Population Research Institute (organization)

Last updated
Population Research Institute
Founder Paul Marx
Type Think tank
Headquarters Front Royal, Virginia
President
Steven W. Mosher
Chair
John Delmare [1]
Revenue$1,462,224 [1] (2018)
Expenses$1,405,812 [1] (2018)
Website pop.org

The Population Research Institute (PRI) is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization based in Front Royal, Virginia, US. [1] The organization opposes abortion and believes that overpopulation is a myth.

Contents

Background

The Population Research Institute was founded in 1989 by Paul Marx (1920–2010), a family sociologist, Catholic priest and Benedictine monk who had established the anti-abortion [2] group Human Life International as well. It became an independent institute in 1996. [3] The same year, the think tank got headed by Steven W. Mosher, [3] [4] a social researcher and author who had witnessed forced abortions in China during the implementation of the one-child policy in 1980. [3]

Activities

PRI opposes government attempts to control the population. [5] According to the Los Angeles Times , PRI's Mosher successfully helped lobby the administration of US president George W. Bush to withhold US$34 to $40 million per year for seven years from the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), the largest international donor to family planning programs. [6] The research institute opined that UNPFA was using American money to fund Chinese compulsory sterilization and abortions, a claim denied by the population fund, noting that it does not work in areas where the one-child policy is still in force. [2] Mosher also advocated against the Chinese two-child policy, claiming that it was "being pushed to the masses through the Communist Party mechanism". [7]

Fundraising

PRI obtains the vast majority of its funding from charitable contributions, gifts, and grants, with a total revenue of 1.46 million dollars in financial year 2018. Of this, 75.6% was spent on program expenses, 4.9% on administration, and 19.3% on fundraising. [1]

The institute has received funding from The Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation, Inc., claimed to be in support of conferences on human rights in China. [8]

Criticism

PRI's stance on overpopulation and the arguments for "Overpopulation is a Myth" have been described as deceptive. [9] [10]

Charity Navigator classifies charities with respect to "Accountability & Transparency" and "Financial Performance". In 2020 it awarded two out of four stars to PRI for "Accountability & Transparency", and one for "Financial", which combined for an overall score of 70.46, rated as two stars. [1]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Rating for Population Research Institute (based on 2018 financial year, the latest available at publication date)". Charity Navigator. 1 February 2020. Retrieved 22 March 2020.
  2. 1 2 Crossette, Barbara (2002-04-07). "U.N. Agency On Population Blames U.S. For Cutbacks". The New York Times . ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved 2020-03-22.
  3. 1 2 3 Frawley Desmond, Joan (January 20, 2012). "Steve Mosher: A Vision of 'Hell' Brought Him to the Church". National Catholic Register .
  4. SourceWatch: Population Research Institute. (July 4, 2010). Retrieved 2016-12-05.
  5. Stanway, David (March 12, 2019). "China lawmakers urge freeing up family planning as birth rates plunge". Reuters . Retrieved 19 March 2020.
  6. Weiss, Kenneth R. (July 22, 2012). "Fertility rates fall, but global population explosion goes on". Los Angeles Times.
  7. Maizura Ismail (September 5, 2018). "Baby-making in the name of the nation". The ASEAN Post. Retrieved 24 March 2020.
  8. "Population Research Institute". MediaTransparency. Archived from the original on March 10, 2007. For years 1999-2002.
  9. "IAP Statement on Population and Consumption". InterAcademy Panel: The Global Network of Science Academies (IAP). 14 June 2012. Archived from the original on 21 August 2013.
  10. Bongaarts, John; Sinding, Steven W. (March 2009). "A Response to Critics of Family Planning Programs". International Perspectives on Sexual and Reproductive Health. 35 (1).