Catholic Answers Focus

Questions Covered:

04:11 – Regarding the Vatican 2 document on Ecumenism on point 7 of chapter 2: Why are they asking for forgiveness in the Church haven’t done anything wrong? 

08:45 – Is taking symbolic communion better than taking no communion at all? 

14:00 – The bible says you must believe in Jesus to have salvation. What exactly does “believe” mean? How do we get saved? 

21:38 When was the post-exilic period? What’s the Catholic perspective on this time in history? 

29:00 – What is the best way to start a conversation about faith with an agnostic? 

32:56 – What is the significance of Jesus handing Peter the keys? Is there a lineage? 

36:33 – Can you help clarify what happens in mass when the priest places his hands over the bread and wine? Also, why does he lean forward during the consecration almost speaking into the host/chalice? 

43:20 – Is it possible to have perfect contrition and imperfect contrition at the same time? 

45:05 – What are your thoughts on the idea that not all of us are children of God? That only those baptized are his children. I know This might go against V2. 

50:05 – I’m about to start RCIA and wanted to know your thoughts on the NAB bible translation? 

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Questions Covered:

05:56 – Why would the Holy Spirit not know when the second coming will happen according to Mt. 24:36.

15:33- Do you have assurance that people with mental disabilities have salvation?

31:40 – How do you balance reading “plucking out your eye” and “cutting off your hand” as metaphorically” and readings on hell as literally?

41:21 – I’m struggling, why do the popes, bishops and priests adorn themselves so much and treat themselves with a lot of luxuries if Jesus never walked that way?

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Questions Covered:

13:09 – What is the biblical evidence for the different levels of heaven as compared to Mormon teaching?

23:21 – I’m not Catholic and I’m looking for resources on the big issues in Catholicism.

28:35 – How do you convince an atheist or agnostic that is real in simple terms?

33:38 – How do I defend the fact that Jesus was quoting Psalm 22 and not doubting? Was Psalm 22 written in its entirety prior to the birth of Jesus?

41:47 – How do you respond to the pro-choice argument: If abortion is treated as a crime, failing to treat a miscarriage should be a crime.

46:44 – How do I defend against Universalism?

51:26 – My college is having a priest come in and teach a course on queer theology. What should I do?

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Questions Covered:

07:00 – I have a friend who is hesitant to convert to Catholicism because the idea of confessing her sins to a man seems shameful.

16:38 – How do I respond to the “forced birth” argument?

21:09 – I teach a catechism class at a local public school (Australia). I was inviting them to our parish confirmation program even though most never go to church. One question I couldn’t answer: How did Peter know what Jesus meant by “Church” in Matt 16? Was the term used before then?

24:46 – What is the best way to open conversation with family who are practically atheist?

36:46 – Is it wrong to gamble during a financial struggle?

42:22 – What, in your opinion, was Christ’s strangest teaching?

47:05 – What is the difference between Protestant and Catholic salvation?

50:25 – Why would Mary Magdalene go to the tomb if it was sealed and guarded?

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Questions Covered:

03:58 – How do I respond to someone who says that bishops’ authority did not exist until after Constantine and that Protestant ministers serve the same role as these bishops prior?

12:25 – How do I respond to an apatheist?

19:25 – How do you speak out against certain sins when there is public knowledge that you have a history of struggle with this sin?

29:20 – How can we defend the divinity of Christ and the fact that Jesus is God?

32:38 – How do I defend the Church from the claim that she changed her teaching on the death penalty?

44:50 – How do I prove that the Sabbath is on Sunday instead of Saturday?

51:50 – Why does the Church need a pope?

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Questions Covered:

04:31 – How do I respond to the Protestant claim that antipopes ruin the line of apostolic succession and that there are subliminal Satanic messages in the Vatican?

15:19 – If a priest uses your phone for a prayer, does the phone become blessed? And if you hear a prayer in a different language, are you still praying?

22:01 – What is the church’s position on popes and heresy? Can popes commit heresy? What happens if they do?

35:17 – Could you explain Marian apparitions for someone who struggles with them as a stumbling block?

49:10 – Does the Vatican have an observatory, and if so, why? Will we know when the end of the world is coming based on Revelation?

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Questions Covered:

19:23 – Can you touch on the significance of Mary Magdalene finding Jesus first after the Resurrection? 

35:10 – Is it possible that John made up verses to address heresy? It seems his gospel is frequently in discord with the other synoptics. 

44:18 – Why do some Bibles not include John 8? 

48:56 – Are we inspired in a way like the Synoptic Gospel writers? 

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Questions Covered:

03:38 – According to the bible, does the soul stay in the grave until judgment day, or does the soul go to heaven?

12:36 – Was Hebrews among the Dead Sea Scrolls, and if it was, was the author named?

17:44 – In 1 Cor. 1:17, is Paul separating the gospel and baptism?

22:33 – If Mary had said no to becoming the mother of God, would that have contracted sin/opened her up to sin?

29:08 – Can you explain Numbers 5:21? It appears contradictory with most modern Catholic views on abortion.

32:49 – In Acts 2, were the apostles actually speaking the other languages, or were the people hearing it in their own language?

35:56 – With reference to 2 Peter 1:10, what is the opinion on the Doctrine of Eternal Security? Can you abandon your faith?

44:24 – When and how did the Jewish religion stop sacrificing animals, and is there still sacrifice?

47:10 – In Matthew 12:40, why does it say three nights, when Christ was only in the tomb for two nights?

49:19 – In Numbers 9:11-14, can you clarify what it means for strangers and sojourners to participate in the Passover?

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Questions Covered:

4:16 – What is the biblical evidence for guardian angels?  

06:42 – Is the Trinity incestual because it implies that Mary is both mother and bride? 

11:44 – Is it possible that St. Clement wrote Hebrews? 

14:42 – What accounts for the difference in the treatment of the apostles between Herod and his son Herod?   

20:25 – Do novenas have their origin in the preparation for the time of Pentecost? 

28:53 – Before I formed you in the womb. I knew you Jer. 1:5. With that in mind, when was the soul created? 

33:00 – Why do we say in the creed, “Jesus suffered under Pontius Pilot” when Pilot did everything he could not to harm Jesus? 

36:34 – Why are the KJV and Catholic version of the Our Father different? Why did we add the ending into the Catholic Liturgy? 

43:28 – What did Jesus mean when he said, “Easier for a camel to enter through the eye of the needle”? 

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Seventh Day Adventists claim that the Sabbath was changed from Saturday to Sunday centuries after the life of Jesus. Joe Heschmeyer, author of The Early Church was the Catholic Church, joins us to debunk this claim.

Cy Kellett:

Apologist, Joe Heschmeyer, thank you for being here with us on Catholic Answers Focus.

Joe Heschmeyer:

The pleasure is mine.

Cy Kellett:

You want to talk about the Sabbath?

Joe Heschmeyer:

Yeah, lets.

Cy Kellett:

It seems very straightforward, and yet it’s a matter of some great controversy.

Joe Heschmeyer:

It’s even a denominational splitting issue.

Cy ...