Catholic Answers Live

Questions Covered 13:47 – As people have their body parts replaced with mechanical parts (arms, heart, etc.) is there a point where they are no longer themselves? 19:00 – Has there been any update on stem cell research? Is there any update on embryonic stem cell research? 31:49 – Is it acceptable to donate your body to science? What is the Church’s stance on cremation? 37:02 – Legally, do you have to test animal embryos before testing human embryos? Is it ethical to preserve embryos to display for educational purposes? 45:07 – Are condoms illicit during pregnancy if they can help prevent bacterial infection when antibiotics can be harmful to the fetus? 50:32 – What is Fr. Tad’s perspective/counsel on ectopic pregnancy procedures? …

Questions Covered 07:23 – Is it heretical or orthodox to say that homosexual behavior is illegal? 16:28 – What translation of the bible do you use? What makes a good/bad translation? 20:55 – Does it matter if you get baptized in the name of the Father, Son, Holy Spirit versus just the name of Jesus? 34:00 – Is it orthodox to throw red rose petals during mass to celebrate Pentecost? 41:25 – How do you explain indulgences? And not make them seem like “tokens” to heaven? 46:45 – Do you think the protestant reformation upset God or was it part of His plan? 49:40 – What did Jesus mean when he said to the thief on the cross “you will be with me in paradise”? 52:27 – Why did Jesus choose to resurrect privately without any witnesses? …

Questions Covered 03:46 – Why do people still have an issue with the Divine Mercy devotion, and why is it actually okay? 13:24 – Why is St. Gregory Palamis canonized as a saint if he was an Eastern Orthodox monk? 20:55 – In the language that Jesus spoke, did he use the same word in Aramaic to refer to Peter and to the rock upon which he’d build his church? 30:00 – What’s the theology behind popes blessing monarchs, and how does that bear on the relation between church and state? 35:32 – When the Jewish people were given the Old Testament, were they given infallibility with interpreting the scripture? 45:11 – After the battle of La Ponto, the pope instituted the feast of Our Lady of Victory then changed it to our lady of the rosary… can Catholics still ask for the intercession of Our Lady of Victory? 48:39 – Why does the Roman Rite not practice infants receiving communion like the Byzantine Rite? …

Questions Covered: 08:15 – Is there a theological basis for the pope to restrict the TLM? 21:05 – Wouldn’t Mary’s parents need to be free from sin in order for them to have an Immaculate Conception. Behold Your Mother 24:28 – Do you know anything about an official World War I metal rosary? 31:16 – Mt 18:6 Does this mean that Jesus considers little children to believe in him? 46:30 – How did Jesus’ humanity and divinity exhibit themselves in his everyday life? …

Questions Covered: 09:40 – CCC 2093. Does this mean we shouldn’t be pulling weeds and swatting flies since we aren’t loving God through those creations? 20:03 – What’s the difference between a spiritual director, confessor and someone who hears your confession? 31:09 – I am a Catholic and would like to know if I have to confess my sins to a priest, or can I confess my sins to God through prayer? 35:15 – Is one considered a baptized Catholic if they are baptized by a schismatic? 39:25 – If a priest charges admission to the mass is Jesus still present? 41:10 – Why do we need purgatory when we’re quenched by the blood of Jesus? 46:37 – If you’re in an opportunity of offering redemptive suffering but you forget, can you offer that up later? 51:35 – Why are Anglican and Episcopalian priests allowed to become Catholic priests even though they hold different beliefs? …

Two contestants go head to head in this episode of the Catholic Answers Games Show! …

Cy and Karol answer questions from our “dropped calls” list …

Questions Covered: 30:09 – I thought Mary visited Elizabeth to learn about childbirth. Is this true? 32:58 – Why were Mary and Joseph surprised at Jesus’ comment about being in his Father’s house after they lost him? 42:23 – I was taught that the visit to Elizabeth was typological to David dancing in front of the Arch of the Covenant. Can you expound on that? 44:16 – Can you explain the timeline of Joseph and Mary’s betrothal? Was it before, during, after the Visitation? 49:32 – Would Simeon at the Presentation have remembered that this was the Mary that was pregnant outside of marriage and Joseph almost divorced? …

Questions Covered: 20:15 – It feels like Catholic Charities has been pushed out of the foster care services. 32:39 – How do you prepare your home if you want to foster? 35:51 – I was adopted as a baby. I want to encourage people to adopt and not abort. 44:44 – Are there any grandparent programs to adopt children? 48:16 – I work in a foster organization and everything you’re saying is correct. …

Open Forum – Questions Covered: 04:33 – I’m a convert from Episcopalian church. Why can’t I receive communion at both churches when I go with my family? 17:35 – I’m interested in Catholicism. What is the thought of using products that have been associated with immorality? For example, buying shoes from a company that has produced shoes with a pentagram? 31:04 – I’m coming into the Church but am cohabiting. What should I do? 37:25 – A Protestant was arguing that we shouldn’t have Marian intercession because it is based on the Old Testament. What’s the response? 45:23 – Is once saved always saved the sin of presumption? 48:29 – Is it okay to go to adoration and just sit in silence? 50:55 – Do Anglican priests have to be re-ordained when they convert to Catholicism? …

Open Forum – Questions Covered: 05:27 – Does Is. 53:10 support penal substitution? 17:42 – What is the best way to discuss the Marxist tendencies in the Grapes of Wrath from a Catholic perspective? 20:30 – How does Hebrews 10:14 not teach eternal security? 42:37 – Did God really forsake Christ on the cross? 47:30 – Why aren’t the Church Fathers as popular among Protestants as they are with Catholics? 51:34 – I’m returning to the faith. Is it appropriate for me to read the bible and try to discern the word of God? …

Questions Covered: 03:06 – Is Michael Heiser a heretic? Why are so many Protestants intrigued by his teachings? 11:04 – This question has always been on my mind. The Bible periodically speaks of God as being the One True God. Or mentions, as I paraphrase, “no other gods are like our God.” What’s the faith teach about “other gods?” Are the Hindu, Buddhist, Greek, Roman, Mayan, etc., gods real to an extent? I always wondered if they could have been demons or fallen angels manipulating things on earth. Would love to explore that topic of other gods and their legitimacy. 18:28 – I learned from a Catholic trivia game that “as a result of the 1917 Code of Canon Law, the moon is considered part of the Diocese of Orlando, FL.” There was no citation, however. What is the law in question and how does it apply to the moon when it was promulgated before space exploration began? 28:27 – I love my wife, my cats, my country, and cheesecake. Why then do I find it so hard to believe that I love the Lord? Considering all that the Lord has done, I feel I should be positively burning with love and gratitude and that I should actively live each moment of my life in His service. Yet, I get caught up in life, I sin, and that burning devotion never really materializes. I am left feeling selfish and ungrateful. I pray, I try to keep the commandments, and I avail myself of the sacraments, but if you ask “Do you love the Lord?” I will hesitate. If I really DID love Him, I’d be a better person, less of a sinner, and my love for Him would burn far greater than my fear of His judgement. Right? I certainly have FEAR of the Lord. My greatest longing is to be numbered among His sheep. My greatest terror is to be cast out with the goats, even though I deserve it. Is this just scrupulosity? Am I being too hard on myself? Can love and fear of the Lord be the same thing? Am I missing something important that I need to change? 34:20 – If, as written, a wife needs to submit to her husband and a husband should love his wife like Christ loves the church. How does this make sense if the wife must in some relationships make a much better leader? Is it really the teaching that a family may suffer if absolutely the inadequate person is the leader? Is it church teaching that a woman cannot be a better head than any man? Resource: https://www.catholic.com/magazine/print-edition/spiritual-headship 42:14 – Can saints (and demons for that matter) hear our thoughts? If not, is silent prayer to saints therefore useless? …

Questions Covered: 02:55 – During the recitation of the Gloria at Mass, we say (speaking to and about our Lord Jesus), “For You alone are the Holy One. You alone are the Lord. You alone are the Most High…” My question deals with the use of the word “ALONE” in these statements. I accept that they are all true, but I also know that they apply equally to the Father and the Holy Spirit. Understanding that the prayer intends no contradiction or diminution of the other Members of the Trinity, is this grammatical “glitch” just an artifact of translation or is there a deeper meaning present that eludes me? 07:18 – In the divine plan of things, why did Jesus come when he did? He could easily have showed up in 1930’s Louisiana and we would all be wearing electric chairs around our necks. My $0.02 take is that the year that we call “1” was the perfect time because (1) The Hebrew people have marinated long enough in the stew of Salvation History. They became mature enough to finally host the Messiah. (2) The Jews lived at the literal center of the world (the Americas and its peoples not coming into play in the divine plan for another 1500 years, of course). (3) What made the Roman Empire special was its vastness and its roads. The original information superhighway for which the early members of “The Way” can spread the messages given by The Savior. I would love to hear your take on this question. 14:45 – Does the Catechism of the Catholic Church have more authoritative power than previous conciliar documents? Isn’t the CCC the primary authoritative text currently? 17:07 – It seems like a lot of people see loved ones after they die. Can loved ones come back for a moment to comfort those they left? 21:26 – I have some friends that are Traditionalist Catholics who seem to possess a “my world is coming to an end mentality” over the fact that Pope Francis issued his Traditiones Custodes document. Could you give me some advice on how to talk to Traditionalist Catholics about why the Pope issued that document? 28:28 – During a recent program, you gave the requirements for a sin to be classified as mortal. Namely: grave matter, full knowledge, and free consent. You went on to illustrate “grave matter” with the example of stealing $1.00. If done against a millionaire it would probably not classify as “grave”, but if done against a poor person it very likely would. All of that makes perfect sense, BUT… I have a measure of OCD and the related scrupulosity. While they make me very good at my job, they also make me chafe at grey areas with high stakes, and what stakes are higher than salvation? My question is this: How can we best define the line between “grave” and “not grave” without foolishly or mistakenly convincing ourselves that what may actually be grave really isn’t? Clearly, the location of that line will vary depending upon the circumstances, but what guidance can you offer to help us draw it correctly, or at least safely, each time? To borrow a phrase from Douglas Adams, “We demand rigidly defined areas of doubt and uncertainty!” 36:30 – Does God have perfect knowledge of the future? 41:45 – Someone was married to someone who got caught up into Satanic worship after watching the original Rosemary’s Baby. Their house became infested with spirits who played tricks on the spouse, trying to get her to leave, mostly they hid keys or other things, so she was often late. An occult expert told her the spirits wanted her out and they would become dangerous, harm her, or even kill her. She told her husband and tearfully told him she had to leave. He had a big bonfire and burned the objects he had collected along with the books, he quit participating, and bit by bit the spirits stopped antagonizing the wife. The husband had a terminal illness, but he was never seriously ill as long as he participated but almost immediately…

Open Forum – Questions Covered: 03:58 – If a marriage is declared annulled, how do you refer to the former marriage if it was declared invalid? 08:44 – How do I talk to a Mormon about the Trinity? Resource mentioned: From the Susquehana to the Tiber 22:37 – How is one qualified as a valid Catholic? 28:37 – How do Catholics understand Mt 24:13 and Mt 24:22? 40:18 – How do I balance liberal and conservative theology within the Catholic Church? 47:46 – Do people become angels when they die? 51:42 – Is Marian devotion a requirement for a Catholic? …

Open Forum – Questions Covered: 09:25 – Were the prophets in the New Testament Church prophesying about the future of the Church? 15:40 – CCC states the canon of the bible has apostolic origin but does the early Church disprove that? 31:00 – Why does a Catholic have to get married inside of the Church? 40:12 – I was invited to a Christian baptism. Is it okay for me to go? 47:18 – Who wrote Genesis? 50:03 – How do we reconcile John the Baptist being the greatest of the prophets and Mary being the greatest creation? …

Open Forum – Questions Covered: 02:15 – Is it okay for Catholics to use contraception for irregular cycles? 08:41 – If God is pure spirit then why does the bible suggest that he has a human body? 18:04 – Can Catholics be a part of Elks Clubs and other societies? 23:47 – How do you explain confession to non-Catholics? 37:28 – Is using words like, darn or heck, sinful? 45:44 – Did the early Church Fathers believe that the three angels who visited Abram were a physical manifestation of the Trinity? Are they right? 48:37 – How do we balance separating the body of relics and not allowing the scattering of the remains of loved ones? …

Open Forum – Questions Covered: 07:24 – Who was the very first Christian? 18:45 – This past Sunday’s reading Acts 8:14-17. Don’t we receive the Holy Spirit fully in baptism? 22:34 – What choir of angels are depicted only having a head and wings? 24:39 – How do you respond to the claim that St. Patrick was a Baptist minister and that the Catholics hijacked his story? 34:16 – by saying the Orthodox priesthood is valid, are we saying they are right in saying the papacy is wrong? 37:45 – Is it true that there are over millions of Satan clubs across the country? 46:02 – Chris, Thank you for your article in the magazine. Have your read Dr. Kreeft’s, How the weakness of the cross makes us strong? 49:03 – Why is there so much repetition in the bible, specifically in Exodus? …

Questions Covered: 02:34 – Why do Catholics reject abortion but they are ok with taking vaccines with abortion fetal tissue? 13:06 – Why would we want to preach the gospel to people if they have invincible ignorance? 17:59 – Why do only 30% of professed Catholics actually believe in the real presence of the eucharist? 21:52 – How can I defend my faith against a narcissist? 31:20 – Why do we say deliver us from evil and lead us not into temptation? We are the cockroaches that create evil, not God. 40:07 – What does it mean to be one under the pope? 47:35 – Is it a sin to go shopping on Sunday? …

Questions Covered; 04:02 – What does the Church believe in reincarnation and why? 11:36 – Why do Catholics believe that salvation is faith and work when Jesus preaches works only salvation in Mt 25? 17:00 – Why is the pope coming down so hard on the traditional Latin mass? 20:57 – Why does the priest mention Melchizedek during the prayers of consecration? 24:25 – Why would one want to evangelize a faithful methodist? Wouldn’t they already be considered part of the faithful? 34:52 – Why are Catholics not united on the abortion issue? 40:17 – Why would God allow things like Hurricane Sandy? 46:42 – Why did the words of the mass change several years ago? …

Questions Covered: 09:02 – What’s the Catholic view on a 3-person baby that was recently created? 17:25 – If evolution is real, why don’t we have any transitional fossils? 22:51 – If God is the concept of infinity, is he an ever-expanding infinity or is he the highest set of infinity? 31:02 – With science expanding so quickly, I’m reminded of the of the Jurassic Park quote: we are doing things so fast we are not stopping to think if we should. 35:07 – Is it okay for me to question certain components of science such as carbon dating? 41:04 – What have you done to handle situations when you hit a wall when publishing studies? 45:48 – Wouldn’t the argument that God is constantly changing support the theory that men and women can change and be transgender? …