Who Is to Blame, and What Is to Be Done? Russian Orthodox Framing of Abortion Rights

In recent decades, the Russian Orthodox Church has enjoyed increased prominence in the public sphere, including participation in debates over issues of moral importance. One such debate concerns abortion in Russia, a topic that has raised questions about who is to blame for the high number of terminations performed in the country, and proposed changes to laws regulating reproductive health services. This paper will analyze statements regarding abortion made by clerics in the Russian Orthodox Church via secular and religious online media sources, including the virtual public sphere known as the Orthodox Internet. Using typologies established through framing and morality policy research, I will show how these clerics have highlighted men as culpable parties in termination of pregnancies, and explore proposals regarding measures for reducing or eliminating abortions in Russia – from calls for an outright ban, to demands for more comprehensive, pro-natalist social welfare initiatives.