The proposal of the Russian Orthodox Church to take the consent of the husband for an abortion caused bewilderment among medical experts

The Russian Orthodox Church proposed a number of measures that, in the opinion of the clergy, will help reduce the number of abortions in the country and encourage Russian women to give birth more. These “innovative ideas” caused, to put it mildly, an ambiguous reaction in society. MK discussed the church’s proposals with leading Russian reproductive health expert Lyubov Yerofeeva, who criticized them.

Speaking at the round table of the State Duma Committee on Family, Women and Children as part of the 21st International Christmas Educational Readings, Priest Fyodor Lukyanov (who is also the chairman of the Patriarchal Commission on Family, Motherhood and Childhood), spoke about the proposal of the Russian Orthodox Church to ban abortions for Russian citizens without the consent of their husbands. According to the speaker, there should be not only the voluntary consent of the woman herself, who wants to terminate the pregnancy, but also her husband. In addition, Fedor Lukyanov is convinced that it is necessary to introduce into Russian legislation a provision on mandatory pre-abortion psychological counseling of the child’s parents with a demonstration of the fetal heartbeat.

Also, Priest Lukyanov called for a ban on abortions in private clinics, where an abortion can be done on the day of treatment, where pre-abortion counseling is not carried out and the “week of silence” is not observed, that is, 7 days to think whether to leave the child or not. Moreover, he voiced an idea that is quite exotic in modern times – to exclude a threat to the health of the child from the list of medical indications for abortion, while retaining in it only a threat to the health of the mother. Like, perinatal screening is sometimes wrong.

– These, in my opinion, are not very reasonable and not very logical proposals, – the doctor, obstetrician-gynecologist, recognized expert in the field of reproductive health Lyubov Erofeeva expressed her opinion to MK. – For what purpose are they being put forward? To force women to give birth to unwanted children? We would like to go out, provide them with good medicine, provide social support, put them on their feet …

I am surprised that the clergyman, speaking before the State Duma Committee on Family, Women and Children, is not aware that many of the supposedly “innovative” things that he proposes have already been put into practice. Psychological counseling is practically worth nothing! Unless 5% of women can change their mind.

– What do you think about the proposal to take consent from her husband?

– This is the most important point. Abortion is allowed from the age of 15. Under the age of 15, informed consent is required, signed by the girl’s parent or guardian. From the age of 15, she has the right to make decisions regarding her health and her fate – on her own! ROC wants a woman to limit her rights? Maybe we will restrict women in some other rights, in voting, for example? Let him ask the consent of her husband, for whom to vote in the elections …

By the way, I would like to emphasize that the churched women, who have their own pastors and confessors, do not have such a question at all! They are completely different about these things.

Making a decision to terminate a pregnancy for a woman is already very difficult! Tears are given. What is behind these tears – each has a million reasons. She may tell us that she has a “difficult financial situation”, but, in fact, there may be domestic violence, and an alcoholic or drug addict husband. Maybe he betrayed her, maybe he lives at her expense … A woman will not tell a stranger about such things.

Why should third parties who have nothing to do with her personal circumstances interfere in her decision? It is not they who risk their health and life, but the woman. And she will raise the child to her feet …

– How to achieve a reduction in the number of abortions by reasonable methods?

“We have reduced the number of abortions. Now we have less than 500,000 abortions a year. In the USSR, let me remind you, 6 million were made annually. There is only one way to reduce the number of abortions: using modern contraception. Well, to achieve an increase in the birth rate – social incentives. If we want women to give birth more, the family must have a stable income, there must be a calm economic and political situation in the country, and so on. And by the way, we have sufficient legislation to control private clinics, so that they act according to the law. And it’s not true that most medical abortions are done in private clinics, as Lukyanov says. Moreover, medical abortion is safer than surgical abortion.

As for the reduction of abortion limits to 8 weeks, such a rule exists in a few countries of the world, Lyubov Erofeeva continues. And in the vast majority of countries – up to 14 weeks! “Let’s do it up to 14 weeks, as in most countries!” the doctor says.

In turn, the head of the program to help pregnant women and families with children in a crisis situation, Ekaterina Markova, questioned the point in the proposals of the Russian Orthodox Church – to demand consent to an abortion from their husbands. In her experience, on the contrary, many husbands or cohabitants persuade their wives to terminate the pregnancy, for various reasons …

“In our practice of pre-abortion counseling, women who go for an abortion secretly from their husband make up a small percentage,” Ekaterina Markova told MK. – A different situation is much more common: a man does not support a woman’s decision to save the life of their common child. We are often approached by women who are pushed to have an abortion by their husbands or cohabitants. Or they don’t push, but, so to speak, wash their hands, completely step back from the situation, shifting all responsibility to the woman. This puts her before a difficult choice, listen to her husband or give a new life …

In my opinion, in this matter it is necessary to concentrate on the education of young men and men and on the promotion of family values. Abortion, in my opinion, destroys trust and love in the family.

Read also: “The Russian Orthodox Church is leading Russia to a ban on unjustified termination of pregnancy”