An Italian Senator has proposed a “maternity income” Bill to provide financial support for women in need who reject abortion and choose life for their unborn baby.
The measure, proposed by Senator Maurizio Gasparri of the Forza Italia political party, which forms part of the coalition Government, will offer €1,000 per month for Italian women who decide to continue with their pregnancies despite their financial struggles.
According to the Italian newspaper La Repubblica, the Bill intends to make the money available for Italian citizens until the child reaches the age of five, “provided that the ISEE value of the family unit to which the applicant belongs is not higher than 15,000 euros”.
Further to this funding, the Bill intends to provide an additional €50 per month per additional child, and a €100 monthly supplement until the child is 18 if the child is disabled.
The proposed law aims to establish a fund at the Ministry of Economy with an endowment of €600 million per year starting in 2024 to finance these measures.
The stated goal of the Bill is to reduce the number of abortions women are having due to financial pressures.
Gasparri said the Bill is “not only moral but also financial” support for women who overcome the financial pressure to have an abortion. “Let’s defend life!” he wrote on X.
Right To Life UK spokesperson, Catherine Robinson, said “If this proposal is successful, it will be a great example of a pro-life Bill that attempts to make the choice for life that much easier. All too often, women who have abortions feel they have no choice, but this Bill is trying to change that. It is an initiative our own Government could learn from”.
