Sharing pro-life message with kids is conference topic

By Elizabeth Pardi

The diocesan offices of Marriage and Family Life and Social Concerns hosted a virtual 2020 Building a Culture of Life Conference in October that ends with Mass celebrated by Bishop Robert Brennan on Oct. 25 from Columbus St. Joseph Cathedral.  

One conference presentation, “Raising a Pro-Life Generation,” featured speakers responding to questions about how parents and caretakers can instill pro-life values in children.

The speakers included Stephanie Rapp, mother to three and director of the Marriage and Family Life Office; Jesse Figueroa, a father, military veteran and deacon candidate for the diocese; Pam Heil, a motivational speaker and Christian counselor with Empowered to Love ministries; David Mesina, father of three and youth minister at Hilliard St. Brendan the Navigator Church; Jennifer Fullin, mother of five and the diocesan natural family planning coordinator; and Dr. Kathleen Lutter, a Columbus obstetrician and gynecologist. 

When speakers responded to questions, compassion was emphasized, starting with Mesina, who advised on how and when parents should talk to their children about abortion and what being pro-life means. 

“Lean toward instilling a love and a compassion towards the mothers – (both) the parents, but particularly the mothers – who often feel as though abortion is their only option. … We know it’s not their only option, but from their perspective and their experience, they feel as though this is their only option, so (focus on) really instilling this need to pray for, to support and also to … educate mothers who are in this very difficult situation.”

Rapp added, “(We should) really ensure that we are teaching love through this and compassion for those that are involved with … the abortion industry.” She also recommended that parents discuss with their kids the reasons why women would choose abortion.

Another question asked how youth can be taught to demonstrate pro-life values in a loving and non-judgmental way. Fullin, continuing the theme of compassion, said, “Truth and compassion are absolutely essential when talking to others about pro-life issues. Respecting life means wanting the authentic good for all persons, and that means the unborn child … the elderly, but it also means the person that you’re talking to, whether or not they share the same beliefs that you hold.”

The speakers also emphasized preserving young children’s innocence and not sharing graphic details of abortion with them. “Obviously you don’t want to start out with a young child and talk about the horrors of a third-trimester abortion,” Dr. Lutter said. “That’s just not appropriate.” She said a simple way to explain abortion to children is by talking about the gift of pregnancy. “As you build that respect towards birth and parenting and life, it naturally leads to a love of that process.”

Rapp also cautioned against sharing details with children who aren’t ready. “I think a rule of thumb would be to wait until they’re a little bit older to approach this topic, to keep it simple, truthful and not graphic.” 

To discuss complicated topics with kids in a simple manner, Figueroa recommended using the straightforward phrase, “From the womb until the tomb” when teaching children to value all human life.

Heil suggested that families sit down together and establish what their virtues and values are, including the right to life. She said there are numerous ways to approach this topic, “always celebrating the fact that we are beautifully and wonderfully made by a God who created us out of love.”

The speakers also emphasized that if children are to take pro-life beliefs seriously, parents must stress that such values lead to happiness and prosperity. “When we’re trying to show the reasons why we hold these positions and ought to embrace them with our lives, it’s always from the position that these are the best things for us,” Mesina said. “(We should teach that) these (values) are so important for the proper functioning of the human person.”

Despite the influence that parents have over their children, a recent Pew Research study indicated that kids might eventually reject the faith. “Don’t take it too personally,” Dr. Lutter said. She said that those who leave the Catholic faith often return later more on fire for the Church. Their faith “can’t be their parents’ faith,” she said. “If they don’t own it for themselves, it’s going to be a soft faith, and in today’s culture you have to have a strong faith.”
A video of the entire conference can be accessed on the diocesan YouTube channel.