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More recently, he told WFAA-TV in Dallas/Fort Worth that he does not believe that "prudent planning" goes against God's will as long as the methods used "do not cause the fertilized egg to abort" and "do not bar having children altogether" without a medical reason.

Evangelical Lutheran Church in America

--Supports "development and use" of birth control

--30,122 adherents

--In a statement most recently amended and adopted in 2009, the Churchwide Assembly said it " supports the development and use of medical products, birth control and initiatives that support fulfilling and responsible sexuality.

"This church also recognizes the important role that the availability of birth control has played in allowing women and men to make responsible decisions about the bearing and rearing of children."

United Church of Christ

--Practiced by President Barack Obama, a Democrat

--Strong advocate for birth control

--13,813 adherents

--In a "Mission Statement on Health and Human Service," the church said it "must be a strong advocate for those priorities which serve life and human fulfillment." Among them, it said, is access to effective birth control.

Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormonism)

--Practiced by Republican presidential challenger Mitt Romney

--The decision rests with couples.

--12,682 adherents

--The church on its website advises that "those who are physically able have the blessing, joy and obligation to bear children and to raise a family. This blessing should not be postponed for selfish reasons."

However, the church says the number of children and when to have them is a private decision for the couple.

"Decisions about birth control and the consequences of those decisions rest solely with each married couple," it says.

Islam

--Generally regarded as OK

--15,578 adherents

--Muslim religious authorities generally say that Islam does not prohibit contraceptive use, especially for the health of the mother and the family's economic well-being, according to a 2011 report by the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life.

The report found that the use of birth control is significantly lower in Muslim-majority countries but that using contraception has become more accepted since the 1990s. Of 44 Muslim-majority countries, 20 reported that at least half of married women ages 15-49 use some form of birth control.

Judaism

--Largely supported

(The Association of Religious Data Archives puts the total number of adherents in Columbus at about 10,000, but the Jewish Federation of Columbus notes that other counts put the Jewish population in the city at 22,000.)

--Reconstructionist (135 adherents): In a statement most recently updated in 2006, the Jewish Reconstructionist Federation said it advocates for the availability of information and resources that support reproductive choice.

--Reform (3,934 adherents): In a document on world population reaffirmed in 1965, the general assembly of the Union for Reform Judaism said it believes that planned parenthood is a " vital contribution to family life."

--Conservative (3,432 adherents): In a 2012 "Resolution on Reproductive Freedom in the United States," the Rabbinical Assembly said denying women the right to reproductive health care, including contraception, deprives them of constitutional rights.

--Orthodox (2,500 adherents): Contraceptive use is allowed in most cases, but some rabbis oppose the use of condoms because Jewish law prohibits men from wasting seed. (Condoms may be permitted to prevent disease.)