Abortion foes begin to make their case in Russia

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-russabort21-2008sep21,0,4266940.story ^

[kronos77]

"They should realize that what they're doing is already a murder," she said.

A fledgling antiabortion movement is beginning to stir in Russia. Driven by a growing discussion of abortion as a moral issue and, most of all, by a government worried about demographics, doctors and politicians are quietly struggling to lower what is believed to be one of the world's highest abortion rates.

"The attitude has changed," abortion practitioner Alexander Medvedev said. "Even in community clinics, doctors are trying to dissuade patients from abortion. Now teenagers come to see us with already two or three abortions, and it's horrible."

The discussion is devoid of terms such as "pro-life" or "pro-choice." From doctors to patients to officials, nobody seems to consider seriously the possibility of outlawing abortion. But the government recently imposed new restrictions on the procedures after the 12th week of pregnancy, and toughened the language of a waiver that Russian women must sign before terminating a pregnancy.

Late-term abortions used to be easily accessible on "social" grounds: A woman merely had to visit a social worker, complain that she wouldn't be able to raise a child, and she could collect a stamped waiver. These days, exceptions are available only for extreme circumstances, such as the sudden death of a husband or a medical emergency.

In 2007, for the first time in decades, Russia's Federal State Statistics Service counted slightly more live births than abortions in Russia. But doctors say those statistics are flawed because of the growing number of women who opt for undocumented abortions in private clinics.

[SevenofNine]

Hey Wagglebee check this out

[Aliska]

ping, here's another country that may be awakening.

Encouraging news all other considerations aside for now.

[dixiebelle]

This is encouraging. It’s not just Russia either. A church I worked with last year in Ukraine is in the beginning stages of setting up a crisis pregnancy center to educate young mothers and offer support.

[lil_rebbitzen]

Are they finally figuring out that they are going to be extinct soon if they keep aborting the kids?

[madprof98]

I give away pro-life bumper stickers. I get more requests from the former Soviet states than I do from our own country.

[Aliska]

Thanks for your #4. Russia is not like the other European countries from my POV because I don't think they've had an influx of immigrants like much of the rest of Europe and the US although their population is by no means homogenous, and they certainly have their problems. They have tremendous national pride as well that helps them through the rough times. I mean that in the context that within Russia itself, culture clashes might not be as foreboding as elsewhere. The satellite countries are a different matter.

They've got the upper hand on another issue as well, energy.

They've still got plenty of land and natural resources, and if their economy improves, they could end up in better shape than us. The Russian people are far better at handling hardship than we are as a society.

[Salvation]

Pray for an end to abortion and the conversion of the world to a mindset of life!  (Otherwise we will have nuclear war.  This is a real prophecy.)

[Inclines to the Right]

Precious x 5= Artamkin Quintuplets

http://www.incrediblebirths.com/Quintuplets/Artamkin-Quintuplets.html

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-494130/The-fab-Couple-birth-healthy-quintuplets—despite-told-abort.html

I was looking for a particular picture of them but wanted to at least post these stories until I did.