Philippines and South Korea

14 October 2004

THE TIMES 12 OCTOBER 2004 reports that Archbishop Gaudencio Rosales of the Philippines has said that the Roman Catholic Church has not done enough to promote responsible family planning.

(Archbishop Rosales, 31st Archbishop of Manila, took over from Cardinal Sin last year. I jump at hope, perhaps too easily, but from what I have read about him he does not appear to be a liberation theology revolutionary. He is glad to quote the story of Dives and Lazarus in his pronouncements. He talks about crumbs – implying that many small acts of kindness will build a better Philippines. The gospels plus The Little Way: it’s heady stuff for me.)

The Philippines South Korea
(for comparison)
1950 21,000,000 21,000,000
1960 28,000,000 25,000,000
1970 38,000,000 32,000,000
1980 51,000,000 38,000,000
1990 64,000,000 42,000,000
2000 80,000,000 47,000,000
2010 96,000,000 50,000,000 estimated
2020 111,000,000 51,000,000 estimated
2030 125,000,000 52,000,000 estimated
2040 137,000,000 50,000,000 estimated
2050 148,000,000
and going up fast
48,000,000
decreasing
estimated
….Poverty ….Prosperity