In This Issue:
- Deepening Depopulation
- Fertility and Family
- Demographics of the Future
- Communist China
- Rising Dementia
- Fewest Marriages in Decades
- Science Gone Mad
- Human Experiments
- Pro-Life Around the World
- Misconstrued Remarks
- International Court Appointee
- Pro-Life on the Home Front
- Throwaway Culture of Death
- Abortion on the Ballot
- Win for Catholic Hospitals
- The Responsibility of Fathers
- “Sinful” Restrictions
- Good News
- Messages of Hope
Deepening Depopulation
Fertility and Family: Tesla CEO Elon Musk has been calling out falling fertility rates for years, informing the general public of this critical issue. But while fertility gets major attention, the institution of the family is ignored. The world needs more babies, but it needs these babies to be born into strong, traditional families.
Demographics of the Future: Pew Research released a population study, including UN projections for the year 2050, that includes key points about the aging world we are heading into. While the article focuses on the current sex disparity in the world (admitting the contribution of sex-selective abortion), it also points out the rising median global age. From 1950 to 2021, the median age rose from 22 to 30, with UN projections claiming it will be over 35 by 2050.
Communist China
Rising Dementia: Young Chinese face high pressure to fulfill filial piety and produce grandchildren. But now another issue is coming to light that negatively affects both these aims: dementia. Many Chinese are faced with caring for parents that suffer from declining cognitive function, with no siblings to share the load, in a country that is not prepared for the onslaught of elderly issues it is now facing.
Fewest Marriages in Decades: According to data released by China’s Ministry of Civil Affairs, in 2021 China had the fewest marriages registered since 1986. This is the eighth year in a row that this rate has fallen. While the number of marriages falls, the average age of those getting married inches up. Both of these figures do not bode well for a country already struggling with a demographic crisis.
Science Gone Mad
Human Experiments: With Fauci’s retirement official, the Center for Family and Human Rights reviewed the decades of human experimentation he conducted in Africa, funded by Bill Gates. For forty years, Fauci tried to develop vaccines for many illnesses and diseases, including HIV and COVID-19. In these endeavors, he used Africans as guinea pigs for vaccine clinical trials, some of which caused more harm than good.
Pro-Life Around the World
Misconstrued Remarks: The Pontifical Academy for Life had to quickly issue a clarification of statements made by its president Archbishop Vincenzo Paglia, after several of his comments during a televised interview were misconstrued. Amongst these comments was a description of Italy’s abortion law, Law 194, as “a pillar of our social life” that was “not up for debate.” The PAV’s press statement clarified that this was not a “positive view” of Law 194, but simply a recognition of how entrenched that law is in the Italian legal system.
International Court Appointee: The Biden administration nominated Professor Sarah Cleveland, an abortion activist, to the International Court of Justice. Previously rejected by the U.S. Senate for her extreme abortion views, Cleveland’s new position gives her the power to declare abortion an international human right.
Pro-Life on the Home Front
Throwaway Culture of Death: For decades, abortion advocates and pro-abortion politicians have sought to create a country with “unrestricted and unlimited access to abortion,” seeing any limit on abortion as an infringement of rights. But pro-life politicians are called to work against the culture of death, especially since the overturn of Roe v. Wade. Recalling Evangelium Vitae, Fr. Thomas Petri reminds his readers that while an outright ban may be out of reach now, limiting bans can still save many little lives.
Abortion on the Ballot: Four states will have initiatives regarding abortion on their ballots this November. California, Kentucky, and Vermont are considering amendments to their state constitutions, while Montana is putting forth a bill that would “protect babies born alive during botched abortions.”
Win for Catholic Hospitals: A federal appellate court blocked a mandate that would have forced doctors to perform gender transition surgeries and abortions. As a result of Franciscan Alliance v. Becerra, the HHS cannot require Catholic hospital networks to perform these procedures which gravely violate religious teaching.
The Responsibility of Fathers: Since the overturn of Roe v. Wade, pro-life conservatives have made positive strides in limiting abortion and introducing pro-family policies. While these are both great advancements, one piece of the equation has been completely ignored: fathers. The Institute for Family Studies takes a strong stance that, “now is the time for conservatives to bring a distinctive pro-life message into the public square that is built on the foundation of marriage and responsible fatherhood.”
“Sinful” Restrictions: Both House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Rep. Jackie Speier recently attended and spoke at a “reproductive health roundtable discussion” at UCSF. During the discussion of where the pro-abortion movement is focusing next, so-called Catholic Pelosi ironically claimed that restricting abortion is “sinful.”
Good News
Messages of Hope: After the overturn of Roe v. Wade, the Sisters of Life announced a renewal of their “commitment to love.” Now they continue to offer support and encouragement, including these eight messages of hope from Sister Marie Veritas for any woman who is pregnant and scared.
Quote of the Week
“We will continue to pray and to work for the conversion of hearts and minds to the plight of voiceless unborn, hoping to save as many as we can, until the evil of abortion in our country comes to an end and children are welcomed and loved for who they are: persons made in the image of God and called to eternal union with him.”
~ Father Thomas Petri, source
