(National Right
to Life) - The Ministry of Health in Russia has signed an
agreement with the Russian Orthodox Church that includes prevention of abortion
and provision of palliative care . The agreement signed by Health Minister
Veronika Skvortsova and Patriarch Kirill, the head of the Russian Orthodox
Churchwas published on the website of the Synodal
Department for ROC Church Charity and Social Service.
Article 9 of the 21 article agreement establishes cooperation “on the protection of maternal and child health, including reproductive health, promotion of family values and prevention of abortion.”
The agreement includes joint actions with medical institutions for the
“creation of crisis pregnancy centers at hospitals with the
participation of psychologists and participation of representatives of religious
organizations of the Russian Orthodox Church in advising women who are planning
to terminate the pregnancy, in medical institutions”
and for the provision of space for
“posting information of religious organizations of the Russian
Orthodox Church on the stands in medical institutions.”
Additionally, the two parties will also undertake
“joint efforts to provide assistance and support to pregnant women
whose prenatal diagnosis indicate to the malformation of the fetus, as well as
mothers who give birth to a child with developmental disabilities.”
Under Article 5, the Orthodox Church will cooperate with the
Health Ministry in the preparation of health professionals by providing
formative instruction on the spiritual foundations of medical activities and by
facilitating the interaction of medical organizations with organizations of the
Russian Orthodox Church.
