South Korean bishops launch anti abortion drive

(February 09, 2011) Unmarried pregnant women in South Korea, a nation with one of the highest abortion rates in the world, will be able to receive free maternity care in Catholic hospitals, under a new initiative launched by the bishops’ pro-life activities committee. To encourage these women not to abort their children, parishes and dioceses will also provide shelter and financial assistance.
The Pro-life Activities of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Korea- CBCK, launched the “New Life Project” with a Mass at Myeongdong Cathedral on Tuesday. “The Catholic Church teaches that human life begins from fertilization,” said CBCK President Bishop Gabriel Chang Bong-hun of Cheongju. “Abortions and destruction of human embryos are grave crimes that destroy life, he said and added “We all should be the protectors of life by respecting and loving life and being proclaimers of the Gospel of life.”
The project combines 15 Church and pro-life group shelters for single mothers, and assistance from dioceses and hospitals to encourage unmarried pregnant women to have their babies. The project will also focus on sex education for youths in Catholic schools and parish Sunday schools to prevent unwanted pregnancies.