A survey published today that reveals most Filipinos believe family planning is a “sacred” personal choice supports the position of the Catholic clergy against a proposed birth control measure, a leading Church official says.

The Social Weather Stations poll revealed 82 percent of people consider family planning a personal choice between couples that should not be interfered with.

The survey, which was conducted June 3 to 6, also showed people want the government to provide “relevant” information and to subsidize family planning methods.

“The Church believes in the individual freedom of conscience,” said Father Melvin Castro, executive secretary of the bishops’ conference’s Commission of Family and Life.

That it is the role of the Church, to form the conscience of the faithful, he added.

Only 8 percent disagreed that family planning was a personal issue; the rest were undecided.

The survey also showed that 73 percent of respondents believed that if a couple wanted to practice family planning, relevant information on “all legal methods” should be available from the government.

On the other hand, a “majority” of 68 percent agreed that “the government should fund all means of family planning, be it natural or artificial means.”

Father Castro said the result affirms the position of the Church that the government should not pass laws that will control births.

“[The result of the survey] shows that any [birth control] legislation is something not acceptable and needed,” the priest said.

The Catholic Church has been opposing a proposal in Congress to pass a reproductive health bill that allows sex education and both natural and artificial means of family planning.

“Promoting contraceptives is a way of dictating to people,” Father Castro said.

The priest’s comments come despite half the respondents disagreeing that the use of the pill (52 percent), condoms (51 percent) and intra-uterine devices (51 percent) could be considered as abortion methods.

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