Catholic Answers Focus

Questions Covered:

03:22 – do I move forward in Faith from personal experience to a more rooted understanding? How can I know that Christianity is true?

11:43 – Why would God do miracles in a Pentecostal church if it would lead them away from the Catholic Church?

24:30 – In Mt 26 it says that the disciples were eating before the consecration. Was there a meal beforehand?

29:19 – I’m also having trouble having faith in the Eucharist. Can you give me some guidance?

36:19 – After Adam and Eve, how many people were there?

40:55 – How do I explain apostolic succession to a Calvinist if they claim that succession was only needed during those years?

48:28 – Does the Church cast out demons and should every believer cast them out?

52:06 – Does Lev 21:9 concern burning the living or cremation?

Resources Mentioned:

Ad resurgendum cum Christo

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Questions Covered:

03:09 – How do you tell the difference between purgatory and hell?

05:13 – Why are Christianity and Buddhism not compatible?

14:25 – Would the son of a married Catholic priest be able to become a married Catholic priest?

18:58 – I lost my 18 Y.O son to suicide. How do I make sense of this and what’s the Church’s understanding? Resource: When a Loved One Dies by Suicide – Ave Maria Press

31:08 – Why doesn’t God just eliminate Satan?

34:56 – What’s the official Church teaching on centering prayer by Thomas Keating and Christian meditation according to John Main? What are the concerns?

44:40 – My friend claims that the bible’s context was changed in different periods of time. How do I refute this?

52:31 – I’m Nigerian and in my home country Christians are being killed. In Lk. 22:36 it says that Christians should fight. Should we take up arms to fight back?

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Questions Covered:

01:39 – Why did Jesus say it was better for Judas to never have been born if it was because of Judas’ act that Jesus’ Passion and subsequent Resurrection was set in motion? Was Judas’ betrayal not necessary for this?

05:23 – Are there any Pseudepigraphal writings in the New Testament? If not, and if any are discovered, would that alter the canon?

14:03 – Do you favor the material sufficiency, partim partim view, or something else about scripture? Why do you hold to this position?

28:21 – My teen son always asks me why do we have to go to mass every Sunday? What is so important about going to mass? Also, why should we dress our best for Sunday mass?

32:18 – Is it correct to assert that there’s an ongoing eternal liturgy in Heaven? If so, why is that the case and what does it consists of?

35:45 – Currently there are Catholics who prefer the Tridentine Latin Mass. Pope John Paul II & Pope Benedict encouraged celebration of the Tridentine Latin Mass. Pope Francis is trying to regulate it & put the decision about the TLM in the hands of the local bishops because he perceives that there is division in the Church. In prior Church history was there ever another time when the form of liturgy was changed but some Catholics preferred the prior form & were given permission to celebrate Mass in the prior form?

42:59 – Given the limited number of people at the time of Adam and Eve, can it be inferred that incest not only occurred, but was necessary and, as such, can it be stated that incest is a circumstantial evil?

50:22 – If we can use medical advancements to cure diseases and perform surgeries, then why can’t we use advances in medicine to cure or correct birth defects genetically in the womb.

 

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Questions Covered:

00:43 – The Church has precepts that relate to minimum standards of behavior (receive communion once during the Easter season, etc.) Are there also minimum standards of belief to be considered in communion with the Church? (For example The Trinity, Bible, virgin birth etc.)

04:38 – What do priests do when you confess to a murder? I’m pretty sure they can’t make turning yourself in a requirement for absolution, but it strikes me that “five hail marys and three our fathers” isn’t exactly going to cut it either.

07:56 – Exegetical questions: What does the unjust steward parable mean?

Why is it considered inspired in a Psalm that we should crush the heads of babies?

19:04 – Recently during a homily, I heard that a piece of a person’s soul literally goes into the food they prepare. So, if the food is made by religious nuns the food will taste better because of the love in the food. On the other hand, if it is prepared by someone evil, the opposite will occur. Furthermore, he said that the traditional blessing of food is an exorcism to keep evil spirits away from your food, so you don’t consume them. Is this a teaching of the Catholic Church?

28:33 – What is the story with Lilith? I have people tell me she was Adam’s ‘first wife’ but they are usually getting that from a Discovery Channel alien show or something that their friend posted on FB. What is the truth? Is she in the Old Testament? Does the Catholic Church say anything about her?

34:30 – What is the exact status of the Coptic Orthodox Church in regards of small “o” orthodoxy?

44:14 – Which part of the Trinity is responsible for life?

48:15 – What was the nature of Holy Communion on the original Holy Thursday? As Our Lord had not risen yet it couldn’t have been His resurrected Body, right?

49:15 – If part of the Host were reserved on Holy Thursday would It have died on Good Friday and resurrected?

50:30 – During Mass the bread and wine become the Body and Blood of Our Lord as His Sacrifice is made present on the altar. We receive the resurrected Body of Christ. Is the Resurrection made present on the altar as well? If so, when?

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Questions Covered:

01:03 – What is the Catholic take on the Rapture?

06:45 – The Manual of Indulgences says that a priest is not present at the point of death the Church grants it. So does that mean that any Catholic can receive it if the other requirements are fulfilled. Am I interpreting this correctly?

14:12 – What are St. Augustine’s view on fraternal correction and when its obligatory

31:10 – I’m going to be confirmed on Saturday. Can I receive communion because I’m still having doubts about the real presence?

35:44 – Could you explain to me what it means that Mary is co-redemptrix?

42:49 – Why did Jesus appear to the women after the resurrection? How can we trust their accuracy if all accounts are different?

47:41 – Why did Constantine think he had the authority to change the sabbath from Saturday to Sunday?

49:56 – I’m Protestant considering conversion. I can’t make sense of the Marian teachings. Why was it important for Mary to remain sinless?

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Questions Covered:

03:20 – A few years ago, I started a small apologetics ministry in Guatemala, but very few people seem to be interested in learning about the Catholic faith and how to defend it. Even some of my evangelical friends don’t appear to be much interested in learning about their own faith origins. Do you have any advice? 

11:20 – What is the difference between the 10 commandments in Exodus 20 and Deuteronomy 5? 

13:23 – Why does Jesus do so many miracles in the protestant churches when they are not in communion with the Catholic Church? I was received into the Catholic Church last Monday 9/5. As a Pentecostal Christian, I saw God do so many healings, signs, and wonders. Why? It gets confusing when He somehow approves them when they are so wrong on doctrine. Please help me to understand this. 

21:04 – How many Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion (EMHC) is too many for a single Mass? Is there a canon law that all available priests must be made available during Mass to help in the liturgy of the Eucharist before appointing EMHCs? 

29:03 – What is the Church’s teaching on adultery when someone is drunk? 

34:01 – What does the Church require for the end of life? I know you can’t deny water etc. 

44:59 – I understand the theology behind Marian consecration but the language still bothers. Could a reasonable Catholic believe that Marian consecration is excessive? 

48:45 – What’s the difference between Divination and Divinization? 

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Questions Covered:

01:15 – The Bible is called the word of God. Jesus is also called the Word of God. What is the difference between them? I have heard one person argue that because the Bible and Jesus are the Word of God and the Word of God is God, the Bible is also God. I know most people don’t believe this, but using the same word for each is kind of confusing. Why are both the Bible and Jesus each called the word of God, and what is the difference between them? 

12:25 – Reading church history, one thing that is clear to me from the early fathers on up is that bishops were not allowed to move dioceses–a bishop was elected to one diocese and he stayed there till death. This was even inserted into the canons of Nicaea and observed throughout the Middle Ages. Sometime between the end of the Middle Ages and today this changed, because now Bishops are routinely transferred from one diocese to the next. I don’t know when this happened or why and I would like to know what made the Church change its thinking here. 

18:25 – From a Catholic perspective, what is the proof the Bible is both inspired and inerrant? 

22:30 – In the interest of a family member that wants their ashes spread in the mountains, I really need to know if Church teaching/Canon law would allow me to enter a portion of the ashes. I’d like firm information to go on, please! 

30:30 – What will the new heaven and earth be like? 

34:15 – How important is it for Catholics to obtain a plenary indulgence (corporal works of mercy) and offer to the poor souls in purgatory? I never hear apologists’ comment, condone, or approve of this practice. 

40:12 – My 13-yo would like to know that if the Catholic Church is built on faith, and God was scientifically proven to exist, would we still need the Church? 

48:55 – What might life have been like if not for the Fall? 

51:10 – If the Holy Spirit is needed to believe in Jesus, How did the apostle believe in Jesus if the Holy Spirit hadn’t descended yet until Pentecost? 

52:50 – If there were other fallen intelligent species on Earth (Sasquatches, whatnot), would Christ’s death have saved them too? 

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Questions Covered:

02:14 – Where are the Pope and the Church in this abortion debate? Why is Biden being supported? 

07:41 – Does 2 Corinthians 5:21 teach Imputation as many Protestant scholars say? The Bible cross references and church fathers point to Rom8.3 to say, “made sin” means “sent in the likeness of sinful flesh”. 

17:40 – What are the inherent problems with penal substitutionary atonement? 

21:45 – Has the Church officially condemned the idea that it’s the community (not the priest) who consecrates the Eucharist? Or that consecration is not valid unless the community is present? 

23:25 – Was God a corpse? If it is right to call Jesus God because of the hypostatic union, does that mean it is right to call Jesus’ corpse, while in the tomb, God?? 

32:54 – Is it probable that cryptids exist? 

40:12 – Are Catholics bound under pain of mortal sin to refuse to watch, or stop watching as soon as it happens once, movies where God’s name is taken in vain? 

42:40 – Is Jesus our father in heaven? 

44:45 – Is the conversion of the Jews prior to Jesus 2nd coming Catholic dogma? 

46:46 – Historical comparison question: has the Church experienced its current level of schism and recovered without major splits? 

48:40 – Why don’t we believe in Limbo anymore? 

52:20 – In Acts 13, who was the guy who was friends with Herod and why is that such an important attribute to note in scripture? “Manaen who was a close friend of Herod the tetrarch” 

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Questions Covered:

02:23 – What I found important in helping convert atheists is prayer. What are your thoughts on this? 

16:01 – What do I do if I have nobody in my life and I’m wanting to find guidance? I also want guidance to explore Catholicism. 

24:16 – How do you respond to someone who says that you don’t need a priest to have your sins forgiven? 

33:50 – I’m having surgery and will be under for 6 hours. Is it appropriate to ask for the anointing of the sick? 

40:47 – Could you explain Mary as the Co-Redemptrix? 

50:22 – What does it mean to be fully consecrated to Mary? 

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Questions Covered:

06:37 – Has the Church ever taught geo-centrism as a definitive teaching? 

15:20 – I debated Patrick back in 1992 when I was an evangelical and I am Catholic now! I wanted to say hello! 

19:09 – My problem with Catholicism is the teaching in Amoris Laetitia on divorced people being able to receive communion. What about the other spouse? 

22:44 – How are we not going to sin in heaven? 

30:47 – How do I go about converting my friend to Catholicism? 

37:24 – Why is it that Jesus had to return to heaven as opposed to staying here on earth? 

42:50 – Why would my current wife have to fill out paperwork if I want to file for an annulment from a previous marriage? 

45:52 – Is it a sin to not stop someone from gossiping? 

47:55 – If Jesus called Judas a devil, does that mean he condemned him? 

50:44 – What are your thoughts on burying a statue of St. Joseph upside down to sell your house? 

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