Home

Apologetics - Life Issues

This page is dedicated to Pope John Paul II and his tireless efforts on behalf of the Gospel of Life



Note: This page is intended as a resource for parents, not children. Although I think the content of the external links may be useful for various reasons, I do not necessarily agree with all of the content.
Memory Work for Children:
"Every human life, from the moment of conception until death, is sacred because the human person has been willed for its own sake in the image and likeness of the living and holy God." The Catechism of the Catholic Church 2319
General Resources:
Church Teaching:
Evangelium Vitae (On the Gospel of Life) by Pope John Paul II
Resources and Organizations:
The Center for Bioethics and Human Dignity
Jews for Life
Life Legal Defense Foundation

Abortion:

Church Teaching:
The Catechism of the Catholic Church 2270-2275
Resources and Organizations:
American Life League
Feminists for Life
LifeNews
National Right to Life
Priests for Life

Artificial Contraception:
Church Teaching:
Catechism of the Catholic Church 2370, 2399
Humanae Vitae (On the Regulation of Birth) by Pope Paul VI

Acceptable Alternatives:
The Couple to Couple League
Pope Paul VI Institute

The Death Penalty:

Although theoretically, this issue is not on the same moral level as abortion (because unborn babies are, by definition, innocent), there are many reasons to doubt the efficacy and morality of the death penalty. Do we really need it to protect society? Are we so sure of our justice system that we can entrust them with such a final and irreversible punishment? What about the issue of repentance? Explore these and related issues in the following materials:

Church Teaching:

Catechism of the Catholic Church 2267
"Catholicism and Capital Punishment" by Avery Cardinal Dulles (First Things)
Statements by Pope John Paul II on the Death Penalty

Resources and Organizations
Catholic Campaign to End the Use of the Death Penalty

Death Penalty Information Center

Media:
Twelve Angry Men 1957 movie starring Henry Fonda

Embryonic Stem Cell Research:
Please pray for the soul of Christopher Reeve. Although he was wrong on the Embryonic Stem Cell issue, in his lifetime, he talked 50 paraplegics out of committing suicide, God Bless him!Also remember Dana Reeve, his devoted wife through a very difficult time, who recently passed away, and for their young son who remains behind.

Acceptable Alternatives:
The Cord Blood Donor Foundation

Euthanasia and Other Issues Affecting the Disabled and the Elderly
Church Teaching:
Catechism of the Catholic Church 2276-2279
"Questions About Medically Assisted Nutrition and Hydration" from the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops

Resources and Organizations:
One under-reported aspect to the Terri Schiavo story is that many disability organizations were fighting for Terri's side. The media likes to turn it into a conservative vs. liberal game. Life issues are a lot bigger than that! Here are a few of these organizations:
The National Spinal Cord Injury Association
Not Dead Yet: Disability Activists Opposed to the Legalization of Assisted Suicide (includes an extensive list of other disability organizations opposed to legal "assisted suicide")

Catholic Perspectives:
Catholic Educator's Resource Center: Issues - Euthanasia
"In Love With Death: The Bizarre Passion of the Pull-the-Tube People" by Peggy Noonan
Issues in the News:

"Zogby Poll": Americans Not in Favor of Starving Terri Schiavo"

Other Perspectives:
"Fighting for Our Lives at the ACLU" by Lucy Gwin
"I Want to Live: What if you'd rather not exercise your "right to die"?
"Judicial Murder" by Nat Hentoff

Media:
Karen and With Love from Karen by Marie Killilea
The Miracle Worker 1962 movie starring Anne Bancroft and Patty Duke
Note: The 2000 Disney version isn't quite as "deep" is probably more suitable for young children.

The Question of Over-Population:

Resources and Organizations:

The Population Research Institute

War:
Church Teaching:
Catechism of the Catholic Church 2302-2317
Catholic Answers: Just War Doctrine
"The Church's Teaching on War and Peace" by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
Many that live deserve death. And many that die deserve life. Can you give it to them?
Then do not be too eager to deal out death in judgment. For not even the wise can see all ends. Gandalf in The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien

Back to top