Spirit & Life Blog

Marriage and True Love versus “Contraceptive Love”

By Fr. Shenan J. Boquet / March 10, 2025 /

It is not uncommon to question why the Catholic Church is interested in contraception. Further, because the subject is rarely preached about or spoken of, it is often unclear what exactly the Church teaches and why.  Modern society idolizes what it perceives as freedom, especially regarding human sexuality. Some assert that “love is love.” Sex…

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The Fundamental Role of Parents

By Fr. Shenan J. Boquet / March 3, 2025 /

Among the dozens of Executive Orders President Donald J. Trump signed during the first few weeks in office were two Executive Orders: Expanding Educational Freedom and Opportunity for Families and Ending Radical Indoctrination in K-12. The first aims to expand educational freedom and opportunity for families, and the second addresses discrimination and protecting parental rights.…

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Montana and Euthanasia: Two Opposing Worldviews

By Fr. Shenan J. Boquet / February 24, 2025 /

You may recall during the national elections in November 2024 that, among the several state ballot initiatives, the State of West Virginia established a constitutional ban on assisted suicide. Amendment 1 made clear that “no person, physician, or health care provider in the State of West Virginia shall participate in the practice of medically assisted…

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IVF, Conjugal Love and Marriage 

By Fr. Shenan J. Boquet / February 17, 2025 /

On January 22, Bishop Michael F. Burbidge of the Diocese of Arlington, Virginia, issued a pastoral letter called “The Christian Family, In Vitro Fertilization and Heroic Witness to True Love.” In his letter, Bishop Burbidge seeks to guide people of good will and the faithful to better understand the respect that is owed to the…

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Revoke NSSM-200 and Apologize for Evil Done 

By Fr. Shenan J. Boquet / February 10, 2025 /

Last week, I wrote about the admirable work that President Trump’s administration is doing to promote the pro-life cause. The sheer amount of pro-life activity undertaken by the Trump administration in the first weeks via executive orders and administrative directives has been truly remarkable. It is extremely encouraging to see this administration push back against…

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Trump Administration and Pro-Life Movement

By Fr. Shenan J. Boquet / February 3, 2025 /

“Life is the first good received from God and is fundamental to all others; to guarantee the right to life for all and in an equal manner for all is the duty upon which the future of humanity depends.” ― Pope Benedict XVI, Pontifical Academy for Life, 2007 For decades, the Catholic Church has issued…

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Saving Lives Through Adoption

By Fr. Shenan J. Boquet / January 27, 2025 /

Over the last few weeks in this column, I have been discussing the importance of transforming modern society and culture from an anti-life mindset to a moral framework that values and safeguards human dignity. Promoting and encouraging the noble gift of adoption is one way to realize this vision, by giving children an opportunity to…

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Why We Must Actively Defend the Sacredness of Human Life

By Fr. Shenan J. Boquet / January 20, 2025 /

Last week in Spirit & Life, I wrote about the importance of giving witness in the public square to the intrinsic and incomparable value of human life in the womb. On Friday, January 24th, tens of thousands of pro-lifers from across the United States will gather at the National Mall in Washington, D.C. for the…

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Peace on Earth Starts with Life

By Fr. Shenan J. Boquet / January 13, 2025 /

During the Angelus before Christmas Day, Pope Francis reminded the world that “no child is ever a mistake…a child is a gift of life.” The Holy Father continued with this message during his New Year’s Day homily, where he called for “a firm commitment to promote respect for the dignity of human life, from conception…

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Russia Initiates a Culture of Life

By Fr. Shenan J. Boquet / January 6, 2025 /

Recently, Russian Orthodox Church Patriarch Kirill sent letters to pregnant women to encourage them to choose life and welcome their children. The letters are part of an initiative organized by the “Hello, Mom!” project with similar letters planned to be distributed to moms across the country. Amid plummeting birthrates, some of the lowest reported in…

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