ROF10 – Defending Human Life – Roots of the Faith with Mike Aquilina – Discerning Hearts Podcast

Defending Human Life – Roots of the Faith with Mike Aquilina

Mike Aquilina and Kris McGregor discuss how early Christian leaders upheld the dignity of human life in a culture where infanticide and abortion were common and widely accepted. In the ancient pagan world, unwanted infants—especially girls—were often abandoned or killed, and abortion was supported by prominent thinkers. Jewish and Christian communities consistently rejected these practices, a stance clearly reflected in early writings such as the Didache and works by Church Fathers like Justin Martyr and Athenagoras. Across centuries, these sources present a unified teaching that identifies abortion as the taking of human life. Figures like St. Augustine never justified abortion, despite modern claims to the contrary, noting that St. Augustine only debated legal consequences, not its morality.

In the book, it presents the Church Fathers as examples of moral courage who challenged both societal norms and political leaders. Some examples include St. Ambrose holding an emperor accountable as a striking example of this witness. Moral responsibility cannot be separated from public life, since laws inherently reflect judgments about right and wrong, and silence in the face of injustice allows harm to continue. At the same time, true courage comes from God’s grace rather than personal strength. The early Christians are ultimately presented as a model of transformation, showing how truth, love, and faithful witness can gradually renew society and offer lasting hope.

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Discerning Hearts Reflection Questions

1. How does the witness of the early Church challenge the way I value and protect human life today?
2. In what ways am I called to defend the dignity of the most vulnerable in my daily life?
3. Do I allow cultural norms to shape my moral views, or do I seek guidance from the teachings of the Church?
4. How can I respond with both truth and charity when discussing difficult moral issues with others?
5. What responsibilities do I have as a Catholic in shaping society through my actions, words, and civic participation?
6. Where might silence or inaction in my life be allowing injustice to continue?
7. How can I grow in trust that courage and perseverance come from God’s grace rather than my own strength?
8. What can I learn from the example of the Church Fathers in living out my faith more boldly?
9. How does humility influence the way I share and defend the truth?
10. In what ways can I help build a culture of life, love, and hope within my family, workplace, and community?

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You can find the book on which this series is based here.

About the Book

This highly readable introduction to the roots of many Catholic beliefs and practices provides a sense of connection to our brothers and sisters who have gone before us and who helped shape the faith. Mike Aquilina makes it clear that as far as the essentials are concerned, a time-travel trip back to the beginning of the Church would reveal a Church familiar to Catholics today. Just as an acorn grows into a tree and yet remains the same plant, so the Catholic Church is a living organism that has grown from the faith of the earliest Christians into the Body of Christ we know today.

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For more episodes in the Roots of the Faith podcast visit here – Roots of the Faith – Discerning Hearts Podcast

Mike Aquilina is a popular author working in the area of Church history, especially patristics, the study of the early Church Fathers.^[1] He is the executive vice-president and trustee of the St. Paul Center for Biblical Theology, a Roman Catholic research center based in Steubenville, Ohio. He is a contributing editor of Angelus (magazine) and general editor of the Reclaiming Catholic History Series from Ave Maria Press. He is the author or editor of more than fifty books, including The Fathers of the Church (2006); The Mass of the Early Christians (2007); Living the Mysteries (2003); and What Catholics Believe(1999). He has hosted eleven television series on the Eternal Word Television Network and is a frequent guest commentator on Catholic radio.

Mike Aquilina’s website is found at fathersofthechurch.com