Fervent Supporters of Higher Birthrates: Going Beyond Popular Discourse, They Simply Advocate for More Children

In a world where the population is becoming more diverse and complex, the issue of declining fertility rates has emerged as a topic of significant discussion. This article explores the various perspectives on this issue, from economic and communitarian to individualist and religious viewpoints.

The Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate at Georgetown University noted in 2011 that the average size of a U.S. Catholic household was the same as the national average, 2.6 persons per household. However, this trend has been shifting, with the U.S. fertility rate dropping to an all-time low of 1.62 children born per woman in July 2024. This decline is not unique to the U.S., as many countries around the world are experiencing similar trends.

Lyman Stone, senior fellow and director of the Pronatalism Initiative at the Institute for Family Studies, defines pronatalism as people who think it's not great that fertility is so low. He identifies three reasons why low fertility might be viewed as a problem: economic or structural pronatalism, communitarian pronatalism, and individualist pronatalism.

Economic or structural pronatalism argues that we need babies because they are useful for other people, such as paying Social Security or serving in the military. On the other hand, individualist pronatalism suggests that it's a problem when fertility is low because people want more kids than they're having, and they're facing barriers to having that.

Communitarian pronatalism views low fertility as a problem because there is some community that is intrinsically valuable and worth perpetuating. Reasons can vary widely, ranging from wanting to continue a family lineage to ideologies of white superiority. This perspective has been criticised for being co-opted by racists and eugenicists.

Patrick Brown, a fellow at the Ethics and Public Policy Center, states that the legacy of the population bomb myth of overpopulation still lingers over the discussion about pronatalism. According to Brown, a significant portion of Americans believe that the world has too many babies, while others fear that discussing the birth rate could lead to forced pregnancies and the infringement of women's rights.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church declares that the family is the original cell of social life and is essential for the formation of a healthy society. Kody W. Cooper, an associate professor, suggests that Catholics could do more to improve the declining birth rate and encourages them to be honest with themselves, as many Catholics use artificial contraception contrary to the teachings of 'Humanae Vitae'. Cooper also suggests that bishops and priests should boldly preach pronatalism, and the laity should cultivate the virtues required to live pronatally.

Elon Musk, a tech industrialist and a well-known pronatalist, has expressed concern about the declining birth rate and its potential impact on civilization. However, the issue of pronatalism is not without controversy, with some viewing it as a slippery slope towards coercion and infringement of individual rights.

The countries with the highest birth rates worldwide are Somalia (around 6.13 children per woman), Chad (about 6.12 children per woman), and Niger (approximately 6.06 to 6.82 children per woman), all located in Africa. In contrast, the fertility rate in Europe is comparable to the U.S., with countries like France, the United Kingdom, Germany, Spain, and Italy having rates of 1.64, 1.54, 1.46, 1.21, and 1.2 children born per woman respectively.

Simone and Malcolm Collins, founders of Pronatalist.org, have admitted to using genetic testing and selection to optimize the mental health traits of their unborn children, which Brown considers problematic. This raises ethical questions about the potential misuse of technology in the pursuit of pronatalism.

In conclusion, the issue of declining fertility rates and pronatalism is a complex one, with various perspectives and concerns. As the world grapples with this issue, it is essential to approach it with a nuanced understanding, acknowledging the potential benefits and drawbacks of various approaches.

Fervent Supporters of Higher Birthrates: Going Beyond Popular Discourse, They Simply Advocate for More Children