What makes Catholic education different from other forms of education? And what are the greatest challenges facing Catholic education in our country today?

In this episode, John DeJak, Director of the Secretariat of Catholic Education for the USCCB, joins us to discuss the future of Catholic education in America and why faith-based schooling matters now more than ever.

John explains what makes a truly Catholic school unique—not just strong academics, but formation of the whole person through truth, virtue, faith, and reason. He also shares how Catholic schools can help shape future saints, leaders, and thinkers while supporting parents in raising faithful children.

We also explore some of the biggest issues families face today, including the affordability of private education, how Catholic schools can better serve children with disabilities, and whether modern technology, smartphones, and AI in education are helping or hurting students.

You'll also hear a fascinating discussion on great books, literature, and why reading remains one of the most powerful tools for forming the imagination and intellect of young people.

Whether you’re a parent considering Catholic school, a homeschool family, a teacher, priest, or simply someone concerned about the future of education and culture, this episode is full of wisdom and practical insight.

Archbishop Miller's 5 Marks of Catholic Education: Five Essential Marks of Catholic Schools – CERC

The Thousand Good Books: The Thousand Good Books Revised

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Living the Culture of Life

If you or someone you love is struggling with infertility, this episode offers hope, clarity, and guidance. Dr. Joseph Meaney, senior ethicist at the National Catholic Bioethics Center, shares his personal journey through infertility, including years of waiting, medical treatments, welcoming a child after nearly a decade of marriage, and then experiencing secondary infertility.

Dr. Meaney breaks down the ethical principles of Catholic bioethics, which couples must consider when looking into fertility treatments. He explains why the Church opposes procedures like in vitro fertilization (IVF) and artificial insemination.

Dr. Meaney also discusses restorative reproductive medicine and approaches like NaProTechnology, which focus on identifying and treating the root causes of infertility, including conditions like endometriosis, hormonal imbalances, and male factor infertility.

Beyond the medical and ethical discussion, this conversation speaks directly to the emotional weight of infertility. Many couples experience grief, isolation, and stress comparable to a serious medical diagnosis, especially when facing repeated miscarriages or secondary infertility. Dr. Meaney shares how faith, prayer, and trust in God can bring meaning and even unexpected grace in the midst of suffering, while also acknowledging how difficult moments like Mother’s Day or social expectations can intensify the pain.

Whether you’re looking for answers about the ethics of IVF, exploring ethical fertility treatments, or simply trying to understand infertility through a faith-based lens, this episode provides thoughtful guidance rooted in both personal experience and Catholic teaching.

Resources:

When Expecting Doesn't Happen: Turning Infertility into a Journey of Hope - St. Paul Center

Catholic Teaching on Infertility Treatments | Human Life International

9 Comforting Bible Verses for Infertility | Human Life International

5 Infertility Support Groups for Catholics | Human Life International

Trusting God through Infertility | Human Life International

Key Topics Covered:

• Infertility and Catholic bioethics
• Why IVF is unethical
• Restorative reproductive medicine (RRM)
• NaProTechnology and natural fertility awareness
• Miscarriage and secondary infertility
• Spiritual growth through suffering
• How to support couples struggling with infertility

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction

01:50 Personal Infertility Story

05:40 Spiritual Warfare

06:53 Surgeries

08:11 IVF & Insurance

09:27 Graces Received

12:15 Mother's Day

13:01 Secondary Infertility

15:07 Help Finding Resources

19:33 Why IVF is Unethical

24:29 Ethical Principles for Fertility Treatments

27:23 Endometriosis

29:30 Sperm Count

30:35 Menstrual Cycles

32:58 Infertility Definition

33:48 Ectopic Pregnancies

34:48 PCOS

38:19 Surprising Ethical Treatments?

42:00 Obtaining Sperm Ethically

43:30 Cost & Effectiveness

46:45 Embryo Adoption

51:51 Further Resources

53:15 IVF's Spiritual Harm

56:04 Advice for Friends & Family

Living the Culture of Life

Denisha Workizer’s story is one of the most powerful and eye-opening testimonies you will ever hear.

In this episode, Denisha shares how she discovered at age 42 that she survived not just one—but TWO abortion attempts. What began as a simple question turned into a life-altering revelation that reshaped her identity, faith, and purpose.

In this conversation, we explore:

- What it feels like to discover you’re an abortion survivor

- The emotional impact of rejection, identity struggles, and healing

- The reality of abortion procedures—and survival stories rarely discussed

- How Denisha found forgiveness, purpose, and faith after trauma

- Her work helping other women heal through her ministry, Reclaimed Story

- A powerful real-life story of helping another woman choose life

This episode is raw, honest, and deeply moving—offering hope, healing, and a new perspective on life, identity, and purpose.

🔔 Subscribe for more powerful stories and conversations

💬 Share your thoughts in the comments—we’d love to hear from you

📌 Connect with Denisha Workizer:

Reclaimed Story Ministry: Homepage | Reclaimed Story

Speaking, retreats, and healing resources: Denisha Workizer

Denisha's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/denishaworkizer/

Reclaimed Story Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/reclaimedstory/

In this Easter Octave episode, Fr. Shenan Boquet joins us to unpack the profound meaning of the Divine Mercy devotion—and why it is relevant today.

Rooted in the visions of St. Faustina Kowalska and promoted globally by Pope St. John Paul II, the Divine Mercy devotions are a healing remedy in a world deeply wounded by sin, violence, and the breakdown of family life. Fr. Boquet also discusses why this devotion was temporarily banned for 19 years.

In this episode, we explore:

• The history of Divine Mercy and its origins in pre-WWII Poland
• The fascinating connection between Divine Mercy and abortion
• Why mercy and justice are NOT opposed
• How Divine Mercy offers healing after even the gravest sins
• Why this devotion is critical in today’s culture of death

Fr. Boquet explains how the message of Divine Mercy speaks directly to modern crises—abortion, family breakdown, and loss of faith—offering both truth and hope.

If you've ever wondered:

👉 Can God forgive serious sins like abortion?

👉 Why did this devotion emerge during global turmoil?

👉 How do mercy and justice work together?

This episode will give you clarity and hope.

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Full episodes available on all major platforms: Spotify, Apple, Google, and more.

🎙️ Or listen directly on our website: https://hli.org

Help us proclaim the truth about life, family, and human dignity.

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Living the Culture of Life

Are you considering adoption—or unsure if it’s right for your family?

In this episode, clinical psychologist and father of 10 adopted children, Dr. Ray Guarendi, shares his real-life experience navigating adoption, parenting challenges, and the truth behind common fears.

Dr. Ray breaks down:

• The biggest myths about adoption trauma and “attachment disorders”
• Infant vs. older child adoption
• The reality of raising children with difficult backgrounds
• What discipline looks like for adopted children
• How to overcome fear and confidently say “yes” to adoption
• Advice for family and friends about how to support a family that is adopting

Whether you're worried about bonding, behavioral challenges, or how adoption affects your family dynamic—this conversation offers clarity, honesty, and hope.

💡 Key takeaway: Adoption isn’t about perfection—it’s about commitment, love, and courage.

Get Dr. Ray's book here: ADOPTION: SHOULD YOU, COULD YOU, AND THEN WHAT? Straight Answers from a Psychologist and Adoptive Father of Ten - Dr. Ray

Follow Dr. Ray on social media!

Facebook: Dr. Ray Guarendi | Facebook

Instagram: dr.rayguarendi | Instagram

What happened in the Terri Schiavo case—and why does it still matter today?

In this episode, Fr. Shenan Boquet discusses one of the most pivotal end-of-life cases in modern history. The tragic death of Terri Schiavo in 2005 followed a years-long legal battle, culminating in Terri's feeding tube being removed. She died of starvation 13 days later.

More than 20 years after her death, the case of Terri Schiavo is still shaping how our culture thinks about life, dignity, and end-of-life-care, but most people don’t actually remember what happened, or why it mattered.

👉 In this episode, we cover:

- The full story of Terri Schiavo and the court battle that led to her death

- Whether removing a feeding tube is ever morally acceptable

- The pro-life response to the “right to die” argument

- Catholic teaching on ordinary vs extraordinary care

The legal and cultural precedents Terri Schiavo's death set continue to influence modern debates around assisted suicide, healthcare decisions, and how society treats the most vulnerable.

As more states move to legalize assisted suicide and as healthcare systems face growing pressures, it's important that Catholics fully understand the Church's principles for ethical end-of-life care.

👍 Like, subscribe, and hit the bell for more pro-life and bioethics content.

Catholic Ethical and Religious Directives: ethical-religious-directives-catholic-health-service-sixth-edition-2016-06_0.pdf

In this episode, Fr. Shenan Boquet joins us to break down a major development in Europe: a new European Union decision that could expand abortion tourism across member states.

What does this mean for countries like Poland and Hungary that have strong pro-life laws? How does this decision impact women, families, and national sovereignty? And why are pro-life leaders across Europe raising serious concerns?

We unpack:

• What the EU actually decided (and why it matters)
• How abortion tourism works—and why it’s expanding
• The role of intergovernmental organizations like the EU and UN
• How taxpayer-funded programs can indirectly support abortion
• Real insights from pro-life leaders across Europe
• Why this is part of a larger global pattern

This episode also connects the dots between:

• The EU decision
• Global pro-abortion strategies
• Efforts happening in Africa, the U.S., and beyond

If you care about life, family, and the future of global policy, this is an episode you don’t want to miss.

Resources & Links Mentioned:

The Kissinger Report Explained (download your FREE eBook to find out more about the United States' depopulation agenda): Uncover the Global Depopulation Project (Funded With Your Tax Dollars!) | Human Life International

Previous Episode about the Organization of American States: Stopping Pro-Abortion Agendas at the Organization of American States

Previous Episode on the Samoa Agreement: The European Union's Push for Global Abortion: Samoa Agreement Update

📢 Support HLI's Mission: Give the world another pro-life leader | Human Life International

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🎧 Listen Anywhere You Get Podcasts

Full episodes available on all major platforms: Spotify, Apple, Google, and more.

🎙️ Or listen directly on our website: https://hli.org

Help us proclaim the truth about life, family, and human dignity.

💬 Comment | 🔁 Share | 🔔 Subscribe

Living the Culture of Life

Abortion is often framed as a women’s issue—but what about the men whose children are lost to abortion?

In this episode, Sean Corcoran, CEO of Men for Life, shares his deeply personal story of losing his child to abortion and the devastating impact it had on his life.

After the abortion, Sean spiraled into addiction, eventually battling a seven-year methamphetamine addiction and hitting rock bottom. But through faith, recovery, and healing, he rebuilt his life and now works to empower men to defend the preborn.

In this conversation, we discuss:

• How abortion affects men emotionally and psychologically
• Why many men suffer in silence after abortion
• The link between abortion trauma and addiction
• Research on post-abortion stress in men
• How men can find healing after abortion
• Why men are essential to the pro-life movement
• The mission of Men for Life

Sean’s story is one of loss, redemption, faith, and purpose—and a powerful reminder that abortion impacts far more people than our culture acknowledges. If you or someone you know has been affected by abortion, this conversation offers hope, healing, and a path forward.

📌 Learn more about Men for Life: Men for Life: Pro-Life Men

Men for Life YouTube Channel: Men for Life with Sean Corcoran - YouTube

Resources Mentioned:

Support After Abortion Study: Men's White Paper 2023.04

Denmark Study: Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes and Subsequent First-Time Use of Psychiatric Treatment Among Fathers in Denmark | Pharmacy and Clinical Pharmacology | JAMA Network Open | JAMA Network

Vitae Institute, "A Few Good Men" study: A Few Good Men Study - Vitae Research Institute

📢 Support HLI's Mission: Give the world another pro-life leader | Human Life International

📲 Subscribe & Follow

👉 Subscribe for future episodes of Living a Culture of Life

👉 Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cultureoflife_podcast/

👉 Follow us on X (Twitter): https://x.com/cultureoflife_p

🎧 Listen Anywhere You Get Podcasts

Full episodes available on all major platforms: Spotify, Apple, Google, and more.

🎙️ Or listen directly on our website: https://hli.org

Help us proclaim the truth about life, family, and human dignity.

💬 Comment | 🔁 Share | 🔔 Subscribe

Living the Culture of Life

This week, the Supreme Court reaffirmed one of the most important truths about education—parents, not the state, are the primary educators of their children.

In this episode, Fr. Shenan Boquet breaks down the implications of the landmark Supreme Court case Mirabelli v. Bonta, which challenged a California policy allowing students to socially transition at school without parental notification.

The ruling highlights a fundamental legal and moral principle: parents have primary authority over the upbringing and education of their children. Schools and the state may assist in education, but they cannot replace or supersede parents in this role.

Drawing from both constitutional principles and Catholic social teaching, Fr. Boquet explains:

• What Mirabelli v. Bonta was about
• Why the Supreme Court’s decision is significant for parental rights
• Why parents are the primary educators of their children
• Why parents cannot simply hand their responsibility over to the state
• The proper balance between parental authority and the role of public education
• How schools and governments can partner with parents without overstepping

This conversation explores one of the most pressing questions in education and culture today: Who ultimately holds authority over a child’s upbringing—the family or the state?

If you care about parental rights, education policy, religious teaching, or the future of family authority, this episode provides crucial insight.

Euthanasia and assisted suicide are expanding worldwide — from Canada’s MAID program to proposed laws in the UK and France. In this episode, Fr. Shenan Boquet breaks down the alarming global trends, including:

• Concerning stories regarding Canada’s MAID program
• Cases of euthanasia performed despite revoked consent
• The emergence of AI-assisted suicide “death pods”
• The growing pressure on the elderly, disabled, and vulnerable

As countries debate “safeguards,” we examine why guardrails never actually work — and why the Catholic Church teaches that euthanasia and assisted suicide are always morally wrong.

But this episode is about more than warning signs. It’s also about hope.

Fr. Boquet explains:

• Why proposed assisted suicide legislation stalled in the UK
• How France is expanding palliative care
• Why palliative care is the true compassionate alternative
• How parish communities can combat isolation
• Why human dignity never depends on age, illness, or ability
• How families can prepare ethically for end-of-life decisions

If you’re concerned about medical assistance in dying (MAID), end-of-life ethics, or the growing normalization of euthanasia, this conversation will give you clarity and practical direction.

👉 Leave your questions in the comments for a future episode on ethical end-of-life care. Or email us at [email protected] to submit your questions via email!

📢 Support HLI's Mission: Give the world another pro-life leader | Human Life International

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🎧 Listen Anywhere You Get Podcasts

Full episodes available on all major platforms: Spotify, Apple, Google, and more.

🎙️ Or listen directly on our website: https://hli.org

Help us proclaim the truth about life, family, and human dignity.

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Living the Culture of Life