Manila (AsiaNews) – Cardinal Ricardo Vidal has praised a government decision to use United Nations funds to strengthen health projects "which teach couples how to use the ovulation method".

This method allows for the use of natural family planning – without the use of artificial contraceptives – and it was developed by the World Health Organisation.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo announced the imminent adoption of this method in the Philippines during a recent meeting of leaders of the Interfaith Dialogue and Conference for Peace, and she reiterated it at the United Nations General Assembly in New York.

The Cardinal appreciated the stand taken by Arroyo, "courageous in deciding the new family planning policy", and he invited all those who back other methods – in violation of religious precepts – to "declare a multi-partisan moratorium on all legislative action to allow all the time to assess these policies, genuinely intended to protect Filipino women, the family and society, at large."