COMMENTARY: Russian Orthodox Church's Financial Support for Human Life Deserves Praise

In a unique and creative initiative -- designed to promote Christian values -- the Russian Orthodox Church last week decided to provide financial aid for the birth of children by poor mothers, who had originally planned to have an abortion.

This new plan was announced by Vladimir Legoida, the chairman of the Synodal information department of the Moscow Patriarchate.

Based upon this well thought-out plan, Chairman Legoida said the Russian Orthodox Church is prepared to pay money so that women in serious financial straits would not kill their children. He emphasized that the Church will not back out of financing this plan, since the money will be used to save human lives.

This Church plan also recommends that women -- who have already agreed to have an abortion -- take a two-week break before they make their final decision. The Church will encourage these women to use the free services of a psychologist and a priest in special centers for crisis pregnancy during this two-week period.

Indeed, the Russian Orthodox Church is planning to implement a bold, unique, and expensive undertaking, in an effort to save human lives and promote Christian doctrine. It must be commended for this selfless Christian act of love and compassion.

Although the Church's plan does not address the need for continued financial assistance to families after children are born, the fact is that these children's parents will find a way to support them. On the other hand, some of these parents may decide to give their children up for adoption.

There is a great demand for adopted children in Russia -- as well as in other countries -- since some married couples are unable to produce children, and would love to be able to adopt them. The Church's plan would reduce the amount of time that adoptive parents would have to wait, since it would allow more infants to be available for these prospective parents.

To be sure, the Russian Orthodox Church's plan to discourage abortion is a win-win situation -- a win for mothers who could not otherwise afford to have a child, and a win for the Church in its beloved support of the Christian attribute to save human lives.