Kurt Kondrich’s daughter Chloe has Down syndrome. After her birth, he discovered a shocking statistic: In the United States, nearly 70% of children prenatally diagnosed with Down syndrome die from abortion.

On this episode, Kurt joins us to discuss the many blessings of Down syndrome. We must stop using prenatal tests for eugenic selection.

Kurt's organization, Embrace Don't Erase, advocates for individuals with Down syndrome. http://embracedonterase.org/

Free e-book! Get your copy of "Why We Don't Need Abortion (even for the hard cases)" here: Ever Have Trouble Explaining Why Abortion is NEVER Needed? | Human Life International (hli.org)

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How can Catholics respond to modern culture? How can we be leaders? In this episode, Bishop Thomas Paprocki and Fr. Shenan Boquet join us to discuss the need for Catholics to read the signs of the times. Then Bishop Paprocki offers advice for confronting these issues through leadership.  

Free e-book! Get your copy of "Why We Don't Need Abortion (even for the hard cases)" here: Ever Have Trouble Explaining Why Abortion is NEVER Needed? | Human Life International (hli.org)

Living the Culture of Life

How do we slow down and enjoy our children? And how can we encourage couples to welcome children?

On this episode, Maria Jones, a mom of six, joins us to talk about the blessings of Catholic family life. She also offers advice for raising happy, holy children.

One of Nine UK YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@oneofnine

Free e-book! Get your copy of "Why We Don't Need Abortion (even for the hard cases)" here: Ever Have Trouble Explaining Why Abortion is NEVER Needed? | Human Life International (hli.org)

Living the Culture of Life

All too often, pro-lifers focus all their energy on getting rid of abortion. But as long as contraception is used and accepted, abortion won’t go away. Birth control leads directly to abortion. Why is this? On this episode, Fr. Shenan Boquet discusses why contraception and abortion are inherently intertwined.

E-book link: Ever heard that contraception is the best way to stop abortions? | Human Life International (hli.org)

Chapters:

00:00 Intro

01:03 Anti-life mindset

03:16 Historical data shows link

05:50 Prenatal diagnosis discrimination

07:22 Humans are not commodities

08:22 Does contraception prevent unwanted kids?

09:50 Always unknowns

12:23 Birth control in developing nations

13:20 Clean water, healthcare, infrastructure

14:25 Western groups impose values with world aid

16:43 International Planned Parenthood & Marie Stopes

19:00 Contraception changes marital act

21:32 Marriage is a true good

22:59 Roots of same tree

24:27 Hormonal birth control abortifacients

26:14 Misoprostol prevents implantation

28:21 Application in mission field

29:30 Good of marriage & conjugal love

Living the Culture of Life

What’s the antidote to euthanasia? Can we use stories? In this episode, Amanda Achtman joins us to discuss the importance of familiarity with death.

Our culture offers two responses to death: avoid at all costs or embrace it as an escape. As Catholics, we accept death when it comes naturally, but we never seek it out. By talking about death positively, we can respond to this modern crisis.

Amanda's blog: Amanda Achtman – DYING TO MEET YOU

Free e-book! Get your copy of "Why We Don't Need Abortion (even for the hard cases)" here: Ever Have Trouble Explaining Why Abortion is NEVER Needed? | Human Life International (hli.org)

Living the Culture of Life

Should Catholics donate organs? Isn’t it a heroic life-giving service? Not so fast. While organ donation can be a good thing, it’s often abused. In today’s society, it might be imprudent.

On this episode, Michael Vacca from the Christ Medicus Association joins us to talk about ethical questions about organ donation, including: brain death, live donors vs dead donors, organ donation and driver’s licenses, and using Advanced Medical Directives.

HLI resource article: May Catholics Donate Organs? | Human Life International (hli.org)

Chapters:

00:00 Intro

00:50 Ordinary vs. extraordinary care

02:50 Serious shift in healthcare

04:05 Doctor's conflict of interest

05:22 Non-vital: consent & do no harm

06:40 Reasonable hope of benefit

07:30 Dead donor rule: no killing!

08:20 What's the point of death?

09:12 New definition: brain death

11:44 Has the Church made a statement?

13:35 Catholic teaching on human person

15:44 Current practice is dangerous

17:06 Most donations from brain dead

17:57 Driver's license organ donation

19:06 Advanced Medical Directive options

19:57 Risks of current protocol

20:56 Danger to disabled?

22:10 Sacred doctor-patient relationship

23:37 Catholic doctors

24:36 Worrying example: COVID pandemic

25:33 Don't be afraid! Trust & prudence

Living the Culture of Life

Robin Sertell’s mother tried three times to abort her. Thankfully, Robin survived. On this episode, Robin shares her story of growing up as an abortion survivor.

Abortion Survivors Network: https://abortionsurvivors.org/

Free e-book! Get your copy of "Why We Don't Need Abortion (even for the hard cases)" here: Ever Have Trouble Explaining Why Abortion is NEVER Needed? | Human Life International (hli.org)

Chapters:

00:00 What's an abortion survivor?

02:47 3 saline infusion abortions

04:24 Surviving 3 attempts to take her life

06:24 What do abortion-minded moms think pregnancy means?

07:11 Men often don't get a choice

08:00 Health issues bc of abortion attempts

09:13 Thinking she's alone

10:38 How Robin found out

14:15 Healing power of forgiveness

15:49 Finding the Abortion Survivors Network

20:23 CDC data: 400-500 babies survive each year

22:25 Changing the narrative: babies (not clumps of cells) survive abortion

23:58 Humanizing the reality of abortion

25:50 Terms and conditions: your baby may live

27:10 How many babies survive now?

28:03 Why we need the Born Alive Act

29:40 3 data sets: CDC, Canada, Guttmacher Institute

31:38 Abortion vs aspirin in public schools

33:03 There is forgiveness

Living the Culture of Life

As more countries experience the social and economic problems of a low birth rate, some have started offering financial incentives for couples to have more children. However, many young people don’t want more than one child. In this episode, Fr. Shenan Boquet discusses the underlying spiritual issue and offers suggestions for how you can encourage families to have more children. 

Spirit and Life: A Demographic Crisis | Human Life International (hli.org)

Living the Culture of Life

Often, people use emotional scenarios to justify abortion. Some argue that abortion is necessary for cases of rape and incest, fetal disabilities, or to save the life of the mother. But abortion is never the answer. In this episode, Fr. Shenan Boquet offers a pro-life response to these “hard cases."

‘Why We Don’t Need Abortion (even for the “hard cases”)’ E-Book: Get the Pro-Life Response to the “Hard Cases” | Human Life International (hli.org)

Chapters:

00:00 Intro to hard cases

00:40 Hard Case 1: Rape and Incest

02:55 Don't aim aggression at child

03:55 Abortion causes trauma, not healing

05:06 Child may help healing

06:36 Pregnancy care centers

07:45 Hard Case 2: Fetal Abnormalities

09:13 Dignity doesn't change

10:20 Disability doesn't change love

11:40 Prenatal diagnosis may be wrong

13:30 People w/ Down syndrome are happier!

14:21 It's discrimination

15:30 Every life is precious

18:26 No exceptions

19:05 Hard Case 3: Life of Mother

19:55 Uterine cancer example

24:49 Educate healthcare workers

25:40 Principle of Double Effect

26:38 Beware of emotional responses

28:00 Viable vs. pre-viable delivery

28:51 2 lives to serve

30:19 Blessings of technology

31:20 Case-by-case

34:25 Who is my neighbor?

Living the Culture of Life

People tend to view their bodies in two distinct ways. Some see their body as a tool. And some see their body as their entire being. Often, these views are split along gender lines.

In this podcast episode, Professor Mary Stanford discusses the Catholic understanding of the body and how these two views of the body affect relationships between men and women. She also talks about how technology affects our bodily perceptions of shame and communication.

Mary Stanford’s book: https://www.amazon.com/Obedience-Paradox-Finding-Freedom-Marriage/dp/1681926954

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Living the Culture of Life