The role of Catholicism on reproductive health care policies in Mexico and the Philippines

Abstract

Thesis (M.A.L.S.)--Georgetown University, 2010.; Includes bibliographical references.; Text (Electronic thesis) in PDF format. Mexico and the Philippines have inherited predominant Catholic populations as a result of three centuries of Spanish colonial rule. Policies and attitudes on reproductive health care have largely been influenced by the lingering Catholic conservative presence in both countries. However, Mexico has had better success in tangibly separating church and state in matters of reproductive health care policy. How and why was Mexico so successful in liberalizing contraception and abortion laws, given its shared colonial and Catholic history with the Philippines? Using Roland Robertson's global field model, this thesis will examine the factors that have contributed to the countries' disparate policies on abortion and contraception. By assessing how deep the Catholic Church has penetrated the four dimensions of Robertson's model in each country, this thesis will conclude that elements of Mexico's road towards increased accessibility cannot be adapted in the Philippines despite the nation's commonalities with its Latin American counterpart.