The Briefing Room
General Category => World News => Topic started by: TomSea on January 12, 2017, 10:03:55 pm
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Russia region's 'no abortion day' to mark Bible story
By News from Elsewhere... ...as found by BBC Monitoring
A Russian region has banned abortions for one day after local religious leaders called for the biblical account of the Massacre of the Innocents to be commemorated, it's reported.
The Russian Orthodox Church diocese in the city of Yaroslavl declared 11 January a "day of silence without abortions", and said it had the support of the region's health department. Abortion is legal in Russia and the cost is covered by the state.
"The event is dedicated to the memory of Bethlehem children slaughtered by King Herod, who wanted to kill the newborn infant Christ," a statement on the diocese's website reads. "On this day it is forbidden to carry out abortions in all state medical institutions in Yaroslavl Region," it says, adding that state officials and the Church want private clinics to follow suit.
Continued: http://www.bbc.com/news/blogs-news-from-elsewhere-38583663