More Proof that Liberal Sex Ed. Doesn’t Work

Last updated on: November 12, 2013 at 8:34 am By Rachael Popcak and Dr. Gregory Popcak

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the percentage of American students using condoms hit its peak at around 60% a decade ago, and has stalled since then, even declining among some demographics. A recent study released by the Sex Information and Education Council of Canada found that nearly 50% of sexually active college students aren’t using condoms. Other reports have found that while teenagers are likely to use a condom the first time they have sex,... Read more

Pope Francis: “Waste Time with Your Children.”

Last updated on: November 5, 2013 at 9:09 am By Rachael Popcak and Dr. Gregory Popcak

In his recent comments to the Pontifical Council for the Family, Pope Francis shared some advice he gives to young parents… “When I hear the confession of a young married man or woman, and they refer to their son or daughter, I ask, ‘How many children do you have?’ and they tell me. Maybe they’re expecting another question after that, but I always ask, ‘And tell me, do you play with your children? Do you waste time with your children?'”... Read more

The Hell You Say?

Last updated on: October 31, 2013 at 2:09 pm By Rachael Popcak and Dr. Gregory Popcak

People often ask about how a loving God can allow hell. Since tonight is supposedly “Devil’s Night” (though I much rather think of it as “The Baptized Stick a Finger in the Devil’s Eye Night”) I thought I’d share a little reflection on how I make sense of these two seemingly diametrically opposed concepts of a loving God and Eternal Punishment. When the question of Hell comes up, I suggest to people that Hell is nothing more than the fire... Read more

All Hallow’s Eve. Be Not Afraid.

Last updated on: October 31, 2013 at 10:36 am By Rachael Popcak and Dr. Gregory Popcak

It’s been a pleasure to see more Catholics discovering the truth about Halloween over the last few years. Namely, that it isn’t a pagan holiday, but a Christian one–and primarily, a Catholic Christian one. The always illuminating Mark Shea points us to a great summary of why Christians don’t need to avoid Halloween like some satanic plague. For my part, I think Halloween is a fascinating celebration. While the popular traditions around the holiday aren’t Church-sanctioned per se, I think that they represent... Read more

“Marriage Isn’t Easy, But It’s Beautiful,” Says Pope Francis.

Last updated on: October 30, 2013 at 8:36 am By Rachael Popcak and Dr. Gregory Popcak

Regular listeners to More2Life Radio know that our regular marriage contributors, Frank and Julie LaBoda, serve on the Pontifical Council for the Family and are currently in Rome for a Council meeting. In his address to the Council this past weekend, Pope Francis had some truly inspiring words for married couples. The Catholic Church must help young people understand that marriage isn’t always easy, “but it is so beautiful,” Pope Francis said. “There are problems in marriage: different points of view, jealousies,... Read more

Is Your Child Being Cyber-Bullied? Would You Know? Study says, “Probably not.”

Last updated on: October 29, 2013 at 1:00 pm By Rachael Popcak and Dr. Gregory Popcak

New research looks at how many parents are unaware that their children are being victimized on the internet… Researchers found that while 30 percent of youths admit to having been cyberbullied, only slightly higher than 10 percent of their parents reported that they knew. About 15 percent of the youths in the study admitted to cyberbullying others; under 5 percent of those parents were aware. The study also suggested that parents of younger teens — those who believe their child... Read more

Emily Litella Says, “There’s NO WAY Gay Marriage Will Lead to Polyamory/Polygamy!”

Last updated on: October 29, 2013 at 9:11 am By Rachael Popcak and Dr. Gregory Popcak

So, just last May 2012, gay advocate, Jonathan Rauch argued on NPR that the thought that same-sex marriage could possibly lead to mainstream acceptance of polyamory/polygamy was ridiculous. Rauch: Same sex marriage leads away from polygamy, not for it. It’s odd to argue that because children need parents, you should be against polygamy. That’s one of the arguments polygamists make – that, you know, you have more moms and a dad. Isn’t that great? In fact, the problem with polygamy... Read more

Mark Regnerus: New Canadian Study Says, “A Married Mom and Dad Really DO Matter.”

Last updated on: October 25, 2013 at 8:19 am By Rachael Popcak and Dr. Gregory Popcak

Marriage and Family researcher, Mark Regnerus (University of Texas at Austin, senior fellow at the Austin Institute for the Study of Family and Culture) points to a new Canadian study published in the journal, Review of the Economics of the Household (click for abstract) that shows the advantages to children raised by a married mother and father as compared to children raised in other family arrangements including same sex households. …children of gay and lesbian couples are only about 65 percent as... Read more

Waking Up to Relationship: A Call to Parents

Last updated on: October 24, 2013 at 6:08 pm By Rachael Popcak and Dr. Gregory Popcak

The other day, Calah Alexander had a great post about a parenting epiphany she had. You should go read the whole thing, but here’s the part that grabbed me the most. [Unfortunately, these days] “Parenting” does not imply a relationship. It implies a philosophy (attachment parenting, free-range parenting, authoritarian parenting) and a skill set that can be learned if one will only read the right books and follow the right methods. It’s become such a pervasive mentality that I’ve spent... Read more

Homeschool Troubles

Last updated on: October 24, 2013 at 10:11 am By Rachael Popcak and Dr. Gregory Popcak

A reader sent this article to me about the late realizations of some homeschooling families who were surprised and heartbroken that things have not worked out as they’d hoped. I thought it made some very valid points. Regular readers and listeners my be aware that we are very supportive of homeschooling in general although we recommend that people need to be sober about it. Homeschooling, by itself, doesn’t solve anything. It presents its own opportunities and challenges. Lisa and I have... Read more