Moscow must be counting down! (No, not to the Rugby World Cup, although there are only 93 days to go until the opening ceremony, and Russia’s first game is on 15 September against the USA…)  There are only three short weeks to go until the opening of the Moscow Demographic Summit: The Family and the Future of Humankind. On June 29-30, the Russian State Social University will host the Summit which will focus on the worldwide phenomenon of declining birth rates and is being sponsored by the World Congress of Families.

With the start of the Summit fast approaching, the list of speakers at the Summit has been announced.  Additionally, Patriach Kirill, head of the Russian Orthodox Church, has sent an official message of greeting to those attending it. His Holiness cited with approval the aim of the Summit which is:

“…to defend traditional family values and to analyze the world's demographic problems...[it] stands up for inviolability of human life, it speaks out against abortions, so-called same sex 'marriages,' euthanasia, drug addiction and alcoholism."

In response, the World Congress of Families International Secretary Dr Allan Carlson stated that they were honoured by the Patriach’s support and that the Summit will hopefully “make an important contribution to the cause of the natural family worldwide.”

The choice of Russia as the venue for the Summit is no coincidence.  As World Congress of Families Managing Director Larry Jacobs noted:

“Russia is ground-zero for demographic winter…Russia’s population has declined from 148.5 million in 1995 to 143 million today. Some demographers believe it could fall below 120 million by mid-point in this century. Adding to the tragedy, it’s estimated that there are 4 million abortions a year in Russia, and only 1.7 million live births.”

It is great to see events such as this standing up against the prevailing cultural tides and proclaiming its support for human dignity.  I hope that the Summit is a huge success and look forward to reading what comes out of it.

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