Catholic Answers Focus

At Google, some employees are starting to think the computers have come alive. How might a Catholic understanding of souls help us explore the matter? Jimmy Akin joins us for what turns out to be a bit of a hilarious conversation.

Cy Kellett:

Jimmy Akin, senior apologist of Catholic Answers, thanks for doing Focus with us.

Jimmy Akin:

Hey, my pleasure.

Cy Kellett:

So…

Jimmy Akin:

What are we focusing on today?

Cy Kellett:

Artificial intelligence. I know this is one you have focused on before and you know a good deal about, but it became news when an employee of Google suggested or made ...

What exactly does it mean when Christ accuses the Pharisees of abandoning the commandments of God in favor of traditions of men? What are the implications for us? Karlo Broussard explores the proper place for “traditions of men.”

Cy Kellett:

Karlo Broussard, apologist here at Catholic Answers. Thanks for being with us.

Karlo Broussard:

Cy Kellet, thanks for having me.

Cy Kellett:

It’s always good when you’re here for focus.

Karlo Broussard:

Amen to that.

Cy Kellett:

And one of the things we can focus on with you because you’ve spent a lot of time in scholarly res...

Questions Covered:

01:06 – Why should I go to a Catholic Church when the non-denominational church that I like going to is also preaching the truth? 

07:00 – Are there any Catholic alternative voices that support a minimalistic approach to natural law? 

13:50 – How do we reconcile the discrepancy in Matthew and Luke regarding when the birth of Christ occurred? 

21:08 – Where in the bible does it say that we are wounded by original sin and not totally depraved? 

34:55 – If a person was baptized later in life and had committed terrible sins, would baptism remove the need for purgatory for those sins? 

37:09 – What genre of literature in the book of Genesis? 

42:46 – The Baltimore Catechism says that in order to enter heaven you have to get to know, love and serve God. Which of the three is most important? 

46:13 – How do we reconcile Adam and Eve and the evolution of homo sapiens? 

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Questions Covered:

04:48 – How do I respond to Mormons whenever they go back to having good feelings about the Book of Mormon? How do I get past that roadblock? 

12:14 – What is the official teaching on the eucharist and the sacrifice? 

17:11 – Is it true that the Roman canon of the Mass can’t change? If this is true, how can St. Dominic and St. Ambrose be in it? 

21:02 – Is it proper to say that Mary is the dwelling place of the Holy Trinity? 

23:59 – I’m a lapsed Catholic, how to overlook current Church politics and scandals in order to come back to the Church? 

37:53 – How do we explain children who have memories of a past life? 

48:25 – Did God give a divinely inspired tradition to the Jews like he did to the Church? If not, why not? If He did, Why would He allow it to be corrupted enough for Jesus to criticize it? 

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Questions Covered:

08:57 – What were the differences between Pharisees and the Sadducees? Are they comparable to Catholics and Protestants?   

15:15 – I’ve returned to the Church and I want a list of books you recommend. Which Catechism should I get? 

17:50 – Does your guardian angel finish your prayers if you fall asleep? Are people only their specific religion because that’s how they were raised? 

29:56 – What are your thoughts on the idea that the founding principles of America are anti-Catholic? 

35:57 – I’m in a long conversation with my protestant friend. How do I help soften their position and bias against Catholicism? 

42:05 – Can you critique my argument for the Immaculate Conception that I want to present to my parents? 

47:53 – What would you say is the most compelling argument for God that is not a Thomistic argument?  Can you provide an explanation of the moral argument? 

53:00 – How do we prove Mary’s virginity? 

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Questions Covered:

08:51 – My friend told me that there’s a vision of Mary currently happening. She said that Mary is saying to stock up on nuts, honey and blessed grapes. Are you familiar with it? Is this a valid apparition?

16:30 – Did the Church have all 73 books of the bible after the council of Rome in c.398 AD?

21:30 – Why bother evangelizing to my protestant family if Christ is the center of their lives?

32:41 – How can you ask Mary to pray for you if she is a human being who has passed on? Do Catholics think you can talk to the dead?

35:20 – How can you ask Mary to pray for you if she is a human being who has passed on? Do Catholics think you can talk to the dead?

43:12 – Why are certain sexual acts not allowed in marriage, specifically sodomy?

49:38 – How do I explain to my protestant friends that Jesus gave Peter primacy in authority and not to the entire Church?

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The term transubstantiation has been used for centuries within the Church but does it actually men? William Albrecht, co-author of The Secret History of Transubstantiation joins us to explore its true meaning.

 

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Questions Covered:

01:42 – How do I show my protestant friends that there are more than 2 sacraments? 

10:10 – I don’t think God could have saved us in any other way. Is there evidence for that? 

20:15 – Who were the sons of God in Genesis? 

32:00 – How do I build up trust in people after many years of not trusting others? 

43:03 – I’m reading a book on exorcisms and a demon claimed that Mary is powerful. If he is a liar, could he be lying about that? 

48:20 – My little sister came out of the closet. How can I help her and bring her to the truth? 

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Questions Covered:

03:55 – Is it possible for sacramentals to have the same graces as sacraments? Can we make our own sacramentals? 

13:45 – I’m protestant. What is the Catholic doctrine on the atonement? 

19:10 – Why are some Catholics not supportive of the Catechism? 

24:30 – How could we claim that the Church’s teaching were infallible if the early Christians believed that Christ would come back in their lifetime? 

32:30 – How can Mary be a co-redemptrix if Jesus is the one who redeemed us? 

42:05 – I’m a teacher and was tasked to teach on race and gender in a liberal school. How do I approach this as a Catholic? 

49:37 – With a lack of catechesis in different parts of the world, is there an effort to bring materials in the native languages to remote parts of the world?   

51:49 – How do we know whether a vision or visionary/prophet is really happening? How do we know if God is actually speaking to them? 

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Questions Covered:

01:14 – How do you answer a former Mormon regarding how the church has so much money and distributes it? Why don’t they give more of it to the needy? 

07:30 – Could you share your thoughts on Sirach 42:14 “Better is the wickedness of a man than a woman who does good; and it is a woman who brings shame and disgrace”? A friend said it should not be in scripture because it is “anti-Christian”. 

12:43 – I heard that when we read about Abraham, we don’t read it literally. But how do we fill the gaps specifically in regard to his age? 

17:09 – I have protestant friends who ask me, how can you discern sacred tradition from the tradition of man? 

22:18 – Did the early Church have anything to say about abortion and same-sex marriage? 

29:16 – Could sports be a sanctifying act? 

42:39 – Why do we not have the same belief on the Eucharist as with Protestants? And why do we have the body and blood and they don’t? 

48:33 – Protestant objections to Mary 

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