“This is how all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
~ John 13:35

Am I really "pro-life"?
How does loving others impact my mental & spiritual health?
How am I supposed to treat the people who are hard to love?

In Episode 77 of This Whole Life, Pat Millea welcomes Fr. Nathan LaLiberte for a powerful conversation about living out the pro-life message in our daily interactions and relationships. Together, they go beyond the usual political rhetoric, exploring how being truly pro-life means acknowledging the dignity of every person—from the unborn and marginalized to the neighbor or cashier we encounter each day. Drawing on scripture, personal stories, and concepts from psychology, they discuss the challenges of loving those we might find difficult and the importance of moving past disgust and division. You'll hear thought-provoking reflections on boundaries, cancel culture, authentic Christian love, and the everyday choices that build a culture of life. Join this heartfelt and inspiring call for radical, incarnational pro-life living.

Episode 77 Show Notes

Chapters:

0:00: Introduction and Highs & Hards
8:55: The sanity of being fully pro-life
15:40: The anti-humanity of cancel culture
22:03: Being pro-life, not "pro-birth"
31:45: Refusing to turn away from a person
38:08: The temptations to villainize people & groups
45:05: Meditation on others' dignity & human solidarity
55:49: Challenge By Choice

Reflection Questions:

1. What is one specific thing that stuck with you from this conversation?
2. Father Nathan discusses the tendency to see “pro-life” purely through the lens of abortion. In what ways can a pro-life ethic broaden to include other aspects of human dignity and social justice?
3. What are practical ways, big or small, that you can affirm someone’s dignity on a daily basis, even if you don’t agree with them or find it inconvenient?
4. How do you navigate loving and maintaining relationships with people who hold vastly different beliefs or values than you?
5. The episode often returns to the idea that being fully pro-life requires acting with intentional love. What does that look like for you, especially in small, everyday encounters?

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Interested in more faith-filled mental health resources? Check out the Martin Center for Integration

Music: "You're Not Alone" by Marie Miller. Used with permission.