EU, have kids

Last week's posts focused on the "birth dearth" - birth rates falling well below the rate needed to maintain a stable population. In short, way fewer babies now means way fewer grown-ups in about 20 years.

European leaders have tried to reverse the trend (for example, the Danish government’s “Do it for Denmark” ad campaign). But instead of setting an example, many of them are childless - including the leaders of France, the U.K., Luxembourg, Germany, the Netherlands, Italy, Sweden.

Catholic writer George Weigel spoke to the European Parliament in Brussels, Belgium, where he said, "Europe is committing demographical suicide."

"When an entire continent—healthier, wealthier, and more secure than ever before—deliberately chooses sterility, the most basic cause for that must lie in the realm of the human spirit . ."

He calls for the European Catholic church to renew its faith, "to inspire Europe to reject demographic suicide and rediscover the joy of creating the future through having children."

photo: talkinfrench.com