In This Issue:
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- The Dystopia of “Plan 75”
- Moms in the U.S.
- Family Cures Loneliness
- Communist China
- New Espionage Law
- Indoctrination of Children
- Last Gen Shut Down
- A Gift from China
- UN Misdeeds
- Pro-Lifers Make Petition
- Science Gone Mad
- Why Women Freeze Their Eggs
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- Trump Wins Over Pro-Life Leaders
- Pro-Life on the Home Front
- Trump Wins Over Pro-Life Leaders
- OTC Birth Control
- A Pack of Pro-Life Laws
- Try, Try Again
- Good News
- Surgery on the Unborn
A Message from PRI President Steven Mosher for Mother’s Day this Coming Sunday
“A man may build a house or design a car, but the greatest accomplishment of all is to build a dwelling place for an immortal soul. And this glory is restricted to those women who become mothers. So, Happy Mother’s Day!”
Deepening Depopulation
The Dystopia of “Plan 75”: A new Japanese film explores a dystopian solution to the aging population of the country. The film imagines a world where all individuals over the age of 75 volunteer to be euthanized to relieve the “burden” on society. Director Chie Hayakawa described her project as “too real to be sci-fi.”
“I am afraid this fictional Japanese film about euthanizing those over 75 may become reality in China,” says PRI President Steven Mosher. “Its population is aging more rapidly than any on the planet because of the now defunct one-child policy of decades past.”
Moms in the U.S.: Being a mother in the United States looks a lot different than it did a few decades ago. Due to delaying childbirth, mothers are getting older and having fewer children. But a majority still say that being a mother is rewarding and see their parental role as key to their personal identity.
Family Cures Loneliness: The fact that the United States is facing an “epidemic of loneliness” has come to public attention. Last week, U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murphy developed an advisory on this issue, including his “six pillars to advance social connection.” But ignored among his solutions is family, even though his own family played a great role in his personal battle with loneliness.
Communist China
New Espionage Law: This July, the CCP’s new anti-espionage law will go into effect. The law’s vague wording leaves the CCP in ultimate control of determining who can be punished for being a spy. This criterion makes a spy, “whoever makes available internationally information the CCP would prefer to hide.”
Indoctrination of Children: In 2019, the CCP began a process of cultural genocide when it moved 900,000 Uyghur children to boarding schools away from their families and community. Now, videos from the past year are surfacing of the indoctrination and militarization of these children. Boys, ages 5-11, are being groomed to join the Chinese People’s Liberation Army.
Last Gen Shut Down: Authorities in Shenzhen shut down an art exhibit showcasing a piece about the “last generation.” The artist, Li Wei, was served a notice of closure on his piece that said, “We Are The Last Generation, Thank You” in both English and Chinese. This is one small piece of Xi Jinping’s battle against the youth’s resistance to his control.
A Gift from China: The Catholic Chinese community sent two statues to Rome as a gift. The statues showcase Father Matteo Ricci, the initiator of the Catholic movement in Shanghai, and Xu Guangqi, Ricci’s disciple. Both were blessed by Cardinal Parolin, who stated that the statues represent peacebuilding between “distant and very different cultures.”
UN Misdeeds
Pro-Lifers Make Petition: Last week, pro-life groups banded together to ask Senate and House leaders to ensure that a new HIV/AIDs bill is used for its intended purpose. The pro-life leaders are concerned that the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) will ultimately benefit those pushing abortion and transgender ideology abroad.
Science Gone Mad
Why Women Freeze Eggs: Anthropologist Marcia C. Inhorn spent the last ten years studying why women choose to freeze their eggs. According to her study, the decision is driven by a “shortage of suitable, educated men.” This “mating gap” continues to grow as more women enter higher education than men.
“We live in an age in which emasculates men and feminizes boys at the same time that it teaches girls to behave like boys and women to behave like men,” says PRI President Steven Mosher. “And then people wonder why the sexes don’t mesh very well anymore.”
Pro-Life Around the World
A Tragic Figure: Fifty-five years ago, the Abortion Act received Royal Assent in the United Kingdom. Since then, 10,135,618 babies have lost their lives. The year 2021 holds the record high for most abortions in a year at a whopping 214,869.
A Letter Against Death: In honor of the National Week for Family and Life, the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops wrote an open letter against euthanasia. They particularly condemned the legislation that will allow mentally ill individuals to access euthanasia or assisted suicide by 2024.
Pro-Life on the Home Front
Trump Wins Over Pro-Life Leaders: Key pro-life leaders emerged from a meeting with Donald Trump, praising him and his anti-abortion stance. This meeting remedied the controversy stirred by campaign spokesperson Steven Cheung several weeks prior.
“Never doubt that the most pro-life president in my lifetime will do all he can to reduce the number of abortions in America,” says PRI President Steven Mosher. “He did it once and he will do it again.”
OTC Birth Control: The FDA is currently considering whether to permit the release of the first over-the-counter birth control pill, “Opill.” The agency has raised multiple concerns, including whether adults and teenagers will be able to understand the directions and correctly follow the label’s instructions. The final decision on the drug is expected to come later this summer.
A Pack of Pro-Life Laws: Last week, Montana Governor Greg Gianforte signed a stack of pro-family, pro-child, and pro-life bills into law. Among the bills are protections for the unborn, especially those born alive, and pro-life doctors, preserving their right to conscience.
Try, Try Again: Two weeks ago, a heartbeat bill introduced by Nebraska Senator Ben Hansen failed to advance. But he isn’t giving up. In a new bill, aimed at limiting transgender treatments for minors, Hansen has added a 12-week abortion limit. He hopes to push through pro-life policy with this compromise.
Good News
Surgery on the Unborn: Doctors successfully performed a first-of-its-kind brain surgery on a baby in-utero. The surgery was completed at thirty-four weeks gestation, and today, the baby is a healthy six weeks old. She has needed no medication or surgery post-birth and is developing normally.
Quote of the Week
“Thank you, women who are mothers! You have sheltered human beings within yourselves in a unique experience of joy and travail. This experience makes you become God’s own smile upon the newborn child, the one who guides your child’s first steps, who helps it to grow, and who is the anchor as the child makes its way along the journey of life.”
~ Pope John Paul II, Letter to Women
