Catholic bishops tap SMS, Facebook as SC ruling on RH Law nears 

With the Supreme Court expected to make final deliberations on the controversial Reproductive Health Law on April 8, Catholic bishops are turning to texting and social media to thwart the measure.

The Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines sent text messages to Catholics early this week seeking their prayers for the defeat of the measure, the Union of Catholic Asian News reported Wednesday.

UCAN quoted CBCP Commission on Family and Life executive secretary Fr. Melvin Castro as saying the bishops also posted on Facebook a copy of the Mandatory Prayer for the Protection of the Family and All Human Life but did not specify the Facebook account where the prayer was posted.

The UCAN said part of the prayer aimed to have the high court justice declare the Reproductive Health Law as unconstitutional.

While the RH law was passed in December 2012, its implementation was delayed after its opponents, including groups allied with the Catholic Church, questioned it before the court.

The UCAN report noted the Philippines has the highest teen pregnancy rate in Southeast Asia.

It cited government figures showing 5,300 mothers die from child birth every year. — LBG, GMA News