The Fellowship of the Ring

By J.R.R. Tolkien

• Principle: The battle against evil is worth it and even the smallest can play a big part. It is up to us to decide what to do with the time we’ve been given

• Format: Classic epic novel (book 1 of 3) taking place in a fictional world about the perennial battle between good and evil (458 pages)

• Recommended Use: Read aloud to family chapter by chapter; individual reading for children 12 and up; give as gift to preteen and early teen children (or anyone).

• Order book, Kindle, or Audiobook

https://www.amazon.com/Fellowship-Ring-Being-First-Rings/dp/0395489318/ 

The Hiding Place

By Corrie ten Boom

Dramatized by Dave Arnold

• Principle: Love of neighbor; saving lives in peril is worth the risk.

• Format: Full cast, cinema sound audio drama on CDs (224 minutes)

• Recommended Use: Have child enjoy while sick in bed.

• Order digital audio download from Focus on the Family https://store.focusonthefamily.com/radio-theatre-the-hiding-place-digital/

Butterfly Circus

by Joshua Weigel

• Principle: Accepting deformities and overcoming weaknesses fulfill the individual and inspire others.

• Format: HD Short Film featuring inspirational celebrity Nick Vujicic (22 minutes)

• Recommended Use: Show to your preteens preparing for Confirmation or when discussing “What if the baby is deformed” arguments for Abortion.

• Warning: Scene of “Carnival Freak Show” can be disturbing

• Watch: in English: The Butterfly Circus Short Film HD - YouTube

or in Spanish: El Circo de la Mariposa en Español (HD Completo).mp4 - YouTube 

October Baby

• Principle: Life is Beautiful; Abortion is traumatic but survivable and healable

• Format: Silver screen quality Romantic drama based on reality (109 minutes)

• Recommended use: Enjoy watching with your teenagers and invite their friends (every October!); watch Melissa Ohden’s testimony afterwards.

• Watch movie trailer and buy DVD  www.fishflix.com 

Testimony of Melissa Ohden

• Principle: Babies born alive from botched abortions have a right to life; elections have consequences

• Format: Recording of a testimony before Congress of an Abortion survivor (6 minutes)

• Recommended Use: Show to Teens before the March for Life, elections, or when discussing political pro-life issues; watch in conjunction with October Baby.

• Watch the testimony www.youtube.com/watch?v=I5uhZg4EwJg

• See Melissa Ohden’s website: https://melissaohden.com 

St. Gianna Beretta Molla: Lover of Life

• Principle: Life is worth dying for; Hard case: life of the mother

• Format: Documentary film (5 minutes)

• Recommended use: Watch with children as they prepare for Confirmation.

• Watch short biography www.youtube.com/watch?v=ru99NHBWkZ8

Unplanned

• Principle: Abortion is ugly. Conversion and forgiveness is available.

• Format: Silver Screen quality autobiographical drama based on inspiring true story (110 minutes)

• Recommended Use: Watch with your teenagers especially during the “respect life month” of October. Follow-up with 5 minute moving interview with main actress, Ashley Bratcher https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XnpHHJTRgpQ.  And pray the Rosary with pro-life intentions by Defend Life (pg. 20 of the Guide).

• Watch trailer https://www.unplannedfilm.com/ and see several purchase/rental/streaming options.

• Buy DVD or Blu-ray: bit.ly/Unplanned_Movie

• Warning: Rated R for some disturbing, bloody images, although no profanity, drug abuse, nudity, or sex. Brace yourself for a sonogram viewing of a 13-week abortion. But know that “to create the abortion, the filmmakers, Chuck Konzelman and Cary Solomon of God’s Not Dead, took actual ultrasound footage of a 13-week-old baby boy, like the one Abby witnessed. Then, using CGI technology, they created the abortion. It is powerful--and something the viewer needs to see and will never forget.” (40 Days for Life) 

“Cheryl poked her head into my office…”

By Abby Johnson

• Principle: Providers of abortion can have a change of heart

• Format: Brochure of one life-changing story describing abortion

• Recommended Use: Offer a printed or screen version to your child to read silently in your presence; watch the “Tough Topics (T2) Abortion Basics” video with your teen, pausing at episode 3, read this story together, then skip to episode 4.

• View and Print PDF https://abbyj.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/AbbyJohnson_Brochures.pdf

A Basic Guide to When a Human Being Begins and the Science Behind the Facts

By Contend Project

www.contendprojects.org/

• Principle: Decisions about sexual reproduction are serious and have serious consequences; Informed decisions are better

• Format: Magazine-sized textbook sharing essential scientific facts about human embryonic development in an accessible manner (30 pages)

• Recommended Use: Read with adolescents before they socialize with peers who might get pregnant after completing sex-ed and theology of the body.

• Recommended Re-Use: Review again at around age 15 or during high school biology.

• Buy Softcover book or ebook at www.contendprojects.org/the-science/the-science-guide/

• Learn more about the project at their website. 

Defend Life 2016 Lecture Series

By Barry Sullivan

• Principle: Bad things happen when good people do nothing – Do something about the pro-life issue!

• Format: Video recording of a live talk to youth at a “Face the Truth” pro-life youth gathering by a motivational speaker (45 minutes)

• Recommended Use: Watch with your adolescent as they reach Confirmation age and are preparing to become soldiers of Christ.

• Watch Sullivan’s talk at https://vimeo.com/177056549 

“You Can’t Love Another Person Apart from Truth”

By Fr. Paul Scalia

• Principle: Love has to be rooted in Truth about the human person and marriage

• Format: Video recording of Fr. Scalia, Chaplain of Courage International, speaking to high school boys on Same Sex Attraction (63 minutes)

• Recommended Use: Watch with your ~12 year old after Sex Ed and Theology of the Body or before your child socializes with someone struggling with same sex attraction.

• Watch video

www.youtube.com/watch?v=wUXqgpbua9k&feature=youtu.be

Homosexuality, Gay Marriage, and Holiness

By Jason Evert

• Principle: Chastity and Holiness

• Format: Video of Jason Evert discussing homosexuality, gay

marriage, and the Catholic Church (12 minutes)

• Recommended Use: Watch with your child and discuss

afterwards and recommend to parish youth minister for group

viewing and discussion.

• Watch video
www.youtube.com/watch?v=bLrRfwpvERU&t=3s

Maafa 21

Black Genocide in the 21st Century America

• Principle: Slave trade, evolution, eugenics, Nazis, and planned parenthood are all connected.

• Format: Documentary intermingling narration of three hosts with images from original documents and resources and testimonies (2 ½ hours)

• Recommended Use: Watch ONLY the first 46 min with preteen when covering these principles or events in history.

• Warning: The testimony following 46 min would expose your child to the topic of rape.

• Watch documentary www.youtube.com/watch?v=0eWxCRReTV4

Theology of the Body for Teens:

Discovering God’s Plan for Love and Life

(Middle School Edition)

• Principle: Respect for self, respect for God’s plan for marriage

• Format: Eight (8) video sessions with accompanying workbook and leader guide (30 minutes each)

• Recommended use: a) parent and child go through videos and workbook together; b) organize a small single-sex group to cover 8 sessions over a few weeks or in a weekend with a trained guide.

• Watch video highlights and order program from Ascension Press https://shop.ascensionpress.com/products/theology-of-the-body-for-teens-middle-school-edition-bundle 

Tough Topics (T2) Gender Identity

• Principle: Persons are created as male and female; living in accord with one’s created biological sex is vital for physical, mental, and spiritual health; it is harmful to “affirm” a false assertion about identity.

• Format: two-part program: video and role-playing script. 1-hour video features first-hand testimony and experts in biology and social sciences. 4-page script includes review of key principles and scenarios for role-playing.

• Recommended Use: Parents of teens invite a small group of teenagers with their parents, watch videos together, and role-play the scenarios individually.

• Watch video and download PDF from www.toughtopics.life/gender-identity

Tough Topics (T2) Abortion Basics

• Principle: We are created beings and life begins at fertilization. Abortion kills a baby and wounds the mother. One word can reveal a hidden truth, expose a lie, and show care for the person in front of you.

• Format: Two-part program: video and role-playing script. 1-hour video features abortion policy history, beautiful film of life in the womb, former abortionists explaining abortion using medical animation and fetoscopy*, testimonials, and communication training. 5-page script includes review of key principles, a chart of words to say and not say, and scenarios for role-playing.

• Recommended Use: Parents of teens invite a small group of teenagers with their parents, watch video togethers, and role-play the scenarios individually.

• Watch video and download PDF from https://www.toughtopics.life/abortion-basics 

* For younger or more sensitive teens, read “Cheryl poked her head into my office” instead of viewing episode 3.

Tough Topics (T2) Abortion Industry

• Principle: Persons are uniquely precious created beings. Abortion kills an unborn child and harms mothers. The Eugenics movement, upon which Planned Parenthood was founded, was based on is a lie that Blacks are unfit to procreate. Honesty matters. Lies, corruption, and deception should be exposed for the protection of the innocent.

• Format: Two-part program: video and role-playing script. 1-hour video features experts in eugenics history and abortion, and footage from private investigation. 4-page script includes review of key principles and scenarios for role-playing.

• Recommended Use: Parents of teens invite a small group of teenagers with their parents, watch video togethers, and role-play the scenarios individually.

• Watch video and download PDF from https://www.toughtopics.life/abortion-industry

Tough Topics (T2) Same-Sex Attraction

• Principle: A person is a child of God. Male and female are biologically complimentary sexes. Orientation follows biology. Marriage has a two-fold purpose: unitive and pro-creative, and living in accord with chastity is vital for one’s physical, psychological, and spiritual health. Friendship seeks the good of the other. And truth is for our happiness.

• Format: Two-part program: video and role-playing script. 1-hour video features Rev. Paul Scalia, experienced in pastoral care of persons who experience SSA, talking about marriage to a group of teen boys in a classroom setting. 4-page script includes review of key principles and scenarios for role-playing.

• Recommended Use: Parents of teens invite a small group of teenagers with their parents, watch video togethers, and role-play the scenarios individually.

• Watch video and download PDF from https://www.toughtopics.life/same-sex-attraction

Helping Our Children Navigate Gender Ideology: The Middle School Years

by Cana Vox

• Principle: All children have a mother and a father. Fathers and mothers love children differently.

• Pedagogy: 1. Speak of moral issues in natural law terms, 2. Establish the habit of having private talks with children, 3. Speak age appropriately and 4. Balance empathy and mercy towards others with truth and justice.

• Format: 27-minute video by Dr. Samuel presenting principles, scenarios, and sample conversations

• Recommended Use: “Better a year too early than 5 minutes too late” (CanaVox) All parents watch video and seize teachable moments. Somewhere between ages 10-15 years lean in on exposing some of the dark things happening in the world so youth hear first from parents and in the context of teachings about truth & charity.

• View video at https://canavox.com/videos/helping-our-children-navigate-gender-ideology-the-middle-school-years/

• Order CanaVox booklet Tips for Talking to Your Kids about Sex for age group tips from 2-18: https://canavoxstore.com/products/tips-for-talking-to-your-kids-about-sex but note weak language regarding contraception on page 45.

Contraception: Why Not?

By Prof. Janet Smith

• Principle: Sexual Common Sense regarding overpopulation myth, STDs, physical and social consequences of artificial contraception, and NFP.

• Format: Transcript of a lecture given by Prof. Janet Smith (17 pages)

• Recommended: Print out transcript and read alone and have teen read and then discuss together afterwards.

• Listen to Audio: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-5Zj5q2bRco

• View and Print transcript
https://www.catholiceducation.org/en/controversy/common-misconceptions/contraception-why-not.html

Sexual Wisdom for Catholic Adolescents

By Richard Wetzel, MD

• Principle: The Catholic Church has a healthy obsession with Jesus Christ, any sexual activity or attitude which does not draw us to Him is disordered.

• Format: A home-based, comprehensive course with 18 chapters and final True/False test and certificate of completion.

• Recommended Use: Parent and child read aloud every other paragraph with your post-puberty teen, after having gone through PUREly YOU and Theology of the Body for Teens. Aim for completing 2 chapters a week, in order to complete the course in 9 weeks (the equivalent of 1 Quarter of school, or a Summer session).

• Order paperback at https://www.amazon.com/Sexual-Wisdom-Catholic-Adolescents-Richard/dp/0979540216 

Fatima Gems: Our Lady’s Weapon

By Lauren Costabile and Stephen Eguino

Featuring Fr. Andrew Apostoli, C.F.R.

• Principle: “The Rosary is the book of the blind where souls see and there enact the greatest drama of love the world has ever known…. It is the Book of the aged whose eyes close upon the shadow of this world and open on the substance of the next. The power of the Rosary is beyond description.” Fulton Sheen

• Format: multi-faceted video with interviews and attractive, fast-paced graphics (28 minutes)

• Recommended Use: Teenagers and adults will enjoy this practical and profound explanation of Miracle of Fatima and history of the Rosary, unlocking the many ways this prayer transforms us by uniting our hearts with Christ, Mary and suffering humanity.

• Watch first episode online on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ewtnonline/videos/fatima-gems-our-ladys-weapon-produced-by-array-of-hope/356342911663213/

• Stream with paid subscription at watch.arrayofhope.net

Scriptural Meditations on Mysteries of the Life of Christ

The Most Holy Rosary of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Prepared for the 2013 Confirmation Class of St. John the Beloved

• Principle: Go deeper into the Mysteries of the Rosary through accompanying Scripture verses

• Format: Brief Scripture verse to precede each Hail Mary

• Recommended Use: Ask a child to read aloud the scripture verses when praying the Rosary together.

• View and print pdf www.stjohncatholicmclean.org/worship-the-lord/prayers/scriptural-meditations-on-the-mysteries-of-the-life-of-christ-the-most-holy-rosary-of-the-blessed-virgin-mary/

How to Pray the Pro-Life Rosary

• Principle: Beautifully worded intercessory prayers specific to abortion to precede any decade of the Rosary

• Format: One paragraph praise and petition to Jesus and Mary

• Recommended Use: Use during Family Rosary, especially in October and during the 40 Days for Life.

• View and print pdf:

http://www.defendlife.org/Rosarypg1.pdf

http://www.defendlife.org/Rosarypg2.pdf