Skip to content
Home » News » Pro-Life This Week – October 9, 2026

Pro-Life This Week – October 9, 2026

Week in Review

Speak for Life: National Essay Contest Invites Young Voices

Nearly 500 young people put their thoughts on human dignity into words last year, and their voices reached audiences throughout the country. Now, the Culture of Life Studies Program is inviting middle and high school students nationwide to do it again through its annual Pro-Life Essay Contest, cosponsored by the Institute for Excellence in Writing and open through Nov. 7.

The contest invites students to reflect on some of the most important questions surrounding human life and dignity today, with this year’s prompts addressing contemporary medical practices, human vulnerability, and the responsibilities of individuals and society.

The response last year was extraordinary: Nearly 500 students entered, making it the largest number of entries in the program’s 14-year history. Entries came from Catholic and private schools, homeschool families, religious education programs, and public schools.

“We had the most entries since the inception of this contest,” said Susan Ciancio, director and executive editor of the Culture of Life Studies Program. “We read hundreds of incredible essays, and we are so proud not only of all the winners but of every child who took the time to express his or her thoughts and enter. We cannot wait to read this year’s essays.”

This year’s prompts invite students to reflect on what it means to protect human dignity in the face of difficult questions and circumstances.

High school students will examine a modern medical practice—abortion, IVF, euthanasia, prenatal screening, or organ donation—and consider it through the words of physician and geneticist Dr. Jérôme Lejeune: “We must always be on the patient’s side, always.” Students will explore who the patient is, what it means to act in that person’s best interests, and how the benefits and risks of medical technology relate to human dignity, rights, and the responsibilities of physicians and society.

Middle school students will focus on a particular stage or circumstance of human life, such as life before birth, disability, serious illness, or old age. Drawing on the teaching of St. John Paul II, students will defend the inherent value and dignity of people who may be vulnerable, dependent on others, or facing difficult circumstances. They will consider the challenges that can threaten that dignity and propose concrete ways individuals, families, communities, and society can respond with greater respect, compassion, and protection.

In both divisions, students will put these ideas into a 500-word essay that combines thoughtful reflection, clear reasoning, and specific examples.

But the contest is about more than writing.

CLSP hopes the experience will help children develop courage, compassion, and confidence while honing their ability to research their beliefs, articulate them clearly, and stand firm when their views challenge the prevailing culture.

Additionally, the top four winners in each age group will receive prizes, including cash, books courtesy of Ascension and author Patrick O’Hearn, CLSP lesson booklets, reflection journals, pro-life saint cards, mini rosaries, and more.

The contest runs now through Nov. 7. Encourage the kids in your life to enter!

For complete contest rules, prompts, and submission information, visit prolifeessay.com.

 

ALL in the News

ALL national director Katie Xavios recently commented on a story about a New York public college that is funding a student group that plants abortifacients in a community garden. The story was covered by College Fix.

Susan Ciancio, editor of Celebrate Life Magazine and director of the Culture of Life Studies Program, wrote an article about a diaper drive supporting families who have children with Down syndrome. It was published by LifeSiteNews.

CLSP’s Pro-Life Essay Contest continues to receive national media attention, this week from LifeSiteNews and Crescent City Times.

Katie Brown Xavios, ALL’s national director, regularly posts updates about American Life League and its important work on social media channels X and LinkedIn. Follow her accounts to stay up to date.

Twice a week, Judie’s commentaries are distributed to an expansive media list. The list contains over 100 media outlets such as Fox News, The Federalist, Breitbart, and The Daily Caller, among others. Judie’s commentaries are each featured on the front page of ALL.org.

Pro-Life Education

Culture of Life Studies Program

St. Carlo Acutis: Extraordinary in the Ordinary teaches high school students about the short yet impactful life of St. Carlo Acutis, the first millennial saint. Carlo is a phenomenal example to today’s teens, as he lived a life focused on God and on doing good for those around him. Not only did he use his exceptional computer skills to create a website cataloging the Catholic Church’s approved Eucharistic miracles, but he fed the poor, helped clothe the homeless, spoke in favor of chastity and against abortion, and he taught catechism classes to young people. Carlo’s life exemplifies how living an ordinary life focused on God and Church teachings can become extraordinary because of faith, love of Jesus in the Eucharist, and generosity toward others. Now just $3 to download! ORDER HERE

ALL’s Education Materials

Rosary for Life Prayer Card: This prayer card offers powerful pro-life reflections for each of the mysteries of the rosary, helping Catholics pray with greater intention for the protection of every human being. Used by pro-lifers at clinic vigils around the country, this prayer card pairs meaningful reflections with a beautiful image of Mary lovingly holding a baby in the palm of her hand—a touching reminder of her maternal care and the dignity of every child. SHOP NOW

Pro-Life Social Media

VIDEO: Self-Proclaimed Catholic Joe Biden Accepts Award by Anti-Catholic Planned Parenthood

Politicians who claim that they don’t let their faith dictate their policies betray the gospel:

 “Preach the word, be urgent in season and out of season, convince, rebuke, and exhort, be unfailing in patience and in teaching” (2 Timothy 4)

President Joe Biden claims to be a practicing Catholic, yet nearly every policy decision he has ever made has been contrary to the gospel and Church teaching. But Biden isn’t setting public policy anymore. Even though he is a private citizen in retirement, he still betrays his faith. Last week, Biden accepted an award from Planned Parenthood—the nation’s largest destroyer of God’s children. 

 

No doubt, Biden’s last Catholic scandal will be at his passing. Don’t be surprised when the same Catholic bishops who refused to enforce Canon 915 will approve of a Mass of Christian burial for a man whose actions oppose Catholic doctrine. For the good of Biden’s soul, Catholic bishops need to stop being complacent and begin to act in charity.