MANILA -- President Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III met with several Catholic bishops to discuss his stand on birth control, a Malacanang official confirmed Tuesday.

Presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said the meeting was held at Bahay Pangarap, Aquino's official residence, last Monday afternoon.

Present in the dialog were Archbishop Cardinal Vidal, Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) President Nereo Odchimar, Bishops Chito Tagle and Antonio Ledesma.

On the side of government, in attendance were Presidential Management Staff head Julia Abad, Social Welfare Secretary Dinky Soliman, and Health Secretary Enrique Ona.

“It was a pleasant dialog,” Lacierda quoted the President as saying when asked to describe the meeting.

He said the President was able to explain his side on the controversial Reproductive Health bill.

He added Odchimar clarified to the President that he never threatened him for excommunication.

Catholic officials and Aquino have opposing views on the use of artificial contraceptives aside from natural method in birth control.

Aquino has been advocating responsible parenthood giving parents freedom to decide the size of their family while the bishops only permit natural way of family planning. (Jill Beltran/Sunnex)