In This Issue:
- Deepening Depopulation
- The Left’s Family Problem
- Putin Urges Early Marriage
- Best Nations for Families
- Communist China
- Police Operation Targets Christians
- China Tries Again to Raise Births
- UN Misdeeds
- Gender Ideology Loses at UN
- Science Gone Mad
- Aetna Covers IVF for Same-Sex Couples
- Pro-Life Around the World
- Poland Drops Late-Term Abortion Case
- UK Charges Woman for Silent Prayer
- Pro-Life on the Home Front
- Illinois Legalizes Assisted Suicide
- Louisiana Sues FDA Over Abortion Pill
- New York Nears Assisted Suicide
- Illinois Abortion Clinics Injure Women
- Good News
- 23-Week Preemie Home for Christmas
Deepening Depopulation
The Left’s Family Problem: New research from the Institute for Family Studies finds a widening divide in marriage and childbearing, with liberal young adults increasingly less likely to form families. The analysis shows that even liberal adults report higher happiness when married with children, yet family formation is declining fastest on the Left. The trend has demographic consequences: Since 2000, states that voted for Donald Trump in 2024 have seen their child population rise about 7%, while states that voted for Kamala Harris have seen theirs fall by roughly 7%. Sociologist Brad Wilcox warns that this divide could reshape America’s cultural and political future.
“Why do Harris voters have fewer children? Many are single or, like Harris, childless by choice,” says Mr. Mosher. “The most generous family leave and free childcare aren’t going to convince them to reproduce. Progressivism is not ‘progressive,’ it is an economic, cultural and biological dead end.”
Putin Urges Early Marriage: Russian President Vladimir Putin has urged earlier marriage as a response to Russia’s deepening fertility crisis, pointing to North Caucasus traditions of young families. Speaking during his annual televised call-in show, Putin framed childbearing as a moral duty rather than an economic choice. Russia’s total fertility rate has fallen to about 1.4 children per woman, with births dropping to just over 1.22 million last year, the lowest since 1999. Officials report a 4% further decline this year, as the country’s natural population loss is nearing 4 million over the past decade.
Best Nations for Families: A new global ranking highlights countries best suited for raising families in 2025, weighing factors such as safety, education, healthcare, parental leave, affordability, and work-life balance. Nordic nations dominate the list, with Finland topping the rankings, followed by Denmark, Sweden, and the Netherlands, all offering generous parental leave and strong social support. The analysis drew on benchmarks like the Global Peace Index, OECD PISA education scores, and cost-of-living data. Across the rankings, countries with family-friendly policies and social trust consistently outperform those struggling with affordability and work-life balance.
“The Progressives like to claim that fertility is determined by family leave and childcare policies,” says Mr. Mosher. “That’s why they say that the best place to raise a family is in countries like Norway and Portugal. But the fertility rates as of Dec. 2025 for the ‘Top 10 Countries to Raise a Family’ are all below, in some cases well below, that of the United States Finland (1.30), Denmark (1.52), Sweden (1.42), Netherlands (1.41), Norway (1.48), Canada (1.25), New Zealand (1.54), Switzerland (1.28), Germany (1.31), and Portugal (1.44). Why? Because faith and family culture matter. America has a far higher percentage of practicing Christians than dying Europe, and a culture that is more welcoming and supportive of children. We need to build on these strengths.”
Communist China
Police Operation Targets Christians: Authorities in Wenzhou City in Zhejiang carried out a sweeping five-day police operation targeting Christian communities in Yayáng Town between December 13–18, 2025. Reports from residents indicate that police from multiple cities conducted raids, set up checkpoints, and detained well over 100 Christians, all while restricting online communication. Officials also issued wanted notices for two local Christian leaders. The crackdown follows months of tension as authorities enforced state religious controls, targeting Christian communities that operate outside government-approved churches and resist political oversight.
“The officially atheistic CCP does not like Christmas,” says Mr. Mosher. “It discourages its celebration, and often raids churches and arrests priests and pastors right before December 25th. But it’s even worse than this would suggest, because it is attempting to replace the celebration of the birth of Christ with a ‘celebration’ of the birth of the greatest mass murderer in human history, Mao Zedong. This is yet more proof that the lawless, godless system that Mao put in place continues under Xi Jinping.”
China Tries Again to Raise Births: China is rolling out its most comprehensive national effort yet to confront demographic collapse, as births have fallen from nearly 18 million in 2016 to roughly half that in 2023. New measures include nationwide cash payments of 3,600 yuan ($500) per child annually, full reimbursement of childbirth costs by 2026, expanded parental leave, and waiving tuition fees for a child’s last year of kindergarten, expected to benefit about 12 million children. Officials have conceded that the recent “baby bump” was temporary, while demographers warn the policies may slow—but not reverse—China’s long-term population decline.
UN Misdeeds
Gender Ideology Loses at UN: In a rare setback for gender ideology at the United Nations, the General Assembly voted to remove references to “sexual orientation and gender identity” from a UN resolution. This marks the first such deletion to succeed since the terms entered UN policy in 2008. The amendment passed 81–77, after an earlier 74–74 tie earlier in the week. Backed by Egypt and the 57-member Organization of Islamic Cooperation, along with broad support from Africa, Asia, and Latin America, the vote reflected growing resistance to Western pressure. Observers say the Trump administration’s stance encouraged pro-family nations to vote more openly instead of abstaining.
Science Gone Mad
Aetna Covers IVF for Same-Sex Couples: A federal court has approved a nationwide settlement requiring Aetna to cover fertility treatments such as IVF for same-sex couples, significantly expanding insurance-funded assisted reproduction. The ruling extends IVF access to an estimated 2.8 million LGBTQ enrollees, including about 91,000 Californians, and requires Aetna to pay at least $2 million in “damages.” This decision will further accelerate IVF use—a practice that routinely involves the creation, freezing, and destruction of human embryos—while continuing to redefine marriage, parenthood, and family life.
To learn more about the realities of IVF, click here.
Pro-Life Around the World
Poland Drops Late-Term Abortion Case: Polish prosecutors have dropped their investigation into Dr. Gizela Jagielska, who performed a late-term abortion at 36 weeks of pregnancy in October 2024 at a hospital in Oleśnica. Poland’s law restricts abortion to cases of rape, incest, or serious threats to a mother’s life or health. On December 10, 2025, authorities cited a “lack of elements of a prohibited act,” relying on vague mental-health claims. The choice to drop the charges on this abortion extremist weakens Poland’s legal protections for the unborn and sets a dangerous precedent for late-term abortions.
UK Charges Woman for Silent Prayer: A veteran pro-life activist has become the first person charged under the UK’s new nationwide abortion “buffer zone” law, for silently praying outside an abortion facility. Isabel Vaughan-Spruce was previously charged for violating local ordinances on four occasions between June and November, for standing silently near a Birmingham abortion facility. She was previously acquitted and awarded £13,000 (roughly $17,500) in damages. She now faces a January 29, 2026, court date and a possible unlimited fine.
“The UK is rapidly becoming ‘prison island,’” says Mr. Mosher. “You can now be arrested for praying silently outside an abortion clinic. This amounts to policing thoughts or private prayer, and directly violates freedom of thought and free expression. Vice President J. D. Vance is among those who have criticized the UK’s assaults on religious liberties. He is correct.”
Pro-Life on the Home Front
Illinois Legalizes Assisted Suicide: Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker has signed a law legalizing physician-assisted suicide for terminally ill adults with a prognosis of six months or less, set to take effect in September 2026. The measure allows eligible patients to obtain and self-administer lethal medication after consulting with a doctor. The Catholic Conference of Illinois and major disability organizations warn that this law undermines the dignity of human life and places the poor and disabled at risk, urging palliative care as the alternative.
Louisiana Sues FDA Over Abortion Pill: Louisiana has sued the FDA over its 2023 decision to end in-person dispensing requirements for the abortion pill mifepristone, arguing the change undermines state abortion laws and puts women at risk. Filed alongside coerced-abortion victim Rosalie Markezich, the lawsuit seeks a preliminary injunction to restore in-person medical safeguards. State officials say the policy has fueled hundreds of mail-order abortions each month—about 800 to 1,000 in 2025—and driven up Medicaid emergency care costs. The suit also cites FDA warnings that at least 4% of women require emergency treatment after taking mifepristone, with higher risks linked to mail delivery.
New York Nears Assisted Suicide: New York Gov. Kathy Hochul says she has reached an agreement with state lawmakers to legalize medically assisted suicide for terminally ill patients expected to live six months or less, with the bill slated for her signature next year. The measure would allow patients to obtain life-ending drugs with physician approval, including a mandatory five-day waiting period. First introduced in 2016, the bill stalled for years amid opposition from the New York State Catholic Conference and other groups, who warned it would undermine the sanctity of human life and the physician’s role as a healer.
Illinois Abortion Clinics Injure Women: Unregulated abortion clinics in Illinois continue to injure women, with 21 reported injuries across eight facilities in 2025 alone, according to Operation Rescue. In Chicago, multiple medical emergencies occurred at Family Planning Associates, where at least five women required ambulance transport this year, yet no state investigations followed. In a separate incident, an injured woman was allegedly expelled from Planned Parenthood’s Near North Chicago facility and left to call 911 herself. The data shows that Illinois’s lack of clinic inspections routinely leaves women dangerously unprotected.
Good News
23-Week Preemie Home for Christmas: A premature baby born at just 23 weeks and weighing 620 grams (roughly 1.3 pounds) has gone home after 105 days in neonatal care, just in time for Christmas. Baby Niyamat spent more than three months in intensive care as her parents made daily trips to the hospital, refusing to give up hope. Born at the very edge of viability, she defied the odds and was discharged only one day before her original due date—an extraordinary Christmas miracle for her family.
Quote of the Week
“The Christmas of the Lord is the Christmas of Peace.”
~ Pope Leo XIV
