More private clinics refusing abortions – Russian Orthodox Church — RT Russia and former Soviet Union

More than 500 private medical centers are refusing to perform abortions despite being licensed to do so, the Russian Orthodox Church has said. The move comes amid a pro-life church initiative and a state push to boost Russia’s birth rate.

The head of the Russian Orthodox Church, Patriarch Kirill of Moscow, met on Thursday with senior clergy and the deputy chairman of the Demographic Commission of the Public Chamber of the Russian Federation.

“According to the meeting participants, more than 71 regions of the Russian Federation supported the initiative of His Holiness the Patriarch to restrict abortion; 502 private clinics in Russia refused to perform abortions, which is 18% of all clinics authorized to perform abortions,” The Church said in its statement.

In Russia, abortion is legal and covered by the national health insurance system. A pregnancy can be terminated up to 12 weeks of pregnancy at the request of the woman and up to 22 weeks for social reasons such as the result of rape, the death or disability of the husband. Abortions at a later stage can only be performed for medical reasons.

In both cases, waiting periods are mandatory after the woman’s request to allow for a consultation. A termination of pregnancy can be legally pronounced at any time for medical reasons.
The majority of the Russian population opposes abortion without medical reasons, the church said, citing a poll conducted earlier this year.

At least 77% of Russians consider the fetus to be a human being, according to a sociological study conducted by the Sociological Center of the Russian Academy of Sciences (RAN). Only 18% believe that a baby becomes a human being only at birth. Nearly three-quarters of respondents are against abortion by choice, conviction or for economic reasons, and allow abortion only in case of medical problems, according to the poll data.

According to official statistics, Russia’s birth rate hit its lowest level in 24 years last year. The number of abortions has been steadily declining since the 1990s, at a rate of about 6 percent per year.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has opposed bans on abortion in the past. This week, the Russian leader spoke out in favor of increasing the birth rate by creating the economic and social conditions conducive to creating large families.

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