dr. silvia de la paz says teen pregnancies are at an all-time high. >> with the lack of contraceptives, so what else will they do? have babies-- more and more babies, you know. so it's a sad picture. >> reporter: for years the u.n. has urged the philippine government to take action, to provide free contraception and family planning for the poor. recent surveys indicate eight in ten filipinos now agree. but the philippines' most powerful institution, the roman catholic church, has fought family planning policies every time they are raised. in a country where more than 80% are practicing catholics, the church has dominated nearly every aspect of life in the philippines for more than 400 years, it's moral authority and political power rarely challenged, especially when it comes to reproduction. abortion here is strictly illegal although rare exceptions are made if the health of the mother is at risk. outside the vatican it is the only country in the world where divorce is still not allowed. and while the philippine church says it is not opposed to natural family planning-- avoiding intercours