Catholic Answers Focus

Questions Covered:

04:07 – How would you respond to those who shout people down when they don’t want to debate anymore?

07:21 – Mk. 2:1-5 the paralyzed lowered him through the roof to be healed. Was the paralyzed man forgiven because of his friend’s faith?

13:26 – What does a transgender person do that is inherently sinful since changing the way they dress and undergoing surgery isn’t necessarily sinful?

15:54 – I know someone who is afraid of going to confession because of the abuse they suffered in the past. How can I help her?

19:22 – Is it ok to think when Jesus sweated blood that that was because he knew what was coming and that’s why he said, “to let this cup pass from me.”

28:30 – What is the environment of purgatory like?

32:35 – Regarding Fatima: Mary told Francisco that he will be in purgatory till the end of time. Is this true and how is that possible?

36:00 – Was reading a book that was not approved by the bishop heretical?

38:59 – I’m struggling with liking people. Is that a sin?

41:49 – I have to go to jury duty. Could you recommend a prayer because I felt manipulated last time I was there?

44:34 – Did the Church adopt penances after the year 1000? Does the eucharist keep us out of sin or bring us closer to the Lord?

48:13 – If Jesus died for our sins, then why do we have to pay for them through penance?

51:34 – Could you explain when Jesus says you can’t serve God and Mammon?

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Questions Covered:

18:50 – I’m an Atheist. How do you go from an argument for God to an argument for the God of the Jews?

28:52 – I grew up atheist and have been in a lifelong philosophical pursuit for God. Thank you for having this conversation.

41:04 – Can we know the existence of God by knowing the precise dates of Jesus and his passion?

47:51 – Could you comment on this statement: It’s not possible to prove the existence of God.

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Questions Covered:

06:15 – Why did the Church change the Nicene creed? 

15:12 – Why do Catholics make your priest be celibate? 

21:54 – In Matthew, Jesus says to deny ourselves. What does that mean? Does that mean he doesn’t want us to have things? 

35:42 – Did God create more people after he made Adam and Eve? He would have had to because Cain was afraid of other people after he killed Abel, right? 

44:05 – There are many stories of Jesus being killed. Did God specifically establish Jesus to be killed during the Passover? 

49:48 – What is the Catholic view on yoga and centering prayer? 

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Questions Covered:

04:57 – In Mt. 12:36 what exactly is meant by “idle word?”

12:10 – How can we best prepare for receiving the Eucharist?

15:16 – Is there a primary way of receiving grace and coming to know God’s love without having received the sacraments?

21:54 – Aside from prayer to God and Jesus, what exactly can Mary do?

28:30 – What does the Church teach about hypnosis and 3rd dimensions?

36:30 – In the Apostles Creed it says descended into hell. Did he actually go to hell?

42:08 – I listened to your debate with Dr. Bart Ehrman. In the end of the gospel of John, it uses the pronoun we when the author refers to himself. Could you help clarify?

48:37 – Will adding one word to our wedding vows make the sacrament invalid?

51:28 – In Rev. 17 how they map out the size of heaven with cubits. Why is there a size denomination applied to heaven?

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Questions Covered:

02:15 – My son married a non-Catholic outside of the Church and is now divorced. What does he have to do to be in good standing with the Church? 

08:30 – Regarding the Miraculous Medal. It’s starting to sound like a superstition to me. Can you help clarify? 

13:48 – When we die, do we go to heaven now or in the final judgment? 

19:11 – How does the idea of original sin affect our everyday lives? 

29:32 – I’m a Baptist and had a change of heart on the Catholic Church. Is not becoming Catholic a grave matter? 

36:33 – How does the Catholic view on justification differ from the protestant view? 

44:22 – How do we know so much about angels? 

47:00 – On the requirements for the first Saturday devotion: Should we be meditating on all 15 mysteries or is it just one? 

50:15 – I’m coming into the Catholic Church. Where can I find the evidence for authority for private revelation in the Catholic Church? 

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Questions Covered:

07:24 – Is binding and loosing evidence for Papal infallibility? The early church writings claim an unblemished church of Rome, does that correlate to infallibility? 

18:45 – Why does the decree Sict Dudum only seek to protect Christians? 

22:28 – If you are in a gay marriage and repented and now living celibacy, do you have to get a divorce? 

31:26 – What has to happen for the Catholic Church to let gay men and women to get married? 

38:55 – If the Latin rite and the Eastern rites have different beliefs, how can they both be Catholics? 

45:10 – Why do Catholics not eat meat on Fridays during Lent? 

50:45 – Where are the elders in the Catholic Church? 

53:00 – My son married a non-Catholic outside of the Church and is now divorced. What does he have to do in order to be in good standing with the Church? 

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Agnostics say they just don’t know the answer to life’s biggest question. Pat Flynn, Host of Philosophy for the People, says that, while agnostics make some good points, their decision not to decide is ultimately a mistake.

Cy Kellett:

Hey, let’s face it. Agnostics make some strong points. Pat Flynn is next. Hello, and welcome to Focus, The Catholic Answers Podcast for living, understanding and defending your Catholic faith. I’m Cy Kellett, your host. Thanks so much for being here with us. Among those who we might contend intellectually here at Catholic Answers, what d...

Questions Covered:

07:54 – Can our guardian angel hear our thoughts? If they can, can fallen angels hear them?

17:04 – What’s the response to the argument that modern scholars claim that the gospels were not written until hundreds of years after Christ’ death?

24:05 – Is it possible for people to get married without the presence of the Church?

34:23 – How can Catholics believe in a standard view of evolution and accept the Church’s teaching on original sin?

44:53 – I want to work at a pregnancy center that is evangelical. I would have to sign an oath of agreement. I worry that it might not be ok for me to sign it as a Catholic. Can I get your thoughts?

47:44 – Is it valid to pray for people who died recently and a very long time ago? Purgatory is for real

51:59 – Why is the bishop of Rome not considered the Archbishop of Rome?

53:30 – What does the Catholic Church think of the Orthodox prayer the Hesychasm?

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Questions Covered:

07:32 – Is indentured servitude immoral? 

18:42 – Why were the eastern churches not affected by the liturgical reforms? When Vatican 2 changed the readings in the liturgical calendar, why was John not given its own year cycle? 

24:19 – I see faith and faithfulness as synonymous. Can you share your thoughts on that? 

33:39 – According to the Bible, how are we supposed to worship God? Is that similar to how we worship today? 

36:50 – Can you give an in-depth definition of discipleship? 

45:28 – If you don’t believe or understand everything in the Catholic Church but have faith can you receive communion? What if an error was introduced into the Catholic Church through a pope and I don’t accept it, can I still receive? 

51:49 – Why did God create man? Was He lonely? Did He need us? 

53:35 – Is it possible for a member of the Church to be condemned without being conscious of grave sin? 

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Questions Covered:

03:50 – Is a sacrament the source or the conduit? 

05:44 – God in the Old Testament is so authoritarian and so merciful in the New Testament.  Why the drastic shift? 

14:35 – The bible says that the souls shall die. Since the soul dies along with the body, then we can’t pray to the people that died. What’s the Catholic response to this? 

21:45 – Why doesn’t the Catholic Church follow the model that Christ set up? 

31:58 – Is the laying on of hands the only way the charisms are transmitted. Do these continue into the lifestyle of the recipient? 

44:58 – Is there a conflict between the real presence and the Holy Spirit’s presence on earth? 

49:12 – Doesn’t it say in the bible that you have to ask for forgiveness to be baptized? Why do Catholics baptize babies if they haven’t sinned? 

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