003 - Expedito A. Bugarin, Jr. v. Office of the President of the Republic of the Philippines, et al.; G.R. No. 205043 -Eduardo B. Olaguer, et al. v. DOH Secretary Enrique T. Ona, et al.; G.R. No. 205138 - Philippine Alliance of Xseminarians, Inc. (PAX), et al. v. Hon. Paquito N. Ochoa, Jr., et al.; G.R. No. 205478 - Reynaldo J. Echavez, M.D., et al. v. Hon Paquito N. Ochoa Jr., et al.; G.R. No. 205491 - Spouses Francisco S. Tatad, et. al. v. Office of the President of the Republic of the Philippines; G.R. No. 205720 - Pro-Life Philippines Foundation, Inc., et al. v. Office of the President, et al.; G.R. No. 206355 - Millennium Saint Foundation, Inc., et al. v. Office of the President, et al.; G.R. No. 207111 -John Walter B. Juat, et al. v. Hon. Paquito N. Ochoa, Jr. , et al.; G.R. No. 207172 - Couples for Christ Foundation, Inc., et al. v. Hon. Paquito N. Ochoa, Jr., et al.; and G.R. No. 207563 - Almarim Centi Tillah, et al. v. Hon. Paquito N. Ochoa, Jr., et al.

__ ___ _

LEONEN, J.:

DISSENTING OPINION

"The most important thing we decide is what not to decide. "

Brandeis, J 1

The Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health Act of 2012 should not be declared unconstitutional in whole or in any of its parts given the petitions filed in this case.

None of the petitions properly present an "actual case or controversy," which deserves the exercise of our awesome power of judicial review.2 It is our duty not to rule on the abstract and speculative issues barren of actual facts.3 These consolidated petitions, which contain bare allegations, do not

See P. A. Freund, Mr. Justice Brandeis, in ON LAW AND JUSTICE 11 9, 140 ( 1968) and A. M. Bickel, THE LEAST DANGEROUS BRANCH 71 (1962), as cited by v. v. Mendoza, JUDICIAL REVIEW OF CONSTITUTIONAL QUESTIONS: CASES AND MATERIALS 91 (2004). See Southern Hemisphere Engagement Network, Inc. v. Anti-Terrorism Council, G. R. No. 178552, October 5, 2010, 632 SCRA 146, 166 (Per J. Carpio-Morales, En Banc]. See Angara v. Electoral Commission, 63 Phil. 139, 158 ( 1936) [Per J. Laurel , En Banc]; See also Sec. Guingona, Jr. v. Court of Appeals, 354 Phi I. 4 15, 429 ( 1998) [Per J. Panganiban, First Division].

I

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Page 25: Imbong vs Ochoa_Leonen

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Page 26: Imbong vs Ochoa_Leonen

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Page 32: Imbong vs Ochoa_Leonen

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������������������������������������������������������������� &2167,787,21��$UWLFOH�;,��VHFWLRQ��������� See Estrada v. Desierto�� ���� 3KLO�� ���� ������� >3HU� -�� 3XQR�� (Q� %DQF@�� cited in Rodriguez v.

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Page 33: Imbong vs Ochoa_Leonen

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�When life begins, not an issue.

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Page 34: Imbong vs Ochoa_Leonen

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First, there is, as yet, no actual controversy that can support our deliberation on this specific issue. �

Second, the court cannot rely on the discussion of a few commissioners during the drafting of the constitution by the Constitutional Commission. �

,Q�Civil Liberties Union v. Executive Secretary,����WKLV�FRXUW�QRWHG��

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Page 35: Imbong vs Ochoa_Leonen

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The meaning of constitutional provisions should be determined from a contemporary reading of the text in relation to the other provisions of the entire document. We must assume that the authors intended the words to be read by generations who will have to live with the consequences of the provisions. The authors were not only the members of the Constitutional Commission but all those who participated in its ratification. Definitely, the ideas and opinions exchanged by a few of its commissioners should not be presumed to be the opinions of all of them. The result of the deliberations of the Commission resulted in a specific text, and it is that specific text—and only that text—which we must read and construe. �

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Further, there are policy dilemmas resulting from the court’s premature determination of life’s beginnings. �

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Similarly, such all encompassing declaration is dangerous especially when applied to fertilizations resulting from sexual assault or rape. �

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DW� � �KWWS���ZZZ�QFEL�QOP�QLK�JRY�SXEPHG���������!� �YLVLWHG� RQ�0DUFK� ���� ������� See� DOVR�:RUOG�+HDOWK� 2UJDQL]DWLRQ� :HEVLWH�� (PHUJHQF\� &RQWUDFHSWLRQ� )DFW� 6KHHW�� -XO\� �������KWWS���ZZZ�ZKR�LQW�PHGLDFHQWUH�IDFWVKHHWV�IV����HQ�!���YLVLWHG�RQ�0DUFK������������

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Insisting on a determination of when life begins also unnecessarily burdens the ethical dilemma for assisted reproductive technologies. �

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����� See� 6�� *HRIIUH\�� HW� DO��� ,1� 9,752� )(57,/,=$7,21�� 7+(� $�5�7� � 2)� 0$.,1*� %$%,(6� � $66,67('�5(352'8&7,9(�7(&+12/2*<����������WK�(G���������See�DOVR�,9)���:KDW�LV�LQ�YLWUR�IHUWLOLVDWLRQ��,9)��DQG� KRZ� GRHV� LW� ZRUN"� +XPDQ� )HUWLOLVDWLRQ� (PEU\RORJ\� $XWKRULW\��KWWS���ZZZ�KIHD�JRY�XN�,9)�KWPO!��YLVLWHG�0DUFK������������

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When exactly life begins is not in issue in this case. �

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7KH�SRQHQFLD�HPSKDVL]HV�WKLV�FRXUW¶V�VWDWHPHQW�LQ�Continental Steel v. Hon. Accredited Voluntary Arbiter Allan S. Montano�WKDW�³D�FKLOG�LQVLGH�WKH�ZRPE� DOUHDG\� KDV� OLIH´� ��� �%XW� Continental Steel� LQYROYHV� WKH� LVVXH� RI�ZKHWKHU�UHVSRQGHQW�LQ�WKDW�FDVH�ZDV�HQWLWOHG�WR�GHDWK�DQG�DFFLGHQW�LQVXUDQFH�FODLP� DIWHU� KLV� FKLOG� KDG� EHHQ� SUHPDWXUHO\� GHOLYHUHG� DW� ��� ZHHNV� DQG�LPPHGLDWHO\�GLHG����

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������������������������������������������������������������� See for example�$EVWUDFW�RI�1�'DUOLQJWRQ�DQG�3�0DWVRQ��The Fate of cryopreserved human embryos

approaching their legal limit of storage within a West Australian in-vitro fertilization clinic��+80$1�5(352'8&7,21� ������������� ���������KWWS���ZZZ�UHVHDUFKJDWH�QHW�SXEOLFDWLRQ���������B7KHBIDWHBRIBFU\RSUHVHUYHGBKXPDQBHPEU\RVBDSSURDFKLQJBWKHLUBOHJDOBOLPLWBRIBVWRUDJHBZLWKLQBDB:HVWB$XVWUDOLDQBLQ�YLWURBIHUWLOL]DWLRQBFOLQLF!��YLVLWHG�0DUFK��������������See�DOVR�DEVWUDFW�E\�5��1DFKWLJDOO�HW�DO���How couples who have undergone in vitro fertilization decide what to do with surplus frozen embryos� ��KWWS���ZZZ�UHVHDUFKJDWH�QHW�SXEOLFDWLRQ���������B+RZBFRXSOHVBZKRBKDYHBXQGHUJRQHBLQBYLWURBIHUWLOL]DWLRQBGHFLGHBZKDWBWRBGRBZLWKBVXUSOXVBIUR]HQBHPEU\RV!��YLVLWHG�0DUFK������������See�DOVR�,9)���:KDW�LV�LQ�YLWUR�IHUWLOLVDWLRQ��,9)��DQG�KRZ�GRHV�LW�ZRUN"�+XPDQ�)HUWLOLVDWLRQ�(PEU\RORJ\�$XWKRULW\���0DUFK������������

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6(&�� ��� 7KH� 3KLOLSSLQH� 1DWLRQDO� 'UXJ� )RUPXODU\� 6\VWHP� DQG�)DPLO\�3ODQQLQJ�6XSSOLHV��±�The National Drug Formulary shall include hormonal contraceptives, intrauterine devices, injectables and other safe, legal, non-abortifacient and effective family planning products and supplies.� 7KH� 3KLOLSSLQH�1DWLRQDO�'UXJ� )RUPXODU\� 6\VWHP� �31')6�� VKDOO� EH� REVHUYHG� LQ� VHOHFWLQJ�GUXJV� LQFOXGLQJ� IDPLO\�SODQQLQJ� VXSSOLHV� WKDW�ZLOO� EH� LQFOXGHG�RU�UHPRYHG�IURP�WKH�(VVHQWLDO�'UXJV�/LVW��('/��LQ�DFFRUGDQFH�ZLWK�H[LVWLQJ� SUDFWLFH� DQG� LQ� FRQVXOWDWLRQ� ZLWK� UHSXWDEOH� PHGLFDO�DVVRFLDWLRQV� LQ� WKH�3KLOLSSLQHV��For the purpose of this Act, any product or supply included or to be included in the EDL must have a certification from the FDA that said product and supply is made available on the condition that it is not to be used as an abortifacient.��7KHVH�SURGXFWV� DQG� VXSSOLHV� VKDOO� DOVR�EH� LQFOXGHG� LQ� WKH� UHJXODU�SXUFKDVH� RI� HVVHQWLDO� PHGLFLQHV� DQG� VXSSOLHV� RI� DOO� QDWLRQDO�KRVSLWDOV�� 3URYLGHG�� IXUWKHU�� 7KDW� WKH� IRUHJRLQJ� RIILFHV� VKDOO� QRW�SXUFKDVH�RU� DFTXLUH�E\�DQ\�PHDQV�HPHUJHQF\�FRQWUDFHSWLYH�SLOOV��SRVWFRLWDO� SLOOV�� DERUWLIDFLHQWV� WKDW� ZLOO� EH� XVHG� IRU� VXFK� SXUSRVH�DQG�WKHLU�RWKHU�IRUPV�RU�HTXLYDOHQW���(PSKDVLV�VXSSOLHG��

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6HYHUDO�GUXJV�DUH�QRW�SUHVFULEHG�ZKHQ�WKHUH�LV�SUHJQDQF\�EHFDXVH�RI�WKH�IHWDO�ULVNV�DVVRFLDWHG�ZLWK�WKHP��$PRQJ�WKHVH�DUH�;HQLFDO��RUOLVWDW��XVHG�DV� D� QXWULWLRQ� SLOO�� $GYLO� DQG� DQ\� NLQG� RI� ,EXSURIHQ� �GXULQJ� WKH� WKLUG�WULPHVWHU�� XVHG� WR� PDQDJH� SDLQ�� 7HVWLP� �WHVWRVWHURQ�� JLYHQ� IRU� HQGRFULQH�GLVRUGHUV��)ODJ\O��PHWURQLGD]ROH��WR�PDQDJH�LQIHFWLRQ��&UHVWRU��URVXYDVWDWLQ��WR� PDQDJH� FKROHVWHURO�� 9LVWDULO� �K\GUR[\]LQH�� XVXDOO\� JLYHQ� IRU� DOOHUJLF�UHDFWLRQV��DQG�PDQ\�PRUH������

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������������ ,G������� See� $EVWUDFW� -:�� *DUGQHU�� Death by water intoxication�� 0,/� 0('��� �������� ������ �������

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SUHJQDQF\�DUWLFOH��������!��YLVLWHG�$SULO������������

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7KH� XVH� RI� WKHVH� GUXJV� LV� DSSURSULDWHO\� OLPLWHG� VR� WKDW� WKH\� FDQQRW�KDYH�WKH�HIIHFW�RU�EH�XVHG�DV�DERUWLIDFLHQWV�� �7KLV�GRHV�QRW�PHDQ��KRZHYHU��WKDW�WKH\�DUH��SHU�VH��DERUWLIDFLHQWV���

7KH� SROLF\� HPEHGGHG� LQ� WKH� ODZ� LV� WKDW� WKH� SURSHU� XVH� RI�FRQWUDFHSWLYHV�ZLOO�SUHYHQW�XQZDQWHG�SUHJQDQF\�DQG��WKHUHIRUH��DOVR�SUHYHQW�FRPSOLFDWLRQV� UHODWHG� WR� SUHJQDQF\� DQG� GHOLYHU\�����7KH� ULVNV� RI� LWV� XVDJH��ZKHQ�SURSHU� DQG�JXLGHG�� FDQ�EH� UHODWLYHO\� ORZ�FRPSDUHG� WR� LWV�EHQHILWV�����0RUH� VSHFLILFDOO\�� WKH� )'$� LV�PRVW� FRPSHWHQW� LQ� H[DPLQLQJ� WKH� VFLHQWLILF�DQG� PHGLFDO� EDVLV� RI� WKH� EHQHILFLDO� FODLPV� DQG� ULVNV� RI� HDFK� DQG� HYHU\�FRQWUDFHSWLYH�� 'UXJV� PD\� RU� PD\� QRW� EH� LQFOXGHG� LQ� WKH� (VVHQWLDO� 'UXJV�/LVW�� EDVHG� RQ� WKH� )'$¶V� ILQGLQJV�� ,W� LV� QRW� IRU� WKLV� FRXUW� WR� MXPS� WR�FRQFOXVLRQV�RQ�WKH�EDVLV�RI�WKH�DG�KRF�SUHVHQWDWLRQV�RI�PHGLFDO�MRXUQDOV�IURP�WKH�SDUWLHV���7KLV�ILQGLQJ�RI�IDFW�VKRXOG�EH�OHIW�WR�WKH�SURSHU�DJHQF\��7KHUH�LV�DQ� LQGHILQLWH� VFRSH� RI� SRVVLEOH� VFHQDULRV� SUHFLVHO\� EHFDXVH� WKHUH� ZDV� QR�DFWXDO�FDVH�RU�FRQWURYHUV\�EURXJKW�EHIRUH� WKLV�FRXUW�� ,I�DSSO\LQJ� WKH� ODZ�WR�HYHQ�RQH�RI� WKHVH�SRVVLELOLWLHV�PD\�UHQGHU� LW�FRQVWLWXWLRQDO�� WKHQ�ZH�VKRXOG�QRW� GHFODUH� LW� DV� XQFRQVWLWXWLRQDO�� � 7KH� GRFWULQH� RQ� WKH� SUHVXPSWLRQ� RI�FRQVWLWXWLRQDOLW\�PXVW�SUHYDLO�ZKHQ�WKHUH�LV�QR�IDFWXDO�EDVLV�WR�LQYDOLGDWH�WKH�ODZ�������

Only safe and effective medicines are included in the drug formulary. �

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&RQWUDFHSWLYHV�DUH� LQFOXGHG�� IROORZLQJ� ILYH�SLOODUV�GHVLJQHG� WR�PDNH�DYDLODEOH� DIIRUGDEOH�� VDIH�� DQG� HIIHFWLYH� GUXJV� WR� WKH� SXEOLF�� 7KHVH� SLOODUV�DUH�� ���� ³WKH� DVVXUDQFH� RI� WKH� VDIHW\�� HIILFDF\� DQG� XVHIXOQHVV� RI�SKDUPDFHXWLFDO�SURGXFWV�WKURXJK�TXDOLW\�FRQWURO�´�����³WKH�SURPRWLRQ�RI�WKH�UDWLRQDO� XVH� RI� GUXJV� E\� ERWK� WKH� KHDOWK� SURIHVVLRQDOV� DQG� WKH� JHQHUDO�SXEOLF�´� ���� ³WKH� GHYHORSPHQW� RI� VHOI�UHOLDQFH� LQ� WKH� ORFDO� SKDUPDFHXWLFDO�LQGXVWU\�´� ���� ³>W@KH� WDLORUHG� RU� WDUJHWHG� SURFXUHPHQW� RI� GUXJV� E\�JRYHUQPHQW� ZLWK� WKH� REMHFWLYH� RI� PDNLQJ� DYDLODEOH� WR� LWV� RZQ� FOLHQWHOH��SDUWLFXODUO\� WKH� ORZHU�LQFRPH� VHFWRUV� RI� WKH� VRFLHW\�� WKH� EHVW� GUXJV� DW� WKH�ORZHVW�SRVVLEOH�FRVW�´�DQG�����³SHRSOH�HPSRZHUPHQW�´�����

������������������������������������������������������������� See�3LD�&D\HWDQR��0HPRUDQGXP��rollo �*�5��1R�����������YRO�����S�������������� ,G��DW������������ See Morfe v. Mutuc, *�5��/�����������6&5$������-DQXDU\����������>(Q�%DQF��-��)HUQDQGR@��See also�������� Ermita-Malata Hotel and Motel Operators Association, Inc. v. City Mayor of Manila, *�5��/��������

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Page 59: Imbong vs Ochoa_Leonen

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2QH�RI�WKH�VWHSV�IRU�LQFOXVLRQ�LQ�WKH�GUXJ�IRUPXODU\�LV�WR�HQVXUH�WKDW�WKH� GUXJ� LV� RI� ³DFFHSWDEOH� VDIHW\�� SURYHQ� HIILFDF\�� TXDOLW\�� DQG� SXULW\´�����(QVXULQJ� WKDW� KHDOWK� SURGXFWV� DUH� VDIH�� HIILFLHQW�� SXUH�� DQG� RI� TXDOLW\� LV� D�IXQFWLRQ� RI� WKH� )RRG� DQG�'UXJ�$GPLQLVWUDWLRQ�����0RUHRYHU��5HSXEOLF�$FW�1R������� UHTXLUHV� WKDW� FRQWUDFHSWLYH�GUXJV�DQG�GHYLFHV� FDQQRW�EH� ODZIXOO\�GLVSHQVHG�ZLWKRXW�SURSHU�PHGLFDO�SUHVFULSWLRQ���

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� 6(&������$FFHVV�WR�)DPLO\�3ODQQLQJ�±�$OO�DFFUHGLWHG�SXEOLF�KHDOWK� IDFLOLWLHV� VKDOO� SURYLGH� D� IXOO� UDQJH� RI� PRGHUQ� IDPLO\�SODQQLQJ�PHWKRGV��ZKLFK�VKDOO�DOVR�LQFOXGH�PHGLFDO�FRQVXOWDWLRQV��VXSSOLHV� DQG� QHFHVVDU\� DQG� UHDVRQDEOH� SURFHGXUHV� IRU� SRRU� DQG�PDUJLQDOL]HG� FRXSOHV� KDYLQJ� LQIHUWLOLW\� LVVXHV�ZKR� GHVLUH� WR� KDYH�FKLOGUHQ��Provided,�7KDW�IDPLO\�SODQQLQJ�VHUYLFHV�VKDOO�OLNHZLVH�EH�H[WHQGHG� E\� SULYDWH� KHDOWK� IDFLOLWLHV� WR� SD\LQJ� SDWLHQWV� ZLWK� WKH�RSWLRQ� WR� JUDQW� IUHH� FDUH� DQG� VHUYLFHV� WR� LQGLJHQWV�� H[FHSW� LQ� WKH�FDVH�RI�QRQ�PDWHUQLW\�VSHFLDOW\�KRVSLWDOV�DQG�KRVSLWDOV�RZQHG�DQG�RSHUDWHG�E\�D�UHOLJLRXV�JURXS�EXW� WKH\�KDYH�WKH�RSWLRQ�WR�SURYLGH�VXFK� IXOO� UDQJH� RI� PRGHUQ� IDPLO\� SODQQLQJ� PHWKRGV�� Provided further, That these hospitals shall immediately refer the person seeking such care and services to another health facility which is conveniently accessible:�Provided finally, 7KDW�WKH�SHUVRQ�LV�QRW�LQ�DQ�HPHUJHQF\�FRQGLWLRQ�RU�VHULRXV�FDVH�DV�GHILQHG�LQ�5HSXEOLF�$FW�1R����������� 6(&�� ���� 3URKLELWHG� $FWV�� ±� 7KH� IROORZLQJ� DFWV� DUH�SURKLELWHG���� �D�� $Q\� KHDOWK� FDUH� VHUYLFH� SURYLGHU�� ZKHWKHU� SXEOLF� RU�SULYDWH��ZKR�VKDOO���[�[�[�[��� ���� 5HIXVH� WR� H[WHQG� TXDOLW\� KHDOWK� FDUH� VHUYLFHV� DQG�LQIRUPDWLRQ�RQ�DFFRXQW�RI�WKH�SHUVRQ¶V�PDULWDO�VWDWXV��JHQGHU��DJH��UHOLJLRXV� FRQYLFWLRQV�� SHUVRQDO� FLUFXPVWDQFHV�� RU� QDWXUH� RI�ZRUN��Provided, That the conscientious objection of a health care service provider based on his/her ethical or religious beliefs shall be respected; however, the conscientious objector shall immediately refer the person seeking such care and services to another health care service provider within the same facility or

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one which is conveniently accessible:�3URYLGHG��IXUWKHU��7KDW� WKH�SHUVRQ�LV�QRW�LQ�DQ�HPHUJHQF\�FRQGLWLRQ�RU�VHULRXV�FDVH�DV�GHILQHG�LQ�5HSXEOLF�$FW�1R��������ZKLFK�SHQDOL]HV�WKH�UHIXVDO�RI�KRVSLWDOV�DQG� PHGLFDO� FOLQLFV� WR� DGPLQLVWHU� DSSURSULDWH� LQLWLDO� PHGLFDO�WUHDWPHQW�DQG�VXSSRUW�LQ�HPHUJHQF\�DQG�VHULRXV�FDVHV>�@��(PSKDVLV�VXSSOLHG��

� The patient’s rights

'RFWRUV� URXWLQHO\� WDNH� DQ� RDWK� LPSO\LQJ� WKDW� WKH� SULPRUGLDO�FRQVLGHUDWLRQ�LQ�WKHLU�VHUYLFHV�LV� WKH�ZHOIDUH�RI� WKHLU�SDWLHQWV�� �7KH�IRUP�RI�WKH�3K\VLFLDQ¶V�2DWK�DGRSWHG�E\� WKH�:RUOG�0HGLFDO�$VVRFLDWLRQ� LV�ZKDW� LV�QRZ�NQRZQ�DV�WKH�'HFODUDWLRQ�RI�*HQHYD��WR�ZLW���

�$W� WKH� WLPH� RI� EHLQJ� DGPLWWHG� DV� D� PHPEHU� RI� WKH� PHGLFDO�SURIHVVLRQ���,�VROHPQO\�SOHGJH�WR�FRQVHFUDWH�P\�OLIH�WR�WKH�VHUYLFH�RI�KXPDQLW\���,�ZLOO�JLYH�WR�P\�WHDFKHUV�WKH�UHVSHFW�DQG�JUDWLWXGH�WKDW�LV�WKHLU�GXH���,�ZLOO�SUDFWLFH�P\�SURIHVVLRQ�ZLWK�FRQVFLHQFH�DQG�GLJQLW\���The health of my patient will be my first consideration���,� ZLOO� UHVSHFW� WKH� VHFUHWV� WKDW� DUH� FRQILGHG� LQ�PH�� HYHQ� DIWHU� WKH�SDWLHQW�KDV�GLHG���,�ZLOO�PDLQWDLQ�E\�DOO�PHDQV�LQ�P\�SRZHU��WKH�KRQRU�DQG�WKH�QREOH�WUDGLWLRQV�RI�WKH�PHGLFDO�SURIHVVLRQ���0\�FROOHDJXHV�ZLOO�EH�P\�VLVWHUV�DQG�EURWKHUV���I will not permit considerations of age, disease or disability, creed, ethnic origin, gender, nationality, political affiliation, race, sexual orientation, social standing or any other factor to intervene between my duty and my patient���,�ZLOO�PDLQWDLQ�WKH�XWPRVW�UHVSHFW�IRU�KXPDQ�OLIH���,�ZLOO�QRW�XVH�P\�PHGLFDO�NQRZOHGJH�WR�YLRODWH�KXPDQ�ULJKWV�DQG�FLYLO�OLEHUWLHV��HYHQ�XQGHU�WKUHDW���,� PDNH� WKHVH� SURPLVHV� VROHPQO\�� IUHHO\� DQG� XSRQ� P\� KRQRU������(PSKDVLV�VXSSOLHG���

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0DQ\� RI� WKRVH�ZKR� VSHFLDOL]H� LQ� WKH� HWKLFV� RI� WKH� KHDOWK� SURIHVVLRQ�HPSKDVL]H� WKH�SRVVLELOLW\�RI� D� KHDOWK� VHUYLFH�SURYLGHU� LQRUGLQDWHO\� DEXVLQJ�FRQVFLHQWLRXV�REMHFWLRQ�RYHU�WKH�ZHOIDUH�RI�WKH�SDWLHQW���7KXV����

3K\VLFLDQV¶� ULJKWV� WR� UHIXVH� WR� SDUWLFLSDWH� LQ� PHGLFDO� SURFHGXUHV�WKDW� RIIHQG� WKHLU� FRQVFLHQFH� PD\� EH� LQFRPSDWLEOH� ZLWK� SDWLHQWV¶�ULJKWV� WR� UHFHLYH� ODZIXO�� PHGLFDOO\� LQGLFDWHG� WUHDWPHQW���+LVWRULFDOO\�� WKH�JRDO�RI�PHGLFLQH�KDV�EHHQ� WR�SURYLGH�FDUH� WR� WKH�VLFN�� 7KH� :RUOG� 0HGLFDO� $VVRFLDWLRQ¶V� PRGHUQ� YDULDQW� RI� WKH�+LSSRFUDWLF� 2DWK�� WKH� 'HFODUDWLRQ� RI� *HQHYD�� LQVSLUHV� WKH�JUDGXDWLQJ�SK\VLFLDQ�WR�SOHGJH�WKDW��³7KH�KHDOWK�RI�P\�SDWLHQW�ZLOO�EH� P\� ILUVW� FRQVLGHUDWLRQ´�� � )RU� PDQ\� ZKR� HQWHU� PHGLFLQH�� WKH�FRPPLWPHQW�WR�DVVLVW�WKHLU�IHOORZ�KXPDQ�EHLQJV�DQG�SXUVXH�D�SDWK�RI�SHUVRQDO�VDOYDWLRQ�WKURXJK�WKLV�SURIHVVLRQDO�FDOOLQJ�LV�UHOLJLRXVO\�LQVSLUHG���$�FRQIOLFW�RI�LQWHUHVW�FDQ�DULVH�LI�WKH�SK\VLFLDQ¶V�UHOLJLRXV�RU� RWKHU� FRQVFLHQWLRXV� FRQYLFWLRQV� DUH� LQ� WHQVLRQ� ZLWK� PHGLFDOO\�LQGLFDWHG�SURFHGXUHV���7KH�REYLRXV�FDVH�LV�WKHUDSHXWLF�DERUWLRQ��EXW�DQDORJRXV�FDVHV�LQFOXGH�FRQWUDFHSWLYH�VWHULOL]DWLRQ�DQG�ZLWKGUDZDO�RI� OLIH� VXSSRUW� IURP� RWKHUZLVH� YLDEOH� SDWLHQWV�� � 3K\VLFLDQV� ZKR�JLYH�SULRULW\�WR�WKHLU�RZQ�PRUDO�DQG�VSLULWXDO�FRQYLFWLRQV�RYHU�WKHLU�SDWLHQWV¶� QHHG� DQG� GHVLUH� IRU� PHGLFDOO\� LQGLFDWHG� FDUH� IDFH� D�FRQIOLFW�WKDW�QHHGV�UHVROXWLRQ���7KH� HWKLFDO� FRQIOLFW� FDQ� EH� DYRLGHG� WKURXJK� PXWXDO�DFFRPPRGDWLRQ��SK\VLFLDQV�KDYH�WKH�ULJKW�WR�GHFLGH�ZKRP�WR�WUHDW��DQG�SDWLHQWV�KDYH�WKH�ULJKW�WR�GHFLGH�IURP�ZKRP�WKH\�ZLOO�UHFHLYH�FDUH���3K\VLFLDQV�GR�QRW�KDYH�WKH�VDPH�HWKLFDO�GXWLHV�WR�QRQSDWLHQWV�DV� WR� SDWLHQWV� H[FHSW� LQ� HPHUJHQF\� FLUFXPVWDQFHV�� � ,Q� DOO� RWKHU�FLUFXPVWDQFHV��SK\VLFLDQV�DUH�DW�OLEHUW\�WR�FKRRVH�WKRVH�IRU�ZKRP�WKH\� ZLOO� DFFHSW� WKH� UHVSRQVLELOLW\� RI� FDUH�� � ,I� WKHUH� DUH� VHUYLFHV�WKH\�ZLOO� QRW�SHUIRUP��SK\VLFLDQV� VKRXOG�PDNH� WKH� IDFW� NQRZQ� WR�SDWLHQWV�IRU�ZKRP�WKH\�KDYH�DFFHSWHG�UHVSRQVLELOLW\���'RLQJ�VR�QRW�RQO\�VDYHV�SDWLHQWV�WKH�GLVWUHVV�RI�VHHNLQJ�WKRVH�VHUYLFHV�DQG�EHLQJ�WXUQHG� GRZQ�� LW� DOVR� VDYHV� SK\VLFLDQV� IURP� WKH� GLOHPPD� RI�XQIXOILOOHG�UHVSRQVLELOLWLHV�WR�WKRVH�ZKRVH�FDUH�WKH\�KDYH�DJUHHG�WR�XQGHUWDNH�� 7KLV� DUUDQJHPHQW� LV� ZHOO� XQGHUVWRRG� LQ� PHGLFLQH��SK\VLFLDQV� ZKR� QRWLI\� SURVSHFWLYH� SDWLHQWV� WKDW� WKH\� DUH�� IRU�LQVWDQFH�� SHGLDWULFLDQV�� ZLOO� QRW� EH� DVNHG� WR� WUHDW� WKRVH� UHTXLULQJ�JHULDWULF�FDUH��DQG�JHULDWULFLDQV�ZKR�GR�QRW�KDYH�WR�DFFHSW�SDWLHQWV�VHHNLQJ�SHGLDWULF�VHUYLFHV��0RUH�H[SOLFLW�GLVFORVXUH�LV�UHTXLUHG��RI�FRXUVH��ZKHQ�SURVSHFWLYH�SDWLHQWV�PD\�UHDVRQDEO\�H[SHFW�WKDW�FDUH�ZLOO�EH�DYDLODEOH�IURP�WKH�VSHFLDOLVWV� WKH\�DSSURDFK��2EVWHWULFLDQ�J\QHFRORJLHV�ZKR�ZLOO�QRW�SDUWLFLSDWH�LQ�DERUWLRQ�SURFHGXUHV�PXVW�PDNH� WKDW� IDFW� FOHDU� EHIRUH� IRUPLQJ� SDWLHQW�SK\VLFLDQ�UHODWLRQVKLSV�´����

������������������������������������������������������������� 5�&RRN��DQG�%�'LFNHQV��The Growing Abuse of Conscientious Objection��9,578$/�0(1725��(7+,&6��������

-2851$/� 2)� 7+(� $0(5,&$1�0(',&$/� $662&,$7,21�� ������ �������� �������� � �7KH� DUWLFOH� FLWHV� WKH�:RUOG�0HGLFDO�$VVRFLDWLRQ¶V�'HFODUDWLRQ� RI�*HQHYD� DYDLODEOH� DW� �ZZZ�ZPD�QHW�H�SROLF\�F��KWP!���See also� 5� &RRN�� HW� DO�� � 5(352'8&7,9(� +($/7+� $1'� +80$1� 5,*+76�� ,17(*5$7,1*� 0(',&,1(��(7+,&6�$1'�/$:������������������������������������ �See�$OVR�%�'LFNHQV�DQG�5�&RRN��The Scope and Limits of Conscientious Objection�� ,17�� -�� *<1$(&2/� 2%67(7�� ��������� �������� See also� -�6DYXOHVFX�Conscientious objection in medicine�%ULWLVK�0HGLFDO�-RXUQDO�����������������������

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The holding of the majority which declares the mandatory referral systems in Section 17 and Section 23, paragraph (a) (3) as unconstitutional on the basis of the right of religion of the doctor or health care provider implicitly imposes a religious belief on the patient. �

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�6(&�����Access to Family Planning. – $OO�DFFUHGLWHG�SXEOLF�KHDOWK�IDFLOLWLHV� VKDOO� SURYLGH� D� IXOO� UDQJH� RI� PRGHUQ� IDPLO\� SODQQLQJ�PHWKRGV��ZKLFK�VKDOO� DOVR� LQFOXGH�PHGLFDO�FRQVXOWDWLRQV�� VXSSOLHV�DQG� QHFHVVDU\� DQG� UHDVRQDEOH� SURFHGXUHV� IRU� SRRU� DQG� PDUJLQDO�FRXSOHV� KDYLQJ� LQIHUWLOLW\� LVVXHV� ZKR� GHVLUH� WR� KDYH� FKLOGUHQ��Provided, 7KDW�IDPLO\�SODQQLQJ�VHUYLFHV�VKDOO�OLNHZLVH�EH�H[WHQGHG�E\� SULYDWH� KHDOWK� IDFLOLWLHV� WR� SD\LQJ� SDWLHQWV� ZLWK� WKH� RSWLRQ� WR�JUDQW�IUHH�FDUH�DQG�VHUYLFHV�WR�LQGLJHQWV��H[FHSW�LQ�WKH�FDVH�RI�QRQ�PDWHUQLW\�VSHFLDOW\�KRVSLWDOV�DQG�KRVSLWDOV�RZQHG�DQG�RSHUDWHG�E\�D� UHOLJLRXV� JURXS�� EXW� WKH\� KDYH� WKH� RSWLRQ� WR� SURYLGH� VXFK� IXOO�UDQJH�RI�PRGHUQ�IDPLO\�SODQQLQJ�PHWKRGV��Provided, further, That these hospitals shall immediately refer the person seeking such care and services to another health facility which is conveniently accessible:� Provided, finally, 7KDW� WKH� SHUVRQ� LV� QRW� LQ� DQ�HPHUJHQF\� FRQGLWLRQ� RU� VHULRXV� FDVH� DV� GHILQHG� LQ� 5HSXEOLF� $FW�1R���������[�[�[�[��(PSKDVLV�VXSSOLHG��

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Requirements of a challenge based on religion �

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[� [� [� WKH� H[HUFLVH� RI� UHOLJLRXV� IUHHGRP� FDQ� EH� UHJXODWHG� E\� WKH�6WDWH�ZKHQ�LW�ZLOO�EULQJ�DERXW�WKH�FOHDU�DQG�SUHVHQW�GDQJHU�RI�VRPH�VXEVWDQWLYH� HYLO� ZKLFK� WKH� 6WDWH� LV� GXW\�ERXQG� WR� SUHYHQW�� L�H���VHULRXV�GHWULPHQW� WR� WKH�PRUH�RYHUULGLQJ� LQWHUHVW�RI�SXEOLF�KHDOWK��SXEOLF� PRUDOV�� RU� SXEOLF� ZHOIDUH�� $� laissez faire� SROLF\� RQ� WKH�H[HUFLVH�RI�UHOLJLRQ�FDQ�EH�VHGXFWLYH�WR�WKH�OLEHUDO�PLQG�EXW�KLVWRU\�FRXQVHOV� WKH� &RXUW� DJDLQVW� LWV� EOLQG� DGRSWLRQ� DV� UHOLJLRQ� LV� DQG�FRQWLQXHV� WR� EH� D� YRODWLOH� DUHD� RI� FRQFHUQ� LQ� RXU� FRXQWU\� WRGD\��$FURVV� WKH� VHD� DQG� LQ� RXU� VKRUH�� WKH� EORRGLHVW� DQG� ELWWHUHVW�ZDUV�IRXJKW� E\� PHQ� ZHUH� FDXVHG� E\� LUUHFRQFLODEOH� UHOLJLRXV�GLIIHUHQFHV�����

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$OWKRXJK� RXU� FRQVWLWXWLRQDO� KLVWRU\� DQG� LQWHUSUHWDWLRQ� PDQGDWH�benevolent neutrality, benevolent neutrality does not mean that the Court ought to grant exemptions every time a free exercise claim comes before it. But it does mean that the Court will not look with hostility or act indifferently towards religious beliefs and practices and that it will strive to accommodate them when it can within flexible constitutional limits; it does mean that the Court will not simply dismiss a claim under the Free Exercise Clause because the

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Page 66: Imbong vs Ochoa_Leonen

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conduct in question offends a law or the orthodox view for this precisely is the protection afforded by the religion clauses of the Constitution, i.e., that in the absence of legislation granting exemption from a law of general applicability, the Court can carve out an exception when the religion clauses justify it.� :KLOH� WKH�&RXUW� FDQQRW� DGRSW� D�GRFWULQDO� IRUPXODWLRQ� WKDW�FDQ�HOLPLQDWH� WKH�GLIILFXOW�TXHVWLRQV�RI�MXGJPHQW�LQ�GHWHUPLQLQJ�WKH�GHJUHH�RI�EXUGHQ�RQ� UHOLJLRXV� SUDFWLFH� RU� LPSRUWDQFH� RI� WKH� VWDWH� LQWHUHVW� RU� WKH�VXIILFLHQF\�RI�WKH�PHDQV�DGRSWHG�E\�WKH�VWDWH�WR�SXUVXH�LWV�LQWHUHVW��WKH�&RXUW�FDQ� VHW� D�GRFWULQH�RQ� WKH� LGHDO� WRZDUGV�ZKLFK� UHOLJLRXV�FODXVH� MXULVSUXGHQFH� VKRXOG� EH� GLUHFWHG��We here lay down that doctrine that in Philippine jurisdiction, we adopt that benevolent neutrality approach not only because our constitutional history and interpretation indubitably show that benevolent neutrality is the launching pad from which the Court should take off in interpreting religion clause cases. The ideal towards which this approach is directed is the protection of religious liberty ‘not only for a minority, however small – not only for a majority, however large – but for each of us’ to the greatest extent possible within flexible constitutional limits.���

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However, the application of these standards first requires the existence of an actual case involving (1) a specific conduct (2) believed to be related to profession or worship (3) in a specific religion.���

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7KH�FRPPRQ�GLFWLRQDU\�PHDQLQJ�LV�WKDW�LW�LV�³DQ�RUJDQL]HG�V\VWHP�RI�EHOLHIV��FHUHPRQLHV��DQG�UXOHV�XVHG�WR�ZRUVKLS�D�JRG�RU�D�JURXS�RI�JRGV�´����$QRWKHU�GLFWLRQDU\�PHDQLQJ�LV�WKDW�³UHOLJLRQ�PD\�EH�GHILQHG�EURDGO\�DV�WKH�KXPDQ�TXHVW�IRU��H[SHULHQFH�RI��DQG�UHVSRQVH�WR�WKH�KRO\�DQG�VDFUHG�´����$Q�DXWKRU�LQ�D�MRXUQDO�RQ�HWKLFV�DVVHUWV�WKDW�³UHOLJLRQ�LV�WKH�HIIHFWLYH�GHVLUH�WR�EH�LQ�ULJKW�UHODWLRQV�WR�WKH�SRZHU�PDQLIHVWLQJ�LWVHOI�LQ�WKH�XQLYHUVH�´����������������������������������������������������������������� ,G��DW�������������� ,G��DW���������citing�Lemon v. Kurtzman,�����8�6��������������SS���������������� �KWWS���ZZZ�PHUULDP�ZHEVWHU�FRP�GLFWLRQDU\�UHOLJLRQ!��YLVLWHG��0DUFK�������������������KWWS���ZZZ�RQX�HGX�DFDGHPLFV�FROOHJHBRIBDUWVBVFLHQFHV�DFDGHPLFBGHSDUWPHQWV�SKLORVRSK\BDQGB����������UHOLJLRQ�ZKDWBLVBUHOLJLRQ!��YLVLWHG�0DUFK����������������� See ,�� +RZHUWK�What is Religion?� ,17(51$7,21$/� -2851$/� 2)� (7+,&6�� ������� �������� DYDLODEOH� DW�

�KWWS���ZZZ�MVWRU�RUJ�VWDEOH��������"VHT ��!��YLVLWHG�0DUFK������������

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,Q�Aglipay v. Ruiz�����WKLV�FRXUW�DGRSWHG�D�ELDV�WRZDUG�WKHLVWLF�EHOLHIV�ZKHQ� LW� GHILQHG� UHOLJLRQ� ³DV� D� SURIHVVLRQ� RI� IDLWK� WR� DQ� DFWLYH� SRZHU� WKDW�ELQGV� DQG� HOHYDWHV� PDQ� WR� KLV� &UHDWRU� [� [� [�´ ��� �%XW� WKHUH� DUH� EHOLHIV�FRPPRQO\� XQGHUVWRRG� WR� EH� UHOLJLRXV� ZKLFK� DUH� QRQ�WKHLVWLF�� &RXUWV� KDYH�JUDSSOHG�ZLWK�WKH�GHILQLWLRQ�RI�D�UHOLJLRQ������

%XW�WKHVH�FRXOG�QRW�EH�LVVXHV�LQ�WKLV�FDVH�EHFDXVH�WKHUH�DUH�QR�DFWXDO�IDFWV�XSRQ�ZKLFK�ZH�FRXOG�EDVH�RXU�DGMXGLFDWLRQ���

1RQH� RI� WKH� SHWLWLRQV� DOOHJH� WKH� FRQGXFW� FODLPHG� WR� EH� SDUW� RI�³SURIHVVLRQ� RU� ZRUVKLS´�� 1RQH� RI� WKH� SHWLWLRQV� SRLQW� WR� KRZ� WKLV� VSHFLILF�FRQGXFW� UHODWHV� WR� D� EHOLHI� RU� WHDFKLQJ� RI� D� UHOLJLRQ��1RQH� RI� WKH� SHWLWLRQV�VKRZ�KRZ�IXQGDPHQWDO�WR�WKH�VSHFLILF�UHOLJLRXV�IDLWK�VXFK�FRQGXFW�LV���

,Q� RWKHU�ZRUGV�� WKH� SHWLWLRQV� GR� QRW� VKRZ� D� VSHFLILF� LQVWDQFH�ZKHQ�FRQVFLHQWLRXV� REMHFWLRQ� ZDV� DYDLOHG� RI� DV� D� UHVXOW� RI� WKH� H[HUFLVH� RI� D�UHOLJLRQ�� � ,Q� WKLV� FDVH��ZH�DUH� DVNHG� WR�HYDOXDWH�ZKHWKHU� WKH�SURYLVLRQ� WKDW�DFFRPPRGDWHV�FRQVFLHQWLRXV�REMHFWRUV�ZRXOG��LQ�WKH�IXWXUH��ZLWK�XQVSHFLILHG�IDFWV��YLRODWH�WKH�FRQVWLWXWLRQDO�SURYLVLRQ�RQ�UHOLJLRXV�H[HUFLVH����

Thus, it is also not clear in the ponencia whether the provisions on referral by conscientious objectors are declared unconstitutional for all religions or only for specific ones. This is the natural result for speculative cases. This is dangerous constitutional precedent. If the declaration is for all religions, then this might just result in a violation of the non-establishment clause. A dominant majoritarian religion is now aided in imposing its beliefs not only on patients but also on all those who have different faiths.��

Conduct which purport to be religious practice and its relationship to the fundamental tenets of that religion is a question of fact which cannot be part of our judicial notice. Otherwise, we implicitly establish a religion or manifest a bias towards one in violation of the clear and absolute separation between church and state. �

Contraceptives and Religion �

(YHQ�WKH�SURVFULSWLRQ�RQ�WKH�XVH�RI�FRQWUDFHSWLYHV�PD\�QRW�FOHDUO\�EH�D�UHOLJLRXV�WHQHW���:H�GR�QRW�KDYH�WKH�FRPSHWHQFH�WR�DVVXPH�WKDW�LW�LV�VR���

������������������������������������������������������������� Aglipay v. Ruiz, ���3KLO������������>3HU�-��/DXUHO@� ����� ,G��DW����������� See The Concept of Religion������<DOH�/�-�������������DQG�LWV�GLVFXVVLRQV�RQ�:LWWJHQVWHLQ��

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The intervenors asserted that the notion denouncing sex without procreative intent cannot be found in the old or new testament.�'XULQJ�WKH�FKXUFK¶V�H[LVWHQFH�LQ�WKH�ILUVW�IHZ�KXQGUHG�\HDUV��WKH�LVVXH�RI�WKH�FKXUFK�ZDV�QRW� RQ� WKH� SXUSRVH� RI� WKH� FRQMXJDO� DFW� EXW� RQ� WKH� VSHFLILF� PHWKRGV� IRU�FRQWUDFHSWLRQ� DV� VRPH� ZHUH� DVVRFLDWHG� ZLWK� ZLWFKFUDIW� ��� �7KH� LGHD� WKDW�UHTXLUHV� WKH� SURFUHDWLYH� SXUSRVH� IRU� WKH� VH[XDO� DFW� ZDV� QRW� RULJLQDOO\�&KULVWLDQ� EXW� ERUURZHG� IURP� SDJDQ� *UHHN� 6WRLFV� GXULQJ� WKH� HDUO\� VHFRQG�FHQWXU\���

$V� -DPHV� %UXQGDJH� KDV� SRLQWHG� RXW�� WKH� LPPHGLDWH� VRXUFH� RI�LQIOXHQFH� RQ� &KULVWLDQ�ZULWHUV�ZDV� WKH� SDJDQ� 6WRLFV�� ZKRVH� KLJK�LGHDOV�IRU�PRUDOLW\�FKDOOHQJHG�WKH�&KULVWLDQV�WR�FRS\�WKHP�RU�HYHQ�GR�EHWWHU��1DWXUDO�ODZ�RU�WKH�ODZ�RI�QDWXUH�ZDV�WKH�EDVLV�IRU�WKHVH�LGHDOV��7KH�IDPRXV�6WRLF�MXULVW�8OSLDQ�VXSSOLHG�WR�&KULVWLDQ�ZULWHUV�WKHLU� XQGHUVWDQGLQJ� RI� QDWXUDO� ODZ�� )RU� 8OSLDQ�� QDWXUDO� ODZ�FRQVLVWHG� LQ� WKH� ODZV� RI� QDWXUH� WKDW� DQLPDOV� DQG� KXPDQV� KDG� LQ�FRPPRQ�� $PRQJ� WKH� GRPHVWLF� DQLPDOV� ZLWK� ZKLFK� 8OSLDQ� ZDV�IDPLOLDU��WKH�IHPDOH�DFFHSWHG�WKH�PDOH�RQO\�ZKHQ�VKH�ZDV�LQ�KHDW��So it was the law of nature for humans and animals alike that sexual intercourse should only take place for breeding. �����(PSKDVLV�VXSSOLHG��

7KH� &DWKROLF� &KXUFK� WKURXJK� 3RSH� 3DXO� 9,� ODWHU� VHFUHWO\� FUHDWHG� D�3RQWLILFDO� &RPPLVVLRQ� IRU� WKH� 6WXG\� RI� 3RSXODWLRQ�� )DPLO\� DQG� %LUWKV� WR�UHFRPPHQG�ZKHWKHU�PRGHUQ� FRQWUDFHSWLYH�PHWKRGV� FRXOG� EH� SHUPLWWHG�����7KH� FRPPLVVLRQ¶V� ILQDO� UHSRUW� FRQFOXGHG�� E\� WZR�WKLUG� YRWHV�� WKDW� ³QR�QDWXUDO� ODZ� SURVFULEHG� QRQ�UHSURGXFWLYH� VH[� DQG� QR� GRFWULQDO�� VFLHQWLILF��PHGLFDO��VRFLDO�RU�RWKHU�UHDVRQ�H[LVWHG�IRU�WKH�FKXUFK�WR�FRQWLQXH�SURKLELWLQJ�WKH�XVH�RI�PRGHUQ�ELUWK�FRQWURO�´�����

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Papal Sin: Structures of Deceit, �1HZ�<RUN��,PDJH���������DW���������� ,G���citing 7UXWK��&RQVHTXHQFH��:LOOV�DW��������� ,G��DW�����citing *DU\�:LOOV��Papal Sin: Structures of Deceit, �1HZ�<RUN��,PDJH���������DW���������������,G��DW����������� ,G��citing *DU\�:LOOV��Papal Sin: Structures of Deceit, �1HZ�<RUN��,PDJH���������DW�����and noting that�

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&RQVHTXHQWO\�� 3RSH�3DXO�9,� LVVXHG�Humanae Vitae UHLWHUDWLQJ� 3RSH�3LXV� ;,¶V� ����� HQF\FOLFDO� Casti Connubii RQ� QDWXUDO� ODZ¶V� SURVFULSWLRQ�DJDLQVW�VH[�ZLWKRXW�SURFUHDWLYH�LQWHQW�����7KH�FRPPLVVLRQ¶V�FUHDWLRQ�DQG�LWV�UHSRUWV� ZHUH� OHDNHG� WR� WKH� SXEOLF�� UHVXOWLQJ� LQ�PDVV� SURWHVWV� DQG� GHILDQFH�ZLWKLQ�WKH�FKXUFK�������

,QWHUYHQRUV� TXRWHG� DW� OHQJWK� D� GHWDLOHG� DFFRXQW� RI� WKHVH� HYHQWV�VXUURXQGLQJ�WKH�Casti Connubii DQG�Humanae Vitae, WKXV����

�1HUYRXV�SUHODWHV� LQ�5RPH� IHOW� WKDW� WKH�SLOO�ZDV� MXVW� DQ� H[FXVH� WR�MHWWLVRQ�WKH�9DWLFDQV�SRVLWLRQ�RQ�ELUWK�FRQWURO��ZKLFK�ZDV�UHVHQWHG�DQG�XQGHU�VLHJH��7KH�HXSKRULD�RYHU�QHZ�IUHHGRPV�ZDV�SDUW�RI�WKH�VRFLDO� JLGGLQHVV� WKDW� FKDUDFWHUL]HG� WKH� ����V�� LQ� WKH� FKXUFK� DV� LQ�WKH�VHFXODU�ZRUOG��,W�ZDV�D�WLPH�RI�WKH�VH[XDO�UHYROXWLRQ��IHPLQLVP��DQG�QHZ�DWWLWXGHV� WRZDUG� DXWKRULW\�� ,Q� WKLV� DWPRVSKHUH�� WKH�SDSDO�SURQRXQFHPHQWV� DERXW� QDWXUDO� ODZ� ZHUH� EURXJKW� XQGHU� FORVHU�VFUXWLQ\�E\�QDWXUDO�UHDVRQ��DQG�WKH\�JUHZ�IOLPVLHU�ZLWK�HYHU\�ORRN��7KHUH� ZDV� JUHDW� IHDU� LQ� WKH� &XULD� RI� WKH� 9DWLFDQ� WKDW� WKLV� PRRG�ZRXOG�LQYDGH�WKH�&RXQFLO�3RSH�-RKQ�ZDV�DVVHPEOLQJ��DV��LQ�IDFW��LW�GLG���The whole matter of birth control was considered especially endangered, and it would be fought over strenuously in two Roman arenas, one open and one Secret. The former battle, carried on in the sessions of the Vatican Council, reached a kind of stalemate in the conciliar decree on the church in the modern world, Gaudiumet et Spes. The other battle, waged in secret by the Pope's own special commission, led to that commission's stunning defeat by the Pope's own encyclical Humanae Vitae.�����(PSKDVLV�VXSSOLHG���

Humanae Vitae 7KDW� 3RQWLILFDO�&RPPLVVLRQ�PHW� ILYH� WLPHV�� DW� ILUVW� LQ� WKH� IDOO� RI��������VL[�PHQ�FRQYHQLQJ�DW�/RXYDLQ��7KH�VHFRQG�PHHWLQJ��OLNH�DOO�VXEVHTXHQW�RQHV��ZDV�LQ�5RPH��LQ�WKH�VSULQJ�RI�������DWWHQGHG�E\�WKH� WKLUWHHQ� PHQ�� 7KH� QXPEHU� ZDV� LQFUHDVHG� WR� ILIWHHQ� IRU� D�PHHWLQJ� WKDW� VXPPHU�� 8S� WR� WKLV� SRLQW�� QR� RQH� KDG� SUHVXPHG� WR�UHFRPPHQG�DOWHULQJ�WKH�FKXUFKV�WHDFKLQJ�RQ�FRQWUDFHSWLRQ��7KLQJV�FKDQJHG�DW�WKH�IRXUWK�VHVVLRQ��KHOG�LQ�WKH�VSULQJ�RI�������ZKHQ�WKH�VL]H�RI�WKH�FRPPLVVLRQ�MXPSHG�XS�WR�ILIW\��HLJKW��ZLWK�ILYH�ZRPHQ�DPRQJ� WKH� WKLUW\�IRXU� OD\� PHPEHUV�� $Q� H[SHUW� FDOOHG� LQ� IRU�FRQVXOWDWLRQ� ZDV� -RKQ� 7�� 1RRQDQ�� IURP�1RWUH� 'DPH� LQ� ,QGLDQD��ZKRVH�VWXG\�RI�WKH�FKXUFKV�FKDQJLQJ�SRVLWLRQV�RQ�XVXU\�KDG�ZRQ�VFKRODUO\�DFFODLP��+H�ZDV�ZRUNLQJ�RQ�D�VLPLODU�VWXG\�RI�FKDQJHV�LQ�WKH�SURKLELWLRQ�RI�FRQWUDFHSWLRQ���D�ERRN�WKDW�ZRXOG�DSSHDU�MXVW�DV� WKH� FRPPLVVLRQ�ZDV� GLVEDQGHG��1RRQDQ� RSHQHG� WKH�PHPEHUV�H\HV�WR�WKH�ZD\�WKDW�QRQLQIDOOLEOH�SDSDO�WHDFKLQJ�FDQ�GHYHORS��

������������������������������������������������������������� ,G��citing *DU\�:LOOV��Papal Sin: Structures of Deceit, �1HZ�<RUN��,PDJH���������DW���������� ,G��DW������citing *DU\�:LOOV��Papal Sin: Structures of Deceit, �1HZ�<RUN��,PDJH���������DW������������� 'H�9HQHFLD��HW�DO��&RPPHQW�LQ�,QWHUYHQWLRQ��rollo �*�5��1R�����������YRO�����S�������citing *DU\�:LOOV��

Papal Sin: Structures of Deceit, �1HZ�<RUN��,PDJH���������DW��������

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�7KH� FRPPLVVLRQ�ZDV� KHDULQJ� WKDW� UK\WKP�PDGH� SHRSOH� REVHVVHG�ZLWK�VH[�DQG�LWV�PHFKDQLFV�ZKLOH�PLQRULW\�PHPEHUV�DW�WKH�&RXQFLO�ZHUH� DUJXLQJ� WKDW� UK\WKP� DOORZV� SHRSOH� WR� HVFDSH� WKH� PHUHO\�DQLPDO�XUJHV�DQG�HQMR\�WKH�VHUHQLW\�RI�VH[XDOLW\�WUDQVFHQGHG��7KH�FRPPLVVLRQ�ZDV�DOVR�KHDULQJ� IURP�GRFWRUV� WKDW�QDWXUH��RI�FRXUVH��SURYLGHV�ZRPHQ�ZLWK�WKHLU�JUHDWHVW�VH[XDO�GHVLUH�DW�MXVW�WKH�IHUWLOH�WLPH�WKDW�UK\WKP�PDUNHG�RII�ERXQGV����The combined impact of Noonan's history and the Crowley's empirical findings made the commission members - good Catholics all, chosen for their loyalty to the church - look honestly at the "natural law" arguments against contraception

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and see, with a shock, what flimsy reasoning they had accepted. Sex is for procreation, yes - but all the time, at each and every act?�(DWLQJ� LV� IRU� VXEVLVWHQFH��%XW�DQ\� IRRG�RU�GULQN�EH\RQG� WKDW�QHFHVVDU\�IRU�VKHHU�VXEVLVWHQFH�LV�QRW�FRQVLGHUHG�PRUWDOO\�VLQIXO��,Q�IDFW��WR�UHGXFH�WR�WKDW�DQLPDO�FRPSXOVLRQ�ZRXOG�GHQ\�V\PEROLF�DQG�VSLULWXDO� PHDQLQJV� LQ� VKDUHG� PHDOV� �� WKH� ELUWKGD\� SDUW\�� WKH�FKDPSDJQH�YLFWRU\�GLQQHU�� WKH�ZLQH� DW�&DQD�� WKH�(XFKDULVW� LWVHOI��,QWHJULW\�RI�WKH�DFW"�,V�LW�VLQIXO�WR�EH�QRXULVKHG�LQWUDYHQRXVO\�ZKHQ�WKDW�LV�FDOOHG�IRU"�'RHV�WKDW�YLRODWH�WKH�LQWHJULW\�RI�WKH�HDWLQJ�DFW"�7KH�PRUH�DVVHPEOHG�PHPEHUV�ORRNHG�DW�WKH�LQKHULWHG��ZLVGRP��RI�WKH�FKXUFK��WKH�PRUH�WKH\�VDZ�WKH�TXHVWLRQDEOH�URRWV�IURP�ZKLFK�LW�JUHZ���WKH�IHDU�DQG�KDWUHG�RI�VH[��WKH�IHHOLQJ�WKDW�SOHDVXUH�LQ�LW�LV�D�ELRORJLFDO�EULEH� WR�JXDUDQWHH� WKH� UDFHV�SHUSHWXDWLRQ�� WKDW� DQ\�XVH�RI�SOHDVXUH�EH\RQG�WKDW�SXUSRVH�LV�VKDPHIXO��This was not a view derived from scripture or from Christ, but from Seneca and Augustine.���7KH� FRPPLVVLRQ�PHPEHUV�� HYHQ� WUDLQHG� WKHRORJLDQV� DQG� VSLULWXDO�FRXQVHORUV�ZKR�KDG�VSHQW�\HDUV�H[SRXQGLQJ�WKH�FKXUFK�WHDFKLQJV��IHOW� WKH\� ZHUH� ORRNLQJ� DW� UHDOLW\� IRU� WKH� ILUVW� WLPH�� $� FXOWLYDWHG�VXEPLVVLRQ�WR�WKH�SDSDF\�KDG�EHHQ��IRU�WKHP��D�VWUXFWXUH�RI�GHFHLW��NHHSLQJ� WKHP� IURP� KRQHVW\� ZLWK� WKHPVHOYHV�� OHWWLQJ� WKHP� OLYH�ZLWKLQ� D� OLH��To their shared surprise they found they were not only willing to entertain the idea of the church's changing, but felt that it had to change on this matter, that the truth, once seen, could no longer be denied. When the nineteen theologians on the commission, convened for a separate vote, were asked whether church teaching could change on contraception, twelve said yes, seven no (including John Ford, who had joined the commission at this meeting). �7KLV� VHW�RII� DODUP�EHOOV� LQ� WKH�9DWLFDQ��)RU� WKH�QH[W�PHHWLQJ�� WKH�ODVW�DQG� WKH� ORQJHVW�� IURP�$SULO� WR� -XQH�RI������� WKH�PHPEHUV�RI�WKH� FRPPLVVLRQ� ZHUH� GHPRWHG� WR� �DGYLVHUV�� �periti�� DQG� WKH�FRPPLVVLRQ�LWVHOI�ZDV�FRQVWLWXWHG�RI�VL[WHHQ�ELVKRSV�EURXJKW�LQ�WR�LVVXH�WKH�ILQDO�UHSRUW��7KH\�ZRXOG�OLVWHQ�WR�WKRVH�ZKR�KDG�GRQH�WKH�DFWXDO� FRQIHUULQJ�� DQG� WKHLUV� ZRXOG� EH� WKH� ILQDO� YHUGLFW�� 'HEDWH�EHIRUH� WKHP�ZRXOG�EH�SUHVLGHG�RYHU�E\�&DUGLQDO�2WWDYLDQL�RI� WKH�+RO\�2IILFH��7KLV�EULQJLQJ�LQ�WKH�ELJ�JXQV�ZRXOG�KDYH�FRZHG�WKH�PHPEHUV� LQ� WKHLU� ILUVW� VHVVLRQV�� %XW� WKLQJV� KDG� JRQH� WRR� IDU� IRU�VXFK�LQWLPLGDWLRQ�QRZ��7KH�&URZOH\V�EURXJKW�DQRWKHU�VXUYH\�ZLWK�WKHP�WR�WKH�VKRZGRZQ��WKLV�RQH�RI�������&DWKROLFV���LQFOXGLQJ�����GHYRXW� VXEVFULEHUV� WR� WKH�PDJD]LQH�6W��$QWKRQ\V�0HVVHQJHU� ��RI�ZKRP����SHUFHQW�VDLG�WKDW�UK\WKP�KDG�KDUPHG�WKHLU�PDUULDJH�DQG���� SHUFHQW� VDLG� WKDW� LW� GLG� QRW� DFWXDOO\� SUHYHQW� FRQFHSWLRQ�� HYHQ�ZKHQ� WKH� ULJKW� SURFHGXUHV� ZHUH� IROORZHG� H[DFWO\� �HYHQ�QHXURWLFDOO\��� 'U�� $OEHUW� *RUUHV� VSRNH� RI� WKH� VHOI�� FHQVRUVKLS�&DWKROLFV�KDG�H[HUFLVHG�RYHU�WKHPVHOYHV���VRPHWKLQJ�WKH�PHPEHUV�UHFRJQL]HG�LQ�WKHLU�OLYHV�ZKHQ�LW�ZDV�SRLQWHG�RXW��7KH�-HVXLW�SULHVW�-RVHI�)XFKV��ZKR�KDG� WDXJKW�Casti Connubii VWDQGDUGV�IRU� WZHQW\�\HDUV�� VDLG�KH�ZDV�ZLWKGUDZLQJ�KLV�PRUDO� WH[WERRN�DQG� UHVLJQLQJ�KLV�WHDFKLQJ�SRVW�DW�WKH�*UHJRULDQ�8QLYHUVLW\�LQ�5RPH�QRZ�WKDW�KH�FRXOG�QR�ORQJHU�XSKROG�ZKDW�KH�ZDV�DVNHG�WR�SURIHVV��The vote of the theologians who were presenting their findings to the bishops was now fifteen to four against the claim that conception is intrinsically evil. The vote of the larger group was thirty to five.

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+HUH�ZDV�D�SHUIHFW�ODERUDWRU\�WHVW�RI�WKH�LGHD�WKDW�FRQWUDFHSWLRQ�LV�DJDLQVW� QDWXUH�� DV� WKDW� FDQ� EH� SHUFHLYHG� E\� QDWXUDO� UHDVRQ� DORQH��7KHVH�SHRSOH�ZHUH�DOO�HGXFDWHG��HYHQ�H[SHUW��7KH\�ZHUH�&DWKROLFV�LQ�JRRG� VWDQGLQJ� �WKH\�KDG�EHHQ�FKRVHQ�RQ� WKRVH�JURXQGV���7KH\�KDG�EHHQ�FRQGLWLRQHG�DOO�WKHLU�OLYHV�WR�DFFHSW�WKH�FKXUFK¶V�WHDFKLQJ���LQ�IDFW�WKH\�KDG�DFFHSWHG�LW�LQ�WKH�SDVW��7KH\�RI�DOO�SHRSOH�ZRXOG�HQWHUWDLQ� WKH� RIILFLDO� FDVH� ZLWK� RSHQ�PLQGV�� 7KH\� KDG� QR�PDOLFH�DJDLQVW�FKXUFK�DXWKRULWLHV���PRVW�RI�WKHP�KDG�GHYRWHG�PXFK��LI�QRW�DOO�� RI� WKHLU� OLYHV� WR� ZRUNLQJ� ZLWK� WKHP�� 0RVW� KDG� HQWHUHG� WKH�SURMHFW� HLWKHU� DJUHHLQJ�ZLWK� WKH� SDSDO� SRVLWLRQ� RU� WKLQNLQJ� WKDW� LW�ZDV�XQOLNHO\�WR�FKDQJH��1RZ�WKH\�IRXQG�WKHPVHOYHV�DJUHHLQJ�WKDW�FKDQJH� ZDV� QRW� RQO\� QHFHVVDU\� EXW� LQHYLWDEOH�� 7KH\� KDG� WURXEOH�LPDJLQLQJ�KRZ�WKH\�KDG�HYHU�WKRXJKW�RWKHUZLVH��&DUGLQDO�6XHQHQV�H[SODLQHG� KRZ� WKH\� KDG� EHHQ� FRQGLWLRQHG� WR� KDYH� D� GRXEOH�FRQVFLRXVQHVV��WR�OLYH�D�OLH����

)RU� \HDUV� WKHRORJLDQV� KDYH� KDG� WR� FRPH� XS� ZLWK�DUJXPHQWV� RQ� EHKDOI� RI� D� GRFWULQH� WKH\� ZHUH� QRW�DOORZHG� WR� FRQWUDGLFW�� 7KH\� KDG� DQ� REOLJDWLRQ� WR�GHIHQG� WKH� UHFHLYHG�GRFWULQH�� EXW�P\�JXHVV� LV� WKH\�DOUHDG\� KDG� PDQ\� KHVLWDWLRQV� DERXW� LW� LQVLGH�� $V�VRRQ�DV�WKH�TXHVWLRQ�ZDV�RSHQHG�XS�D�OLWWOH��D�ZKROH�JURXS�RI�PRUDOLVWV�DUULYHG�DW� WKH�SRVLWLRQ�GHIHQGHG�E\� WKH�PDMRULW\� KHUH�� �� �� 7KH� ELVKRSV� GHIHQGHG� WKH�FODVVLFDO� SRVLWLRQ�� EXW� LW� ZDV� LPSRVHG� RQ� WKHP� E\�DXWKRULW\�� 7KH� ELVKRSV� GLGQW� VWXG\� WKH� SURV� DQG�FRQV��7KH�UHFHLYHG�GLUHFWLYHV�� WKH\�ERZHG�WR� WKHP��DQG� WKH\� WULHG� WR� H[SODLQ� WKHP� WR� WKHLU�FRQJUHJDWLRQV����

As soon as people began to think independently about the matter, the whole structure of deceit crumbled at the touch. The past position could not be sustained, even among these people picked by the Vatican itself, much less among Catholics not as committed as these were. And it was absurd to speak of the non-Catholic world as ever recognizing this "natural law of natural reason." �7KH� QHHG� WR� IDFH� WKH� SURVSHFW� RI� FKDQJH� ZDV� LPSUHVVHG� RQ� WKH�SHRSOH�LQ�WKH�FRPPLVVLRQ�E\�WKH�DUJXPHQWV�RI�WKH�ILYH�WKHRORJLDQV�GHIHQGLQJ� Casti Connubii. 7KH\� UHGXFHG� WKHLU� RZQ� FDVH� WR�DEVXUGLWLHV�� -RKQ� )RUG� VDLG� WKDW� LQWHUFRXUVH� LV� QRW� QHFHVVDU\� IRU�PDULWDO� ORYH�� �&RQMXJDO� ORYH� LV� DERYH� DOO� VSLULWXDO� �LI� WKH� ORYH� LV�JHQXLQH�� DQG� LW� UHTXLUHV� QR� VSHFLILF� FDUQDO� JHVWXUH��PXFK� OHVV� LWV�UHSHWLWLRQ� LQ� VRPH� GHWHUPLQHG� IUHTXHQF\��� )RUG� DOVR� OLNHG� WR� VD\�WKDW�� LI� WKH� WHDFKLQJ� RQ� VH[XDO� DFWLYLW\� RQO\� IRU� SURFUHDWLRQ�ZHUH�FKDQJHG�� SHRSOH� FRXOG� UQDVWXUEDWH� ZLWK� LPSXQLW\�� 'U�� *RUUHV�TXRWHG� WKH� 0HOFKLWH� 3DWULDUFK�� 0D[LPRV� ,9�� ZKR� VDLG� LQ� WKH�&RXQFLO�GHOLEHUDWLRQV�WKDW�SULHVWV�GLVSOD\�D��FHOLEDWH�SV\FKRVLV��LQ�WKH�DUHD�RI�VH[�� ���The climactic vote of the commission - the one of the sixteen bishops - was nine to three for changing the church's position on contraception, with three abstentions.�An agreement had been reached before the vote was taken to submit only one report for

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the commission, but Cardinal Ottaviani and Father Ford, seeing how things were going, had prepared a document of their own, which would later be misrepresented as an official minority document.� 7KHUH� ZDV� RQO\� RQH� RIILFLDO� GRFXPHQW�� WKH� VROH� RQH�YRWHG� RQ� E\� WKH� ELVKRSV� ZKR� KDG� DXWKRULW\� WR� UHSRUW� WKH� ERG\V�ILQGLQJV���2WWDYLDQL�ZDV�WKH�RQH�ZKR�KDG�EURXJKW�LQ�WKHVH�RIILFLDOV��KRSLQJ�WR�JHW� WKH�UHVXOW�KH�ZDQWHG��:KHQ�KH�IDLOHG�WR��KH�LJQRUHG�KLV�RZQ�GHYLFH�����7KH�)RUG� ³UHSRUW´�� GUDZQ� XS�ZLWK�*HUPDLQ�*ULVH]�� VDLG� WKDW� DQ\�FKDQJH� ZDV� LQFRQFHLYDEOH�� 7KLV� ZDV� QRW� EHFDXVH� WKHUH� ZHUH�UDWLRQDO� DUJXPHQWV� DJDLQVW� FKDQJH�� �,I� ZH� FRXOG� EULQJ� IRUZDUG�DUJXPHQWV� ZKLFK� DUH� FOHDU� DQG� FRJHQW� EDVHG� RQ� UHDVRQ� DORQH�� LW�ZRXOG�QRW�EH�QHFHVVDU\�IRU�RXU�&RPPLVVLRQ�WR�H[LVW��QRU�ZRXOG�WKH�SUHVHQW�VWDWH�RI�DIIDLUV�H[LVW� LQ�WKH�FKXUFK���1R��WKH�UHDO�UHDVRQ�WR�NHHS�WKH�WHDFKLQJ�ZDV�WKDW�LW�ZDV�WKH�WHDFKLQJ���7KH�&KXUFK�FRXOG�QRW� KDYH� HUUHG� WKRXJK� VR� PDQ\� FHQWXULHV�� HYHQ� WKURXJK� RQH�FHQWXU\��E\�LPSRVLQJ�XQGHU�VHULRXV�REOLJDWLRQV�YHU\�JUDYH�EXUGHQV�WKH� QDPH�RI� -HVXV�&KULVW�� LI� -HVXV�&KULVW� GLG� QRW� DFWXDOO\� LPSRVH�WKHVH� EXUGHQV���As a priest had put it in earlier debate, if the church sent all those souls to hell, it must keep maintaining that that is where they are.���This was not an argument that made sense, at this point, to the commission - to bishops any more than to the theologians or lay experts. But it was the one argument that, in the end, mattered to Paul VI. He took advantage of the so-called "minority report" to say that he could not accept the commission's findings since there had been disagreement with it.�1LQH�RI�WKH�WZHOYH�ELVKRSV��ILIWHHQ� RI� WKH� QLQHWHHQ� WKHRORJLDQV�� DQG� WKLUW\� RI� WKH� WKLUW\�ILYH�QRQHSLVFRSDO� PHPEHUV� RI� WKH� FRPPLVVLRQ� ZHUH� QRW� HQRXJK� IRU�KLP��9RWHV�RQ�WKH�GHFUHHV�LQ�WKH�&RXQFLO�KDG�QRW�EHHQ�XQDQLPRXV�HLWKHU��EXW�KH�GLG�QRW�FDOO� WKHP�LQYDOLG�IRU� WKDW�UHDVRQ��3DXOV�UHDO�FRQFHUQ�ZDV�ZLWK�WKH�DUJXPHQWV�WKDW�2WWDYLDQL�EURXJKW�WR�KLP�DIWHU�WKH� UHSRUW�ZDV� VXEPLWWHG��+H�NQHZ�ZKDW�ZDV�ZRUU\LQJ� WKH�3RSH��DQG�FRXOG�SOD\�RQ�WKDW��)�;��0XUSK\�KDG�REVHUYHG�RQH�WKLQJ�DERXW�3DXOV�EHKDYLRU�WKURXJKRXW�WKH�PHHWLQJV�RI�WKH�&RXQFLO����

7KH� 3RSH� ZDV� D� PDQ� REYLRXVO\� WRUQ� E\� GRXEWV��WRUPHQWHG� E\� VFUXSOHV�� KDXQWHG� E\� WKRXJKWV� RI�SHUIHFWLRQ�� DQG� DERYH� DOO� GRPLQDWHG� E\� DQ�H[DJJHUDWHG�FRQFHUQ���VRPH�FDOOHG�LW�DQ�REVHVVLRQ���DERXW�WKH�SUHVWLJH�RI�KLV�RIILFH�DV�3RSH��+LV�UHPDUNV�RQ�WKLV�VFRUH�DW�WLPHV�GLVSOD\HG�DQ�DOPRVW�PHVVLDQLF�IHUYRU��D�QRWH�PLVVLQJ�LQ�WKH�PRUH�VHGDWH�XWWHUDQFHV�RI�KLV�SUHGHFHVVRUV��+LV� LQQXPHUDEOH�VWDWHPHQWV�RQ�WKH� VXEMHFW� ZHUH� PDGH� RQ� DOPRVW� HYHU\� RFFDVLRQ��IURP�FDVXDO�ZHHN�GD\�DXGLHQFHV�RI�6XQGD\�VHUPRQV�IURP� WKH� ZLQGRZ� RI� KLV� DSDUWPHQW� WR� WKH� PRVW�VROHPQ� JDWKHULQJV� LQ� VHDVRQ� DQG� RXW� RI� VHDVRQ��6LQFH� LW� ZDV� SDUW� RI� WKH� VWUDWHJ\� RI� WKH� >FRQFLOLDU@�PLQRULW\�WR�DFFXVH�WKH�PDMRULW\�RI�GLVOR\DOW\�WRZDUG�WKH� +RO\� )DWKHU� 3DXOV� FRQVWDQW� KDUSLQJ�LQ�LQHYLWDEO\� FDXVHG� WKH� PDMRULW\� WR� WKLQN� WKDW� KH�SHUKDSV� GLG� VKDUH� WKHVH� PLVJLYLQJV�� DW� OHDVW� WR� D�FHUWDLQ�H[WHQW�� ,W�ZDV�QRWLFHG�E\�VWXGHQWV�RI�3DXO¶V�

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UHPDUNV�WKDW�ZKLOH�KH�VKRZHG�DQ�RSHQ��PLQGHGQHVV�DERXW�DOPRVW�DQ\�RWKHU�VXEMHFW��RQ�WKH�VLQJOH�WKHPH�RI�WKH�SDSDF\�KLV�PLQG�UHPDLQHG�VWUDQJHO\�FORVHG�WR�DQDO\VLV���

�7KRVH�ZRUGV�ZHUH�ZULWWHQ�EHIRUH�Humanae Vitae�ZDV� LVVXHG��EXW�WKH\�H[SODLQ�WKH�OHWWHU�HQWLUHO\���The commission members left their work convinced that the pope could no longer uphold a discredited teaching. When the report was leaked to the press, Catholics around the world took heart at the signs of change. So far from upsetting their faith, as the Pope feared, it heartened them. What would unsettle their faith was what Paul did next - issue Humanae Vitae, with its reiteration of Casti Connubii's ban: �7KH� FKXUFK�� FDOOLQJ� PHQ� EDFN� WR� WKH�REVHUYDQFH� RI� WKH� QDWXUDO� ODZ�� DV� LQWHUSUHWHG� E\� LWV� FRQVWDQW�GRFWULQH�� WHDFKHV� WKDW� HDFK� DQG� HYHU\� PDUULDJH� DFW� PXVW� UHPDLQ�RSHQ� WR� WKH� WUDQVPLVVLRQ� RI� OLIH��� &DWKROLFV� UHVSRQGHG� ZLWK� DQ�XQSDUDOOHOHG� UHIXVDO� WR� VXEPLW�� 3ROOV� UHJLVWHUHG� DQ� LQVWDQW�QRQFRPSOLDQFH� ZLWK� WKH� HQF\FOLFDO�� $W� D� SUHYLRXVO\� VFKHGXOHG�&DWKROLF� IHVWLYDO�RI�GHYRXW�\RXQJ�*HUPDQV�DW�(VVHQ��D� UHVROXWLRQ�WKDW�WKRVH�DWWHQGLQJ�FRXOG�QRW�REH\�WKH�HQF\FOLFDO�SDVVHG�WKURXJK�D�FURZG� RI� IRXU� WKRXVDQG� ZLWK� RQO\� QLQHW\� RSSRVLQJ� YRWHV�� $�VLPXOWDQHRXV�SROO�DPRQJ�*HUPDQ�&DWKROLFV�DW�ODUJH�IRXQG�WKDW����SHUFHQW� RI� WKHP� WKRXJKW� WKH� 3RSH� ZDV� ZURQJ� RQ� FRQWUDFHSWLRQ��6LPLODU�ILQGLQJV�UROOHG�LQ�IURP�DURXQG�WKH�ZRUOG����:KDW�ZHUH�ELVKRSV� WR�GR"�7KH�HQF\FOLFDO� LWVHOI�KDG�RUGHUHG� WKHP�WR�H[SODLQ�DQG�HQIRUFH�WKH�3RSH¶V�GHFLVLRQ��DORQJ�ZLWK�DOO�SULHVWV���

%H�WKH�ILUVW�WR�JLYH��LQ�WKH�H[HUFLVH�RI�\RXU�PLQLVWU\��WKH�H[DPSOH�RI�OR\DO�LQWHUQDO�DQG�H[WHUQDO�REHGLHQFH�WR� WKH� WHDFKLQJ� DXWKRULW\� RI� WKH�&KXUFK�� �� �� LW� LV� RI�WKH� XWPRVW� LPSRUWDQFH�� IRU� SHDFH�� RI� FRQVFLHQFHV�DQG�IRU�WKH�XQLW\�RI�WKH�&KULVWLDQ�3HRSOH��WKDW�LQ�WKH�ILHOG� RI� PRUDOV� DV� ZHOO� DV� LQ� WKDW� RI� GRJPD�� DOO�VKRXOG�DWWHQG�WR�WKH�PDJLVWHULXP�RI�WKH�&KXUFK��DQG�DOO�VKRXOG�VSHDN�WKH�VDPH�ODQJXDJH���

�But for the first time in memory, bishop's statements, while showing respect for the encyclical, told believers they could act apart from it if they felt bound by conscience to do so. The assembly of bishops in the Netherlands put it most bluntly: "The assembly considers that the encyclical's total rejection of contraceptive methods is not convincing on the basis of the arguments put forward."� RWKHU� (SLVFRSDO� SDQHOV� ZHUH� PRUH�FLUFXPVSHFW�� EXW� VLJQDOHG� WKDW� WKH\� ZRXOG� QRW� FRQVLGHU� WKRVH�GLVREHGLHQW�WR�WKH�HQF\FOLFDO�WR�EH�VHSDUDWLQJ�WKHPVHOYHV�IURP�WKH�VDFUDPHQWV�� 7KH� %HOJLDQ� ELVKRSV� SXW� LW� WKLV� ZD\�� �6RPHRQH��KRZHYHU��ZKR�LV�FRPSHWHQW� LQ� WKH�PDWWHU�XQGHU�FRQVLGHUDWLRQ�DQG�FDSDEOH�RI�IRUPLQJ�D�SHUVRQDO�DQG�ZHOO�IRXQGHG�MXGJPHQW���ZKLFK�QHFHVVDULO\�SUHVXSSRVHV�D� VXIILFLHQW� DPRXQW�RI�NQRZOHGJH� ��PD\��DIWHU� VHULRXV� H[DPLQDWLRQ� EHIRUH�*RG�� FRPH� WR� RWKHU� FRQFOXVLRQV�RQ�FHUWDLQ�SRLQWV���In other words: do not treat the Pope's words lightly, but follow your conscience after taking a serious look at them. That was the position taken by bishops in the United States

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("the norms of licit dissent come into play"), Austria, Brazil, Czechoslovakia, Mexico, [] West Germany, Japan, France, Scandinavia, and Switzerland.� 7KH� 6FDQGLQDYLDQ� VWDWHPHQW� ZDV�W\SLFDO���

Should someone, however, for grave and carefully considered reasons, not feel able to subscribe to the arguments of the encyclical, he is entitled, as has been constantly acknowledged, to entertain other views than those put forward in a non-infallible declaration of the Church. No one should, therefore, on account of such diverging opinions along, be regarded as an inferior Catholic.

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We cannot make any judicial determination to declare the Catholic Church’s position on contraceptives and sex. This is not the forum to do so and there is no present controversy—no contraceptive and no individual that has come concretely affected by the law. �������������������������������������������������������������� ,G��DW���������citing *DU\�:LOOV��Papal Sin: Structures of Deceit, �1HZ�<RUN��,PDJH���������DW������������� ,G��DW������citing 7UXWK��&RQVHTXHQFH��:LOOV�DW���

Page 76: Imbong vs Ochoa_Leonen

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This court must avoid entering into unnecessary entanglements with religion. We are apt to do this when, without proof, we assume the beliefs of one sect or group within a church as definitive of their religion. We must not assume at the outset that there might be homogeneity of belief and practice; otherwise, we contribute to the State’s endorsement of various forms of fundamentalism.305 �

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By declaring Section 23(a)(2)(i) as unconstitutional, the majority interprets the privacy and autonomy of the family as also providing insulation of patriarchal or sexist practices from state scrutiny.313 This is not what the Constitution intends.

Parental Consent �

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������������������������������������������������������������� See also�Note on Reproductive Technology and The Procreation Rights of the Unmarried��98 +$59��/��

5(9. 669��������������� See�3��6FKHLQLQJHU��Legal Separateness, Private Connectedness: An Impediment to Gender Equality in

the Family�����&2/80��-�/���62&��352%6������������

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Page 90: Imbong vs Ochoa_Leonen

Dissenting Opinion 90 G.R. Nos. 204819, et al.

government itself can provide these choices so that the quality of life improves. More than corporeal existence, it hopes to assure human dignity.

I dissent from the majority's position that we can review the law. I dissent more vigorously from the majority's ruling that some provisions are declared unconstitutional on the basis of speculative facts. In my view, this law needs to be fully implemented.

Petitioners have come before us driven by their unfailing belief in the moral rightness of their faith and their causes. Their faith is not to be questioned. Their conviction is solid. But these cases are premature.

But, they are not the only ones who may be affected. They cannot speak for everyone.

There are many burdened mothers who can barely feed their children.

There are mothers who have had to undergo abortion whether intended or unintended because of the unavailability of information and access to contraception should they have had the right information.

There are mothers who died at childbirth because their pregnancy or their poverty was not their choice.

There are impoverished mothers and fathers who helplessly bore the deaths of their children.

They cannot speak. Because of the dominant morality that surround them, many choose not to speak.

All bear their own unspeakable reality. This law may just be the hope that they deserve.

ACCORDINGLY, I vote to DISMISS these petitions. This law, in my view, gives them a chance. It should be implemented in full.

>.

, Associate Justice