Raising Prolife Kids

Samantha Stephenson shares resources and prayers for teaching kids about the most pressing prolife issues of our day.   

January 22 is the Day of Prayer for the Legal Protection of the Unborn, and this time of year is a great time to talk with kids about prolife issues.  

Especially as we look to the future of the prolife movement, it is essential that we expand our vision of what that means in a post-Roe America. While we continue to pray and fight for the protection of the unborn, we can and should look at the range of bioethical issues in our country to educate our children on the Church’s teachings on these matters. Bioethics is the study of ethical issues that arise from the use of biotechnology, such as genetic engineering, stem cell research, cloning, organ donation, assisted reproduction, and end-of-life care. These issues are not only relevant for scientists and doctors, but also for ordinary people, especially Catholics who value the sanctity of human life from conception to natural death. 

As Catholic moms, we have a responsibility to educate ourselves and our children about the moral and theological implications of the latest developments in biomedicine. We also have a duty to pray for the guidance of the Holy Spirit and the intercession of the saints in these matters. But how can we do this effectively and faithfully? 

Here are some tips and resources that might help you: 

Read the Catechism of the Catholic Church and other official documents of the Church that address bioethical issues. The Catechism of the Catholic Church has a section on the respect for human life that covers topics such as abortion, euthanasia, respect for the dignity of persons, respect for the integrity of creation, and respect for the dead. Other documents that you might find useful are: 

• Dignitas Personae and Donum Vitae, documents from the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith that addresses the ethical aspects of biomedicine related to human life and procreation. 
• Evangelium Vitae, an encyclical letter from Pope John Paul II that affirms the value and inviolability of human life and condemns the culture of death. 

Visit the National Catholic Bioethics Center website, which offers a wealth of resources in Catholic bioethics, such as articles, books, podcasts, videos, courses, and consultations. The National Catholic Bioethics Center is a non-profit organization that promotes and defends the dignity of the human person in health care and the life sciences.  

Subscribe to Faith and Bioethics, my online newsletter exploring the intersection of religion and ethics in the field of biotechnology. It covers topics such as genetic engineering, stem cell research, cloning, organ donation, assisted reproduction, and end-of-life care from a Christian perspective. Faith and Bioethics aims to provide thoughtful and balanced insights on the moral and theological implications of the latest developments in biomedicine.  

Discuss bioethical issues with your kids in an age-appropriate way (check ratings and content on these suggestions according to the maturity level of your own children). You can use stories, examples, analogies, and questions to help them understand the basic principles and concepts of bioethics. You can also use media, such as movies, documentaries, books, and news articles, to spark their interest and curiosity. Some examples of media that you can use are: 

• Gattaca, a movie that depicts a dystopian society where genetic engineering determines one’s social status and destiny. 
• The Island, a movie that portrays a futuristic world where human clones are created for organ harvesting and surrogate parenthood. 
• Brave New World, a novel that depicts a utopian society where human beings are artificially created and conditioned for social stability and happiness. 
• The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, a book that tells the story of a poor black woman whose cancer cells were taken without her consent and became the source of countless medical breakthroughs. 

Pray for bioethical issues with your kids using the prayers of the Church and the saints. You can also compose your own prayers or use the ones suggested by Faith and Bioethics. Some examples of prayers that you can use are: 

• The Prayer of St. Francis of Assisi, a prayer that expresses the desire to be an instrument of God’s peace and love in the world. 
• The Prayer of St. Thomas Aquinas before study, a prayer that asks for the grace of wisdom and understanding in the pursuit of truth and knowledge. 
• The Prayer of St. Gianna Beretta Molla, a prayer that honors the life and sacrifice of a saint who was a doctor and a mother who died after refusing an abortion to save her unborn child. 
• The Prayer for Life, a prayer that implores God’s mercy and protection for all human life, especially the most vulnerable and defenseless. 

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As Catholic moms, we have a responsibility to educate ourselves and our children about prolife issues. #CatholicMom

I hope these tips and resources will help you and your kids to learn and pray about bioethics. Remember that God is the source and the end of all life, and that He has a plan and a purpose for each one of us. May He bless you and your family with His love and wisdom! 

Copyright 2024 Samantha Stephenson
Images: Canva