Living a Culture of Life

Human Life International
  • 5.0 (10)
  • Philosophy
  • Updated Weekly

Struggling to navigate today’s culture as a pro-life Christian or Catholic? Living a Culture of Life, the official podcast of Human Life International, equips you with truth, clarity, and practical guidance to defend life, strengthen your family, and live your faith boldly. New episodes every Thursday tackle today’s most urgent life issues—from abortion, the abortion pill, IVF, contraception, and euthanasia, to gender ideology, same-sex attraction, pornography, and the global depopulation agenda. On this podcast, you’ll find: Expert analysis from pro-life leaders, doctors, bioethicists, and Catholic thinkersFirsthand stories from abortion survivors, former Planned Parenthood employees, detransitioners, and those seeking healingCatholic teaching on marriage, sexuality, Natural Family Planning (NFP), and family lifeBreaking pro-life news, public policy updates, and global cultural trendsPractical tips for pro-life activism, Catholic parenting, dating, and building a Culture of Life in your community Whether you're looking for answers about abortion, Catholic bioethics, contraception, IVF, or how to respond to modern cultural challenges, this podcast will help you think clearly, speak confidently, and act courageously. Subscribe now to stay informed on pro-life news, Catholic teaching, and life issues impacting families worldwide. Follow us for more pro-life content: Instagram: Instagram: @cultureoflife_podcast X (Twitter): @cultureoflife_p Join the movement. Live the Culture of Life.

  1. 5d ago

    Can Catholics Use Morphine for Pain Management? | End of Life Ethics (Ep. 2)

    Can Catholics use morphine for pain relief at the end of life? Fr. Shenan Boquet explains the Church's teaching on pain management, palliative care, and hospice — rooted in Catholic bioethics and the principle of double effect. This is Episode 2 in our End-of-Life Ethics series. Fr. Boquet and host Colleen answer real listener questions about morphine, opioids, dosage increases, unconsciousness, and redemptive suffering — with direct guidance from the Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC 2279) and the Ethical and Religious Directives for Catholic Health Care Services. This conversation offers compassionate, faithful guidance for anyone caring for an aging parent, a terminally ill loved one, or facing their own difficult medical decisions — explaining that pain relief can be morally permissible when the intention is to relieve suffering, while preserving opportunities for reconciliation and the sacraments. Missed Episode 1? Watch our discussion of ordinary vs. extraordinary care and nutrition/hydration at the end of life: What Guides Catholic End-of-Life Decisions? A Foundation for Every Family (Ep. 1) Free e-book: Ethical End-of-Life Care — walks through all three pain-management scenarios covered in this episode with Catechism citations: End of Life Decisions Need guidance right now? The National Catholic Bioethics Center runs a 24-hour ethics hotline, referenced directly in this episode: Contact Us — The National Catholic Bioethics Center Learn more about Human Life International: Human Life International | Pro-life. Catholic. Global. USCCB's Ethical and Religious Directives, 7th Edition: ERDs-7th-ed-Approved_2025-11-12.pdf Subscribe for more conversations on Catholic bioethics, hospice and palliative care, euthanasia, medical ethics, and end-of-life care.

    Can Catholics Use Morphine for Pain Management? | End of Life Ethics (Ep. 2)

  2. Jul 30

    What Guides Catholic End-of-Life Decisions? A Foundation for Every Family (Ep. 1)

    Many faithful Catholics will eventually face end-of-life decisions, whether for a parent, a spouse, or themselves. Before we get into specific questions like feeding tubes, ventilators, and advance directives, this conversation lays the foundation: what principles actually guide Catholic end-of-life care? In this episode, Human Life International President Fr. Shenan Boquet walks through the Church's foundational principles for making ethical medical decisions — drawing from Catholic bioethics, the Catechism, and the Ethical and Religious Directives for Catholic Health Care Services. Fr. Boquet explains: The Church's approach to caring for the sick and elderly at the end of lifeWhy every human life possesses inherent dignityWhy the Church rejects euthanasia and assisted suicideOrdinary (proportionate) vs. extraordinary (disproportionate) medical treatmentHospice vs. palliative careComfort care, pain management, food and hydrationHow Catholic families should think about difficult medical decisionsWhy caring for the dying is a work of mercy This episode is the first in a special series inspired by more than 200 questions submitted by listeners about Catholic end-of-life care. Future episodes will go deeper on feeding tubes, ventilators, advance directives, anointing of the sick, hospice selection, and other real-life situations facing Catholic families. Download HLI's Free E-book on Catholic End-of-Life Care: End of Life Decisions | Human Life International Ethical and Religious Directives for Catholic Health Care Services, 7th Edition: ERDs-7th-ed-Approved_2025-11-12.pdf 🔔 Subscribe for the full end-of-life series and more Catholic teaching on life and family.

    What Guides Catholic End-of-Life Decisions? A Foundation for Every Family (Ep. 1)

  3. Jul 23

    IVF Is Not Ethical—And It Doesn't Cure Underlying Fertility Issues | Dr. Monique Ruberu

    IVF is not ethically acceptable—and it doesn't actually treat the underlying causes of infertility. In this episode, pro-life OB-GYN Dr. Monique Ruberu explains ethical issues with in vitro fertilization, how the procedure works, and how root-cause fertility care offers a different path that heals underlying conditions. What are couples told—and not told—before beginning IVF? Dr. Ruberu walks through ovarian stimulation, egg retrieval, embryo creation, embryo freezing, and embryo transfer. She explains the physical and ethical concerns surrounding IVF, including the treatment of human embryos as part of a laboratory process. The conversation also examines: Why IVF is not an ethical treatment for infertilityWhy IVF bypasses rather than investigates the underlying causes of infertilityWhy “unexplained infertility” deserves deeper investigationThe connection between hormonal birth control and fertility careWhat medical students and OB-GYNs are taught—and not taught—about the menstrual cycleFertility red flags women may be told are normalWhat menstrual cycles can reveal about reproductive healthHow NaProTechnology and restorative reproductive medicine approach infertilityHow couples can pursue root-cause fertility care without IVFHow Catholics can explain the ethical concerns surrounding IVF with both truth and compassionDr. Monique Ruberu is a board-certified pro-life OB-GYN specializing in restorative reproductive medicine and NaProTechnology. Through Natural Women's Health, she helps women identify and treat the underlying causes of hormonal disorders and infertility while respecting both women's health and the dignity of human life. If this episode helped you understand Catholic teaching on IVF, infertility, or fertility treatment more clearly, like, subscribe, and share it with someone who is trying to conceive or wants to understand the ethical issues with IVF. This episode is for educational purposes and is not a substitute for individualized medical care. Speak with a qualified healthcare professional about your own health. Dr. Monique Ruberu's Website: Healthcare | Natural Women's Health | Pennsylvania

    IVF Is Not Ethical—And It Doesn't Cure Underlying Fertility Issues | Dr. Monique Ruberu

  4. Jul 16

    Christian Hope Through Infertility: Grief, Prayer, Marriage & God's Presence

    Infertility can leave couples grieving a child they longed to welcome, questioning God in prayer, and struggling to carry the pain together in marriage. This episode explores the spiritual and relational side of infertility—and the Christian hope that can sustain couples through grief, waiting, loss, and unanswered questions. In this conversation, Dr. Marie Meaney shares her experience of infertility, miscarriage, and secondary infertility, including the long process of mourning children she never had. Dr. Marie Meaney discusses: Why infertility can feel like silent grief—and why mourning mattersAnger at God, guilt, feeling punished, and unanswered prayerHow to bring pain honestly to God while learning to receive grace for todayWhy husbands and wives may process infertility differentlyHow couples can communicate, avoid blame, and support one anotherThe spiritual and relational impact of miscarriage and secondary infertilityWhat friends and family should—and should not—say to couples experiencing infertilityHow parishes can offer real support, including compassionate pastoral careThe Catholic Church’s teaching on the immorality of in vitro fertilization (IVF) and the dignity of the child and the marital actRestorative reproductive medicine, including NaProTechnology and the Creighton ModelSpiritual fruitfulness in suffering and the witness of infertile couplesPractical resources including Springs in the Desert, the Surrender Novena, Catholic counseling, and pilgrimagesThis episode is for couples experiencing infertility, those grieving miscarriage or secondary infertility, and friends, family members, priests, and parishes seeking to accompany them with compassion and truth. Dr. Marie Meaney is the author of "When Expecting Doesn’t Happen: Turning Infertility into a Journey of Hope," which explores the spiritual, emotional, and relational challenges of infertility from a Catholic perspective. If this conversation encouraged you, like this video, subscribe to Human Life International, and share it with someone who needs hope today. Get Dr. Marie Meaney's book here: When Expecting Doesn't Happen: Turning Infertility into a Journey of Hope - St. Paul Center HLI Articles for Individuals with Infertility: 8 Comforting Bible Verses for Infertility5 Infertility Support Groups for CatholicsCatholic Teaching on Infertility Treatments

    Christian Hope Through Infertility: Grief, Prayer, Marriage & God's Presence

  5. Jul 9

    Familiaris Consortio: Will John Paul II's Vision Guide Pope Leo XIV's Marriage Synod?

    Pope Leo XIV has called a new Synod on Marriage and Family — and the key to understanding it starts with Familiaris consortio, St. John Paul II's landmark apostolic exhortation on Catholic marriage and family life. In this episode, Fr. Shenan J. Boquet joins us to unpack this foundational Catholic teaching document and explain why its vision for the Catholic family is more urgent today than ever. Written after the 1980 Synod on the Family, Familiaris consortio directly addresses today's most pressing challenges — declining marriage rates, contraception, divorce, abortion, IVF, parental rights, and the growing pressures on Catholic family life. The conversation also explores why Pope Leo XIV has called a new Synod on Marriage and Family, how apostolic exhortations differ from encyclicals, what a Synod of Bishops actually does, and why Familiaris consortio may provide the theological foundation for the Church's future teaching on marriage and family. Whether you've never heard of Familiaris consortio or are deepening your understanding of John Paul II's vision for the family, this episode offers an accessible and faithful introduction to one of the Church's most important documents. In this episode you'll learn: What an apostolic exhortation is — and how it differs from an encyclicalWhat a Synod of Bishops actually doesWhy St. John Paul II wrote Familiaris consortioThe four tasks of the Christian familyWhy parents are the primary educators of their childrenHow the family serves as the foundation of societyWhy these teachings remain relevant over forty years laterWhat Catholics can expect from Pope Leo XIV's upcoming Synod on Marriage and FamilyIf this episode helped you better understand the Church's teaching on Catholic marriage and family, like this video, subscribe, and share it with a faithful Catholic who needs to hear it. Full Text of Familiaris consortio: Familiaris Consortio (November 22, 1981) #FamiliarisConsortio #PopeLeoXIV #CatholicMarriage #CatholicFamily #JohnPaulII #Synod #CatholicTeaching #VaticanNews #CatholicChurch #Marriage #Family #Theology

    Familiaris Consortio: Will John Paul II's Vision Guide Pope Leo XIV's Marriage Synod?

  6. Jul 2

    America at 250: The Untold Stories of Catholic Heroes Who Helped Build the Nation

    As America's 250 celebrations begin, most people can name Washington, Jefferson, and Franklin — but almost no one knows the Catholics who helped build this nation. From Charles Carroll (the only Catholic signer of the Declaration of Independence) to saints like Mother Cabrini and St. Katharine Drexel who founded America's first hospitals and schools — the Catholic contribution to America is the history no one is telling. In this special anniversary episode, Fr. Shenan Boquet, President of Human Life International, joins us to recover these forgotten heroes — and challenge Catholics to carry that legacy into the next 250 years. In this episode, you'll discover: What St. Thomas Aquinas teaches about the virtue of patriotismCharles Carroll: the only Catholic signer of the Declaration of IndependenceBishop John Carroll: the man who established the Catholic Church in AmericaHow St. Katharine Drexel, St. Frances Xavier Cabrini, and St. Elizabeth Ann Seton built the institutions that educated and healed a nationServant of God Sister Blandina Segale: the nun who confronted Billy the Kid and won his respect through charityFanny Allen: the daughter of Ethan Allen who had a mystical conversion and became New England's first Catholic nunSt. Damien of Molokai, St. Marianne Cope and Servant of God Joseph Dutton— who embraced a leper colony in Hawaii when no one else wouldVenerable Rose Hawthorne: Nathaniel Hawthorne's daughter who walked through a broken marriage into religious life — and became a servant of the dying poorVenerable Fulton Sheen and the model of bold, unapologetic Catholic witness in the public squareWhat faithful Catholics are called to do in the next 250 yearsLearn more about Human Life International's mission to defend life and the family worldwide: https://www.hli.org Featured Catholic Figures: Bishop John CarrollCharles Carroll of CarrolltonDaniel CarrollThomas FitzsimmonsCommodore John BarryColonel John FitzgeraldSt. Elizabeth Ann SetonSt. Katharine DrexelSt. Frances Xavier CabriniSt. John NeumannSt. Junípero SerraSt. Isaac JoguesSt. Kateri TekakwithaVenerable Rose HawthorneVenerable Fulton SheenFanny Allen Further Information on Featured Figures: America's Catholic Patriots | USCCB Eight Ways that St. Elizabeth Ann Seton (and her Shrine) Played a Role in American History - Seton Shrine Revolutionary War Hero Ethan Allen’s Daughter Became a Nun After an Apparition of St. Joseph| National Catholic Register Rose Hawthorne's Remarkable Life Story in the Spotlight as Sainthood Cause Advances - Archdiocese of New York DE SMET, PIERRE-JEAN (1801-1873) | Encyclopedia of the Great Plains The Nun Who Took on Billy the Kid The incredible life of Joseph Dutton, a servant to the saints and souls of Hawaii Sr. Blandina Segale, Part 1: The Fastest Nun in the West Sr. Blandina Segale Pt 2: The Sisters Segale of Cincinnati and the Santa Maria Institute

    America at 250: The Untold Stories of Catholic Heroes Who Helped Build the Nation

  7. Jun 25

    Theology of the Body and Humanae Vitae: St. John Paul II's Blueprint for Catholic Marriage (Part 3)

    How does Pope St. John Paul II's Theology of the Body help us understand marriage, family life, fertility, and the enduring wisdom of Humanae Vitae? In this final episode of Human Life International's Theology of the Body series, Adolfo Castañeda explains how St. John Paul II's Theology of the Body forms the definitive Catholic defense of Humanae Vitae — and why these two teachings together are the most complete roadmap for faithful Catholic marriage and family life available today. Drawing from Scripture, St. John Paul II's catechesis, and the Church's unbroken tradition, Adolfo unpacks: The Theology of the Body and the Sacrament of MarriageEphesians 5: Christ's Love for the Church as the Model of MarriageMarriage as a Visible Sign of God's GraceMutual Submission, Headship, and Authentic Conjugal LoveThe Song of Songs and the Book of TobitMarriage as a Path to HolinessHumanae Vitae and the Theology of the Body — their essential connectionNatural Family Planning (NFP) and Responsible ParenthoodContraception, the Birth Control Pill, and Catholic TeachingThe Family as the Foundation of a Culture of LifeAdolfo also explains why St. John Paul II saw the Theology of the Body as a profound response to Humanae Vitae — and how Familiaris Consortio extends that vision into concrete guidance for Catholic family life today. Whether you're preparing for your Catholic wedding, exploring natural family planning, studying the Theology of the Body, or defending Catholic teaching on contraception and family life in secular conversations — this episode is for you. 📖 Documents referenced in this episode: — Humanae Vitae (Pope Paul VI, 1968) — Familiaris Consortio (St. John Paul II, 1981) — Theology of the Body (St. John Paul II, 1979–1984) — Ephesians 5 | Song of Songs | Book of Tobit Human Life International is a Catholic pro-life missionary organization. Visit HLI.org for resources on Humanae Vitae, natural family planning, Catholic marriage, and building a culture of life. Subscribe to Living a Culture of Life for more on Catholic marriage, pro-life issues, Catholic family life, and natural family planning. Learn more: Human Life International | Pro-life. Catholic. Global. Episode 1: Theology of the Body Explained: God's Original Plan for Man and Woman (Part 1) | Human Life International Episode 2: Theology of the Body (Part 2): Love, Lust & the Resurrection of the Body HLI Articles on TOB: Theology of the Body: An Intro | Human Life International Living the Culture of Life

    Theology of the Body and Humanae Vitae: St. John Paul II's Blueprint for Catholic Marriage (Part 3)

  8. Jun 18

    Theology of the Body: Love, Lust & the Resurrection of the Body (Part 2)

    In this second installment of our Theology of the Body series, Adolfo Castañeda continues exploring the teachings of Pope St. John Paul II by unpacking Cycles 2, 3, and 4 of Theology of the Body. We discuss the meaning of purity of heart, Christ's teaching on adultery of the heart, the impact of lust and pornography on authentic love, and how original sin distorts human relationships. We also examine John Paul II's profound reflections on the resurrection of the body, our eternal destiny in heaven, and the role of Christian celibacy and virginity for the Kingdom of God. Whether you are new to Theology of the Body or seeking a deeper understanding of Catholic teaching on sexuality, marriage, vocation, and human dignity, this episode offers a rich introduction to some of John Paul II's most transformative insights. In This Episode: What Jesus meant by "adultery in the heart" (Matthew 5:27–28)Purity of heart and authentic loveThe effects of lust and pornography on relationshipsMarriage as covenant versus contractThe resurrection of the body and eternal lifeWhy marriage does not continue in heavenThe meaning of Christian celibacy and virginityMarriage and celibacy as complementary vocationsThe dignity of the human person in St. John Paul II's Theology of the Body This is Episode 2 in our three-part exploration of Pope St. John Paul II's Theology of the Body. In the next episode, we'll examine marriage, fertility, family life, and the Church's teaching on welcoming children. If you enjoyed this conversation, be sure to like, subscribe, and share it with others interested in Catholic theology, marriage, vocation, and Christian discipleship. Learn more: Human Life International | Pro-life. Catholic. Global. Episode 1: Theology of the Body Explained: God's Original Plan for Man and Woman (Part 1) | Human Life International HLI Articles on TOB: Theology of the Body: An Intro | Human Life International

    Theology of the Body: Love, Lust & the Resurrection of the Body (Part 2)
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
10 Ratings

About

Struggling to navigate today’s culture as a pro-life Christian or Catholic? Living a Culture of Life, the official podcast of Human Life International, equips you with truth, clarity, and practical guidance to defend life, strengthen your family, and live your faith boldly. New episodes every Thursday tackle today’s most urgent life issues—from abortion, the abortion pill, IVF, contraception, and euthanasia, to gender ideology, same-sex attraction, pornography, and the global depopulation agenda. On this podcast, you’ll find: Expert analysis from pro-life leaders, doctors, bioethicists, and Catholic thinkersFirsthand stories from abortion survivors, former Planned Parenthood employees, detransitioners, and those seeking healingCatholic teaching on marriage, sexuality, Natural Family Planning (NFP), and family lifeBreaking pro-life news, public policy updates, and global cultural trendsPractical tips for pro-life activism, Catholic parenting, dating, and building a Culture of Life in your community Whether you're looking for answers about abortion, Catholic bioethics, contraception, IVF, or how to respond to modern cultural challenges, this podcast will help you think clearly, speak confidently, and act courageously. Subscribe now to stay informed on pro-life news, Catholic teaching, and life issues impacting families worldwide. Follow us for more pro-life content: Instagram: Instagram: @cultureoflife_podcast X (Twitter): @cultureoflife_p Join the movement. Live the Culture of Life.

Information

  • Creator
    Human Life International
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2026
  • Episodes
    234
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    Living a Culture of Life

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