As fertility rate plummets in Catholic Italy, what hope is left for the West?
Catholic HeraldApr 27, 2023
The Facts
A senator with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's Brothers of Italy has declared that the highest aspiration of young women must be to have children, triggering criticism from opposition groups that have accused her of promoting outdated ideas to restrict women's choices.
The 47-year-old mother of three and lawmaker Lavinia Mennuni, speaking on a talk show on the La7 TV channel next to a Catholic archbishop, argued that bringing "the future Italians" into the world is a beautiful thing — and a mission for women.
The Spin
Conservative narrative
Italy's shockingly low birth rate is but one example of an issue that has spread across Europe and the Western world. While some blame the economic burden of child-raising, it is more likely that the decline is a sad consequence of the nuclear family no longer being championed. Symptomatic of wider cultural degradation, Italy's slow acceptance of the secular message will only have disastrous long-term consequences for the nation's future.
Progressive narrative
Mennuni's message is yet another attempt by tradition to erode the autonomy of women's body. While Italy's declining birthrate is of concern, this is outweighed by fears that the country's right-wing government will force its policies upon women at the expense of their right to freedom of choice. The ability for women to make their own decisions concerning their livelihoods, no matter the consequences, should always be championed.
Nerd narrative
There's a 74% chance that any country will have a Total Fertility Rate below 0.5 before 2053, according to the Metaculus prediction community.