Washington, USA - Catholic doctors in the United States are morally more disturbed by embryonic-stem-cell research than by other practices opposed by their Church, such as homosexuality and birth control.
About a fourth of those who identified themselves as Catholics said they found embryonic-stem-cell research to be morally acceptable, according to a national survey of 1,536 physicians.
Yet, 87 percent of the Catholic doctors said they would prescribe birth-control pills, and nearly 90 percent said they support the distribution of condoms in developing nations to prevent HIV transmission.
The findings were from a survey conducted last week by HCD Research Inc. of Flemington, N.J., and the Muhlenberg College Institute of Public Opinion in Allentown, Pa., as part of an investigation into the social, political and economic issues confronting the U.S. health care system.
When asked whether homosexuality is morally acceptable, approximately half -- 49 percent -- of the Catholic doctors responded in the affirmative. Overall, 55 percent of physicians had that view. The proportion of approving Catholics was the largest of any Christian denomination.
Seventy-nine percent of Jewish doctors, 45 percent of non-Baptist Protestants, 34 percent of Orthodox Christians, 23 percent of Muslims and 10 percent of Baptists said they did not have moral qualms about homosexuality as a "lifestyle choice."
"Across religions, very few doctors (2 percent) said they would most likely make difficult moral decisions on the basis of the teachings of their religious leaders," said Glenn Kessler, co-founder and managing partner of HCD Research.
The Internet poll found that more than 60 percent of all doctors chiefly would rely on their conscience, while nearly 37 percent said they would rely on their conscience as well as religious teachings.
"For most of these controversial issues, physicians were in general agreement," Mr. Kessler said.
"However, we see considerable differences of opinion on the issues relating to embryonic-stem-cell research" and homosexuality, "which may correlate directly with their religious beliefs," he added.
Among the 327 doctors in the survey who said they are Catholics, 27 percent found embryonic-stem-cell research to be morally acceptable. Among Baptist doctors, the support was 22 percent.
Overall, 49 percent of doctors surveyed said they find such research to be morally acceptable. The supporters included 75 percent of Jewish doctors, 46 percent of non-Baptist Protestants, 38 percent of Orthodox Christians, 34 percent of Muslims, 50 percent of Hindus, 47 percent of those who said they were of "other" religions and 66 percent of those who said they had no religion.