"Cause for Concern"

Posted on 25 August 2009.

Earlier this year, a top family planning official described overpopulation as "one of China's primary problems" and said that if China had not implemented the one-child policy, the total population would now have passed 1.7 billion. The current population is estimated to be 1.328 billion.

Sadly, alongside just 20 million births each year, there are at least 13 million abortions, with experts saying that many further abortions take place at unregistered clinics. About 10 million abortion pills are also sold each year. The Chinese media themselves have described this high number as "cause for concern".

Married women who already have a child will often have an abortion when faced with an unplanned pregnancy. Some have said they were pressured into terminating the pregnancy either by family members or by local family planning officials.

However, figures now show a growing number of young, single women are undergoing abortions. Pregnancy outside marriage is generally frowned upon in Chinese society and under current laws unmarried mothers cannot get a household registration card for their child, which makes it extremely difficult for them to get access to education, healthcare and other public services.

Pray for all those who are suffering physical and emotional after-effects following an abortion. May each one find the Lord's forgiveness and healing touch.

Pray that young Chinese men and women might recognise the negative consequences of pre-marital sex and make the decision to wait for marriage.

Pray that this recognition that the high number of abortions is "cause for concern" might lead to a real turnaround in attitudes towards abortion in China. May it no longer be seen as an easy option to "solve" an unplanned pregnancy.