PRI Insider (Volume 5, Issue 13) April 18

PRI Staff

In This Issue:

 

PRI in the Media

FIGO Exposed: Our latest report, exposing one of the most extreme international abortion organizations, has been getting attention around the world. This report, prepared by the Ibero-America and Europe Offices of the Population Research Institute, analyzed the radical pro-abortion strategy of the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) and its affiliates. Our team found abundant evidence that FIGO—funded by USAID—was focused on ending pro-life laws, eliminating conscience protections, and more. The abortion organization was also advocating for do-it-yourself abortions with no medical assistance and late-term abortions. 

The FIGO report is available in both English and Spanish

The China Hawk: This week, PRI President Steven Mosher appeared on Varney & Co on Fox Business to answer the question, “Can China be trusted?” Mr. Mosher, the original “China Hawk,” reminded viewers of a critical and often overlooked fact: China is determined to dominate the 21st century—and will do whatever it takes to achieve that goal. Every interaction with China must be viewed through a national security lens. This mindset explains the long history of broken promises and agreements—both verbal and written—between the U.S. and China. While China has taken advantage of the U.S. for years, the current administration has made it clear that this will no longer be tolerated. 

 

Deepening Depopulation

Doubled in Two Decades: A new study published in the Journal of Marriage and Family has revealed that the percentage of U.S. adults without children who say they don’t want any has more than doubled over the past two decades. This figure rose from 14% in 2002 to 29% in 2023. Over the same period, the proportion of non-parents planning to have children fell from 79% to 59%. Using data from the National Survey of Family Growth, which surveyed about 80,000 adults, researchers found that among over 42,000 childless participants, nearly 30% identified as “childfree” by choice—significantly more than those who cited biological (3.7%) or social (4.8%) barriers to having children.

Rewards Outweigh the Costs: A recent survey by Poland’s Institute for Family and Society Studies found that the vast majority of Polish parents view parenthood positively. A majority,  72%, said the emotional rewards outweigh the financial costs, with only 6% disagreeing. Additionally, 85% cannot imagine life without children, and nearly 80% would choose to have kids again if given the chance. Over 70% of respondents said parenthood gives them a greater sense of future security, a feeling that grows with age and number of children. Most parents also reported that children enhance their overall sense of meaning and life satisfaction, with only 3% perceiving a negative impact.

 

UN Misdeeds

U.S. Stands Strong: The U.S. government has blocked the adoption of the final agreement of the recent UN population commission over “gender ideology.” Leftists at the UN, including the European Union, saw this as a major loss, while traditional countries were grateful. Spencer Chretien, a Trump administration official at the U.S. State Department, had voiced frustration that U.S. views were ignored in the final draft. In his official statement, Chretien emphasized that the U.S. government rejected “gender ideology extremism” and had rejoined the Geneva Consensus Declaration, which states that “abortion is not an international right” and that the family is the “natural and fundamental group unit of society.” Due to this strong stance, the Dutch chairman of the commission withdrew the draft agreement from consideration.

 

Science Gone Mad

Robotic Conception: The first baby to be conceived through an IVF procedure largely completed by robots has come into the world. The procedure, intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), involves injecting a single sperm directly into an egg—bypassing the natural fertilization process entirely. The fertilization took place in Mexico, controlled remotely by technicians at Conceivable Life Sciences in New York. This development highlights the increasing push to replace the natural gift of life with artificial, profit-driven methods. IVF not only separates procreation from the marital act but often leads to the destruction or freezing of countless embryos—human lives treated as commodities. 

Read our fact sheet to learn more: In Vitro Fertilization: The Process, Risks, & Consequences Explained.

Birthing a Stranger’s Baby: A woman in Brisbane, Australia, gave birth to a stranger’s baby after an IVF clinic mistakenly transferred another patient’s embryo into her, an error the clinic blamed on “human error.” The mix-up was discovered in February when the clinic, Monash IVF, found an extra embryo in storage. Staff later confirmed that an embryo from another patient had been wrongly thawed and implanted, despite supposed safety protocols. The incident has been reported to Queensland authorities, and an initial investigation has not uncovered any other such errors. 

 

Pro-Life Around the World

Mexican State Approves Abortion: In a deeply troubling move, the Yucatán state Congress voted to decriminalize abortion up to 12 weeks of pregnancy, despite the state constitution’s clear protection of life from the moment of fertilization. The April 9th decision passed with 22 votes in favor and 13 against, promoting the so-called “right to decide,” while ignoring the rights of the most vulnerable—unborn children. While penalties for forced abortions were increased, the core issue remains: innocent human life in the womb is now left unprotected by the penal code during its most critical stage. Thankfully, the Yucatán Constitution still recognizes the personhood and legal protection of every human being from fertilization, underscoring the inconsistency of this new legislation. 

Doubling Down on Abortion: Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre has doubled down on his full support for abortion on demand in Canada, pledging that not only under his leadership—but even beyond it—the Conservative Party will not support any laws restricting abortion at any stage of pregnancy. Speaking at a rally, Poilievre cited the party’s 21-year-old policy, adopted in 2004, that explicitly rejects any legislation to regulate abortion. He conveniently made no mention of existing pro-life policies in the party’s own handbook, such as condemning sex-selective abortion, protecting medical conscience rights, or recognizing unborn victims of violence. Unlike past leaders who left room for pro-life voices, Poilievre’s sweeping guarantee sends a clear message: under his vision, there will be no place for any protections for the unborn—even those already supported by many within his own party.

 

Pro-Life on the Home Front

Guttmacher Releases New Data: A new report from the pro-abortion Guttmacher Institute reveals that abortions in 2024 increased slightly to over 1 million in states without bans, while out-of-state abortion travel dropped by about 9%. This decline is likely due to the widespread distribution of abortion pills by mail, which continues to undermine state-level protections for the unborn by allowing women to abort at home—even in states where such pills are illegal. Although 13 states currently ban most or all abortions, the abortion industry is aggressively working to nullify these laws through interstate travel support, border abortion centers, and abortion pill access. The report highlights the urgent need for national action to stop the trafficking of abortion pills and to enforce pro-life protections across state lines.

No Funding for ACOG: A new letter to the Department of Health and Human Services has called for an end to federal funding for the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG). ACOG is known for its promotion of radical gender ideology, abortion up to birth, and racially divisive medical guidelines—all done while receiving millions in taxpayer dollars. The organization has also long shown open hostility toward pro-life doctors and laws, falsely labeling abortion as essential health care and denying basic scientific truths about unborn children, including the reality of fetal heartbeat and pain. Alliance Defending Freedom’s Matthew Bowman urged HHS to cut off funding, warning that ACOG has become a radical, activist organization working against both life and genuine public health.

Heartbeat Law Saves Lives: A new analysis shows that Florida saw the largest drop in clinician-provided abortions nationwide last year, confirming the life-saving impact of the state’s six-week heartbeat law. According to data from the pro-abortion Guttmacher Institute, abortions in Florida fell from approximately 85,770 in 2023 to 73,710 in 2024, with a sharp decline in the second half of the year after the law took effect. Out-of-state abortion travel to Florida also plummeted, dropping from 11% of patients in 2023 to just 2% by the end of 2024. These numbers clearly demonstrate that strong pro-life legislation can protect unborn children and significantly reduce the abortion rate.

 

Good News

Pro-Life Bills Pass: The Kansas Legislature has overridden Governor Laura Kelly’s vetoes of two pro-life bills, marking a significant victory for the state’s pro-life movement. The first, HB2062, requires child support payments for unborn children starting at conception and allows expectant mothers to claim unborn or stillborn children as tax exemptions. This bill ensures that mothers receive critical support. The second bill, HB2382, mandates that fetal development be included in school curricula on human growth or sexuality. While Governor Kelly claimed it was manipulative and unscientific, lawmakers defended the fact that it presents objective scientific facts. Both vetoes were overridden by strong Republican majorities, reaffirming Kansas’ growing commitment to recognizing and protecting unborn life.

 

Quote of the Week 

“Our future is already mirrored in how we, as individuals and as a society, support mothers to raise strong and healthy families.”

~ Archbishop Auza, source

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