The Supreme Court in the Philippines has upheld a controversial law that requires the government’s health centers to distribute free condoms and contraceptive pills.  The bill had been fiercely opposed by the Roman Catholic Church, which denounced it as a threat to human life.

In fact, the church blocked passage of the law for 13 years before it was finally signed by President Benigno Aquino in December 2012.  And since then it has been tied up in the courts. 

“This monumental decision upholds the separation of church and state and affirms the supremacy of government in secular concerns like health and socio-economic development,” said Edcel Lagman, a congressman and the principal author of the law after the Supreme Court announced its decision.

The law requires the government to provide free contraception to the poorest Filipinos, conduct safe sex education in schools, and provides for healthcare for women who get illegal abortions.  Supporters say it’s necessary to curb the spread of sexually transmitted diseases, and also because of the growing population which has tripled since 1970.  It’s expected to hit 100 sometime this year.

But Catholic officials are calling for overturning the law.

“The Church must continue to uphold the sacredness of human life, to teach always the dignity of the human person and to safeguard the life of every human person from conception to natural death,” said Bishop Socrates Villegas.