In This Issue:
- PRI in the Media
- How Fragile is the CCP?
- Deepening Depopulation
- Swiss Birth Rate Hits Record Low
- Housing Crisis Fuels Fertility Decline
- Poland Faces Steep Population Collapse
- India’s Fertility Crisis Deepens Further
- Communist China
- China’s Marriages See Brief Rebound
- Science Gone Mad
- IVF Deaths in U.S. Surpass Abortions
- Pro-Life Around the World
- Scotland Moves to Decriminalize Abortion
- Abortion Excluded from Loss Certificates
- Pro-Life on the Home Front
- Planned Parenthood Faces $350M Suit
- Virginia Elects Anti-Life Governor
- Senate Deal Includes Abortion Limits
- Doctor Suspended for Forcing Abortion Pills
- Good News
- Baby Born at 23 Weeks Survives
PRI in the Media
How Fragile is the CCP?: PRI President Steven Mosher recently appeared on Brad Carr’s podcast to discuss the deadly nature of communism and the ongoing threat posed by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). Drawing on his experience as the first American social scientist to conduct research in China in 1979, Mr. Mosher described the CCP’s coercive population control policies of forced abortion and sterilization. As former CCP leader Chairman Mao once said, China seeks to “control the production of human beings” as it does steel or bicycles. Mr. Mosher also discussed the Vatican’s troubling cooperation with Beijing and warned that the CCP will soon collapse as a result of its own corruption.
Deepening Depopulation
Swiss Birth Rate Hits Record Low: Switzerland’s fertility rate has fallen to 1.29 children per woman, the lowest level since records began, according to new data from the Federal Statistical Office. Births of third children fell 13.6% in 2024, while first and second births have declined 8.5% and 9% respectively since 2019. Women aged 35–39 now give birth more often than those aged 25–29, reflecting delayed family formation. The share of young adults intending to remain childless has also surged: among 20–29-year-olds, 17% now say they do not want children, up from 6% in 2013. Financial pressures, career concerns, and shifting expectations are driving the decline.
Housing Crisis Fuels Fertility Decline: A new study from the University of Toronto has found that rising housing costs account for 51% of the U.S. fertility decline between the 2000s and 2010s, making the housing crisis a leading driver of demographic decline. Researcher Benjamin K. Couillard estimates that if housing costs had remained flat since 1990, the U.S. would have seen 13 million more births by 2020, and fertility would be 77% closer to replacement level. The nation’s fertility rate has fallen from 2.08 in 1990 to 1.59 in 2024, underscoring how unaffordable housing now threatens long-term population stability.
Poland Faces Steep Population Collapse: Poland’s population is projected to decline even faster than expected, according to new data from Statistics Poland (GUS). If record-low fertility persists, the population could shrink from 37.4 million today to just 29.4 million by 2060— 1.5 million fewer than previous forecasts. The fertility rate has fallen to 1.1 children per woman, the lowest in Poland’s history and among the lowest globally. By 2060, only 47.6% of Poles will be of working age, while 37.4% will be retired. Despite expanded child benefits and other incentives, the nation’s demographic collapse shows no sign of slowing.
India’s Fertility Crisis Deepens Further: India’s fertility rate has fallen below replacement level to 1.9 children per woman, with new research pointing to air pollution, extreme heat, and chronic stress as major contributors. Studies by the Indian Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and other medical institutions link exposure to PM2.5 pollutants to a 15–20% decline in sperm count and higher miscarriage risk. Prolonged heat exposure may reduce female conception rates by 10–20%, while chronic stress further disrupts reproductive hormones.
Communist China
China’s Marriages See Brief Rebound: China has reported an 8.5% rise in marriage registrations over the first three quarters of 2025, with 5.15 million couples marrying compared to 4.75 million last year—a rare uptick amid the country’s ongoing population decline and aging crisis. The increase follows new pro-marriage policies, including extended marriage leave and financial incentives in many provinces. However, experts warn the rebound will be brief, as the share of young adults aged 20–39 continues to shrink—falling from 31.47% of the population a decade ago—leaving fewer future couples to marry or raise children.
Science Gone Mad
IVF Deaths in U.S. Surpass Abortions: A new report from the Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology (SART) has revealed that more lives are now lost through IVF than through abortion each year in the U.S. In 2023, more than 432,000 IVF cycles produced fewer than 96,000 live births, while an estimated 1.94 million embryos died before implantation, and another 1.75 million were frozen, destroyed, or donated to research. By comparison, 1,037,880 abortions were committed in the U.S. that year. Though promoted as “creating life,” IVF now ends more unborn lives in America than abortion itself.
Pro-Life Around the World
Scotland Moves to Decriminalize Abortion: The author of Scotland’s abortion “buffer zone” law, MSP Gillian Mackay of the Scottish Greens, now seeks to decriminalize abortion entirely. Mackay claims abortion should be treated as “routine healthcare” and wants to abolish the rule requiring two doctors’ approval. Decriminalization would allow women taking abortion pills beyond the 24-week limit to face no investigation or prosecution, effectively legalizing late-term abortion. The proposal would remove all protections for unborn children under the guise of expanding “healthcare” rights.
Abortion Excluded from Loss Certificates: Northern Ireland’s Assembly has defeated an amendment that would have explicitly included women who have had abortions in a new baby loss certificate scheme. Introduced by Timothy Gaston, a Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) with the Traditional Unionist Voice (TUV)—a socially conservative, pro-life party—sought to allow women who miscarried or regretted an abortion to apply for a certificate recognizing their baby’s death. It was rejected 53 to 23, with opponents calling the language “callous” and “upsetting.” Supporters said it would offer compassion to women seeking closure, while others insisted the current bill already covers “all forms of loss.” Northern Ireland records stillbirths after 24 weeks, but earlier losses remain unrecognized.
Pro-Life on the Home Front
Planned Parenthood Faces $350M Suit: Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier has filed a major lawsuit against Planned Parenthood for falsely claiming that the abortion drug mifepristone is “safer than Tylenol.” Uthmeier argues that the drug, used in chemical abortions, carries life-threatening risks for women, with studies showing more than one death per year linked to complications and up to 10% of women suffering severe side effects such as hemorrhage or sepsis within 45 days. Florida is seeking $350 million in damages, arguing that the abortion industry’s deceptive, profit-driven marketing puts women at risk while ending unborn lives.
Virginia Elects Anti-Life Governor: Democrat Abigail Spanberger has been elected Virginia’s first female governor, pledging to codify abortion in the state constitution and “absolutely veto” all pro-life legislation. Backed by Planned Parenthood and a Democrat-controlled legislature, Spanberger is expected to advance some of the most extreme abortion measures in state history. Her record includes co-sponsoring federal bills expanding abortion access and opposing born-alive protections. Newly elected Lt. Gov. Ghazala Hashmi has also supported abortion as “protected health care” and assisted-suicide bills. The new administration will dismantle parental consent laws, obstruct pregnancy care programs, and make Virginia a stronghold for abortion in the South.
Senate Deal Includes Abortion Limits: Following the lengthy government shutdown, Senate Republicans and Democrats reached a bipartisan deal that restores Hyde Amendment-style abortion funding restrictions to federal spending. The agreement, extending fiscal year 2025 funding through March 14, 2026, prohibits any taxpayer dollars from subsidizing abortion coverage under Obamacare exchanges—a first since 2017. The measure is a major victory for life, crediting Republican negotiators Mitch McConnell and Ted Cruz for insisting on the abortion funding ban.
Doctor Suspended for Forcing Abortion Pills: Ohio’s medical board has suspended the license of Dr. Hassan-James Abbas, a surgical resident at the University of Toledo, after he allegedly used his estranged wife’s information to order abortion drugs from an out-of-state provider and forced his girlfriend to ingest them without consent. According to board records, Abbas admitted to administering the drugs but claimed she agreed. The woman escaped and was treated as an assault victim at a local hospital. Abbas faces no criminal charges yet, but remains on administrative leave as the University of Toledo cooperates with the state investigation.
Good News
Baby Born at 23 Weeks Survives: A baby boy born at just 23 weeks gestation has defied all odds after spending 230 days in the hospital and undergoing five surgeries before finally going home. Freddie Havard—born alongside his twin brother Charlie, who sadly passed away a week after birth—survived despite doctors’ warnings that he would not. His mother, Lucy, went into early labor due to twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome. Freddie overcame infections and sepsis, proving his remarkable strength. His story highlights the resilience and humanity of even the youngest lives. He is proof that, as Lucy says, “miracles do happen.”
Quote of the Week
“Marriage and childbearing must be made affordable, if America’s ongoing fertility decline is to be reversed. We must start by ‘Making Birth Free,’ and then move from there to sheltering young couples willing to have children from all taxes. Those who are pouring their hearts and souls into raising little images of God—also known as future taxpayers—should be exempt from taxation.”
~ PRI President Steven Mosher
