Susan Ciancio has a BA in psychology and a BA in sociology from the University of Notre Dame, with an MA in liberal studies from Indiana University. Since 2003, she has worked as a professional editor and writer, editing both fiction and nonfiction books, magazine articles, blogs, educational lessons, professional materials, and website content. Fourteen of those years have been in the pro-life sector. Currently Susan writes weekly for HLI, edits for American Life League, and is the editor of its Celebrate Life Magazine. She also serves as executive editor for the Culture of Life Studies Program, an educational nonprofit program for k-12 students.
Kathleen and Ron have been foster parents for most of their 35 years of marriage, and in addition to raising four children of their own, they have now fostered over 200 children. Throughout those years, they have seen atrocities that most people cannot even imagine, but the love and joy they have brought to children and their families is immeasurable.
Date posted: 2026-05-18
Awkward. Embarrassing. Uncomfortable. Any or all of these words are likely to describe the way that parents feel when they think about teaching kids about sex. But acknowledging and overcoming these feelings - one of the more difficult parts of Catholic parenthood - is incredibly necessary if we are to raise children who see themselves as gifts to others and who then go out into the world to live as gifts.
Date posted: 2026-05-04
A mother recently told me that, when she found out that her baby had a 99% chance of having Down syndrome, her first course of action was to do an online search for what she could expect. What she found frightened her.
Date posted: 2026-04-17
Since the reversal of Roe v. Wade and Casey v. Planned Parenthood, we have seen anger. We have seen violence. And we have seen the dispersal of all kinds of misinformation - most of it aimed at increasing rage, stirring up indignation, and causing confusion. One of the pieces of misinformation that continues to spread pertains to ectopic pregnancies.
Date posted: 2026-04-07
Controversies are extremely prominent in the field of stem cell research, as scientists debate the different kinds and the varying benefits of each. Some stem cells are taken from adults or even from a mother's placenta. These are ethical sources. But some stem cells are taken from aborted embryos or from embryos created during IVF. We will explore why this is wrong, what the Catholic Church teaches on the subject of stem cell research, and what advancements have been made with a special kind of stem cell.
Date posted: 2026-03-31
Not knowing or loving yourself is one of the fiercest battles we face as human beings. Countless people suffer from low self-esteem, from self-doubt, and even from self-loathing. But what happens when these feelings are compounded by a lack of comfort or even a disgust about your sex organs? This is what people face when they experience gender dysphoria, and it's incredibly confusing when it's a child - especially when it's your child.
Date posted: 2025-11-28
Since the reversal of Roe v. Wade and Casey v. Planned Parenthood, we have seen anger. We have seen violence. And we have seen the dispersal of all kinds of misinformation - most of it aimed at increasing rage, stirring up indignation, and causing confusion. One of the pieces of misinformation that continues to spread pertains to ectopic (literally, "out of place") pregnancies.
Date posted: 2025-03-08
Porn is something that many people are reluctant to talk about. It makes us uncomfortable. Sometimes we don't want to talk about it because it's embarrassing. Or it's embarrassing to our children. But, with the prevalence of porn and the ease with which kids can access it, these are conversations we must have in order to protect our children.
Date posted: 2025-02-08
Marriage is supposed to be forever. In front of God, your family, and your friends, that is what you promised. You ask yourself if you can get past this, if you can ever trust your spouse again or be trusted again. You wonder, Do I even want to? It all feels unbearably hard and overwhelming.
Date posted: 2025-01-31
Abortion - the taking of a preborn baby's life - is a contentious topic. But when we examine the facts, we see many reasons why abortion is wrong. It's not just religion that tells us about the evil of abortion. Our conscience should tell us this as well, as it goes against the natural law to take the life of a preborn baby. Science, logic, and God give us the understanding that intentionally killing an innocent human being is wrong.
Date posted: 2025-01-04
Twice in the past week, people have brought a startling discovery to my attention - more and more high school and college students either have trouble reading or have not ever read an entire book cover to cover.
Date posted: 2024-11-25
Nearly two years ago, Roe v Wade was overturned when the Supreme Court ruled in the Dobbs v Jackson Women's Health case. As a result of this decision, abortion was no longer a national "right"; each state can now make its own laws regarding abortion.
Date posted: 2024-07-04