Russian Orthodox clergy in Alapayevsk launch campaign to provide mothers economic help for not aborting. Women receive a thousand rubles a month without distinction of religion. Result is a 40 per cent drop in number of abortions.

Moscow (AsiaNews/Agencies) – The Russian Orthodox clergy in Alapayevsk, a town in the Sverdlovsk region (Urals), has decided to counter the country’s demographic crisis by providing mothers in difficulty with help.

Women who reject abortion receive a grant of a thousand rubles (US$ 39, € 29) per month to pay for the delivery and initial child-raising costs.

The idea belongs to the rector of a local church, Fr Moisei. And the money used is taken from people’s donations and the church building fund.

“From the viewpoint of religion, abortion is a grave crime. We combat this sin by preaching, but that’s not enough. We should better understand the future mother’s problems. All of them have something that drives them to ask for the horrible operation,” the priest said.

The financial aid is offered to all women, irrespective of religion.

Doctors are the first who try to dissuade future mothers.

Since the campaign began the number of abortions in the town has dropped by 40 per cent.

• russia
• alapyevsk
• sverdlovsk
• urals
• abortion
• financial
• aid
• mothers
• clergy
• russian
• orthodox