In This Issue:
- PRI in the Media
- Baby Doom
- More American Babies
- Ladies of Another View
- Deepening Depopulation
- Less Work, More Love
- Big Government, Small Families
- UN Misdeeds
- UN Targets Poland
- Science Gone Mad
- 7 Reasons Against IVF
- Pro-Life Around the World
- The Movement in India
- Protect Born Alive Babies
- Report Abortion Complications
- Pro-Life on the Home Front
- Claims Debunked
- Stop Amendment 4
- Good News
- Miracle Baby
PRI in the Media
Baby Doom: PRI President Steven Mosher has issued a stark warning in his latest article for the New York Post. In this article, Mr. Mosher highlighted the alarming global decline in birth rates. This birth rate issue is widespread, as Mr. Mosher explained “for the first time in the 60,000 or so years that human beings first arrived on the planet, we are not having enough babies to replace ourselves.” In addition, he argues that the 2.1 births per woman, often reported as the necessary replacement rate, is too low because “in many countries sex-selection abortion skews the sex ratio strongly in favor of boys.” Mosher criticized international organizations, including the UN Population Fund and the World Bank, for masking the true extent of the problem. “These agencies, set up during the height of the hysteria over ‘overpopulation’ in the 1960s, like to overestimate births in one country and pad population numbers in another,” he argued.
More American Babies: The number of births in America set another record last year, CDC data shows, but it’s not one we should celebrate. Just under 3.6 million babies were born in 2023, about 68,000 fewer than the year before. In this piece for LifeSiteNews, Mr. Mosher points out the danger of these figures, as low birth rates can lead to economic and societal collapse. America needs more children and bigger families to provide for the future of the nation. While neither candidate in the election this November is perfect, the public has a choice between a candidate that wants more American babies and one that does not.
Ladies of Another View: Mr. Mosher recently appeared on Ladies of Another View to discuss his latest book, The Devil and Communist China: From Mao Down to Xi. This book explores the deep ideological roots of Communism, its rejection of faith, and the suffering it has caused the Chinese people. Mr. Mosher witnessed this suffering firsthand, as he was present in 1980 when the one-child policy began. It was these personal experiences in China that led to his conversion from pro-choice atheism to pro-life Roman Catholicism. In this interview, Mr. Mosher also addressed the growing concern about Communist influence in the U.S. and whether America should fear China’s rising power.
Haven’t read The Devil and Communist China yet? Request a copy today.
Deepening Depopulation
Less Work, More Love: Gyeonggi province, the largest in South Korea, has launched a four-day workweek trial to improve the productivity and the well-being of its employees. South Korea is known for its work culture, which has long been associated with high stress levels, widespread burnout, and a declining population. This move to a shorter work week marks a major shift in the country’s approach to work and family life. This trial will allow couples more time together. If this has a positive result on the country’s fertility rates, Gyeonggi province will become a model for other provinces in South Korea.
Big Government, Small Families: In 1986, Ronald Reagan famously remarked, “I think you all know that I’ve always felt the nine most terrifying words in the English language are, ‘I’m from the government, and I’m here to help.’” This statement holds true today, as increased government overreach has had a visibly negative impact on family life in the United States. A recent survey by the Institute for Family Studies found that while 83% of today’s young adults report wanting to get married, 73% believe that marriage is too expensive, with the vast majority delaying marriage to get their finances in order first. Subsequently, starting a family is often delayed or abandoned entirely. Misguided policies and politics have discouraged young adults from believing in the American dream. As a result, many sacrifice marriage and family, despite their desire for both.
UN Misdeeds
UN Targets Poland: This week, the UN treaty body dedicated to women’s rights released a report accusing Poland of infringing on women’s rights by limiting abortion access. The CEDAW Committee urged Poland to recognize “the right to abortion as a fundamental right” and to implement standards consistent with World Health Organization guidelines, including “full decriminalization and legalization of abortion.” Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk recently informed reporters, “There will be no majority in this parliament for full legal abortion until the next elections. Let’s not kid ourselves.” Elected to a four-year term last fall, Tusk is a centrist leading a coalition government with varied views on abortion. Following the loss of power by the previous pro-life administration, abortion advocates have intensified their efforts to push for “reform.”
Science Gone Mad
7 Reasons Against IVF: Couples who pursue in vitro fertilization to grow their families are responding to a God-given desire to have children, but they’re using an immoral process to achieve that. In this piece, OB/GYN Dr. Damon Cudihy gave seven reasons why IVF is a bad idea. IVF involves the creation of many embryos, a majority of which will never be implanted in their mothers’ womb. As many as 96% of the children conceived in this process are intentionally discarded as trash, sold as material for scientific experimentation, placed in freezers, or die in the attempts to establish a successful pregnancy. IVF is a “solution” to infertility that fails to uncover the real reasons for a woman’s infertility. At the end of the day, IVF negatively affects men, women, and their unborn children.
Pro-Life Around the World
The Movement in India: India’s third annual March for Life drew a record crowd of 7,500 participants in defense of the unborn. In an exclusive interview, Bishop Gerald John Mathias of the Diocese of Lucknow, India, shared his experience at this year’s event. His interest in medical ethics and pro-life-related issues motivated him to attend and participate in the march. With India’s pro-life movement still in its formative years, Mathias emphasized the critical importance of defending the right to life and highlighted the need for the pro-life movement to expand widely. He stressed that increasing public awareness about the necessity of protecting life is essential.
In conclusion, Bishop Mathis stated, “Defend life, respect life, promote life. And avoid any grave violation of life. And so, my appeal is to follow the teaching of the Church and respect life, to defend the dignity of human life. Always from the first moment of conception to natural death. Nobody has the right to an abortion or has the right to kill another person. And particularly innocent, defenseless, voiceless children in the womb must be defended.”
Protect Born Alive Babies: An Australian midwife gave a tear-filled testimony recalling the babies she has witnessed being born alive after failed abortions. Louise Adsett, a clinical midwife with 14 years of experience in maternity and birthing units in Queensland, presented this evidence to a state parliamentary inquiry regarding the Termination of Pregnancy (Live Births) Amendment Bill 2024. Adsett advocated for the necessity of this bill, which would introduce legal protections for babies born as a result of a termination of pregnancy procedure. “We’ve had babies born alive after terminations from 15 to 22 weeks, born alive, gasping for air, moving and having a palpable heart rate – fighting for their lives as we as humans are designed to do,” Adsett stated. She went on to share that she and the other midwives are not allowed to provide any medical care for these struggling infants, instead they can provide comfort care only which consists of merely wrapping and holding the baby.
Report Abortion Complications: A new bill introduced in the House of Lords by Lord Moylan aims to mandate the Government to report annually on complications arising from abortions, including cases where parts of the unborn baby are left in the mother’s womb. The Complications from Abortions (Annual Report) Bill had its First Reading this week. If passed, it would address the current omission of incomplete abortions from annual statistics, which the Department of Health and Social Care admits often leads to complications. Omissions of situations such as these contribute to the gaps in the abortion data in the United Kingdom. Abortion complication rates are likely much higher than has been previously reported in the annual abortion statistics
Pro-Life on the Home Front
Claims Debunked: After Roe v. Wade was overturned, the pro-abortion movement spread the claim that pro-life laws would cause hospital closures and drive doctors away. Now, the Charlotte Lozier Institute has released a study debunking these claims. Pro-life states have continued to see growth in medical school enrollment and receive numerous applications for residency positions. While there has been a slight decrease in OB-GYN residency applications, interest has remained high, with virtually all residency spots filled. Hospital closures in these states have been primarily due to financial issues and declining patient volumes, not abortion policies. Pro-life states have also increased training opportunities for future doctors and remained attractive locations for medical professionals due to factors like lifestyle and malpractice reforms. Overall, pro-life states are effectively addressing concerns about healthcare access and continue to foster medical growth.
Stop Amendment 4: Pro-life advocates are sounding the alarm on Florida’s Amendment 4. This amendment aims to not only overturn the state’s six-week abortion restriction but also enshrine the right to abortion in the state constitution. If approved, this amendment would prevent any law from restricting abortion before viability or when deemed necessary for the patient’s health, and potentially end requirements including parental consent and waiting periods. Former President Donald Trump and pro-life leaders like John Stemberger, have argued that the amendment is extreme and deceptive, funded by groups like George Soros and Planned Parenthood. The bill’s broad language could lead to unrestricted abortion access, undermining pro-life protections and healthcare regulations.
Good News
Miracle Baby: One happy family was able to welcome home a new baby girl after she spent four months in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). Miracle Murray was born on April 2nd at Richmond University Hospital (RUMC) in Staten Island, New York. Born early at 23 weeks gestation, she weighed a mere one pound at birth. Despite the challenges that the medical team faced in caring for such a premature baby, Miracle steadily grew stronger. Joanna Barretta, a physician assistant involved in caring for Miracle, marveled at how so many premature babies are able to thrive when given the proper care. Miracle was discharged on August 21 weighing a healthy 8 pounds, 3 ounces, and “looking as healthy as some of the full-term babies.”
Quote of the Week
“Here’s the secret: Talking about the joys of parenthood isn’t just some slick spin to get people to produce more human capital. No, it’s the truth. There is no higher joy, no greater euphoria, no more thrilling or exalted accomplishment than bringing a unique soul, all their own, into the world and orienting them toward virtue.”
~Bethany Mandel, source
