Women in north Italy to be paid ‘a fee’ for not aborting a pregnancy

June 2, 2010 by Shawn Douglas
Filed under: News

Pregnant women in north Italy who are economically burdened will be offered up to 4,500 euros to not abort their pregnancy.

Roberto Formigoni, regional president of Lombardy in north Italy, announced a scheme to help dissuade women in poor economic circumstances from aborting their pregnancy.

“No women need to abort now in Lombardy for financial reasons,” said Formigoni during the announcement of the scheme. “We want to help families, maternity and birth, removing any possible obstacles — starting with economic problems — which make it difficult to choose in favor of life.”

Formigoni revealed that up to 4,500 euros (3,700 pounds; 5,500 dollars) would be given to qualifying women in the region. Pregnant women who apply would be required to show they suffer “economic difficulty,” making less than 23,000 euros annually with other children to support. Eligible women would receive 250 euro payments for 18 months.

Critics, however, claimed that the payments would quickly exhaust the 5-million-euro Nasko Fund set aside by the government. The Daily Mail quoted a critic as saying: “If all pregnant women in Lombardy with financial difficulties decide to keep their children their babies, the money will run out in three months.”

Formigoni, a Roman Catholic, has a record of fighting against abortion, which has been legal in Italy since 1978. He disagreed with the practice of hospitals dispensing the RU486 pill, claiming that it conflicted with the country’s abortion law. In 2008, he worked to limit abortions to no more than 22 weeks and three days.