Catholic Answers Focus

Questions Covered:

06:33 – I heard a Capuchin Franciscan say that in the story in Mt. 15:21, Jesus was prejudiced, and he had to learn not to be.  Is this true? https://catholicconvert.com/is-jesus-being-harsh-calling-a-woman-a-dog-in-todays-gospel-reading/ 

15:00 – How do you go about overcoming hurdles like calling the pope holy father? I feel more inclined to believe what the early Church believed and not what the Catholic Church teaches? 

24:42 – The canonization of Juan Diego is my reason why the Church is not the real Church.  I don’t think the Church speaks infallibly on canonizations. What’s your response? 

36:05 – What are the roots of the Catholic view of baptism? How is that different from the protestant view? 

44:34 – There’s a verse in the bible that says to not pray to the dead. Praying to Mary is different because she’s dead. Wouldn’t that be more like a séance? 

52:20 – Why do Catholics make the church services so boring? 

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Questions Covered:

19:41 – In the context of Mt. 18:18, how does the language of the promise to Peter compare to the powers given to the apostles in Jn. 20:23?

23:18 – Who is really speaking when giving the authority to Peter? Is it Jesus or YAHWEH?

37:28 – Could you recommend a good reading list of apostolic fathers?

48:57 – What’s the difference between the Pharisees and Catholic priests?

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Questions Covered:

03:56 – Why is there an order of angels if each angel is its own species?

07:58 – What is the significance of Moses not entering the promised land?

13:32 – Can there really be 2 legitimate popes at the same?

16:20 – Can you discuss the Triduum?

18:19 – I had a confessor tell me that when we sin, we make ourselves enemies of God. Is this true? Do you think there is an unhealthy understanding of mortal sin?

28:37 – Is it ever permissible for a Catholic to take birth control? Is it ever permissible for a Catholic to have an abortion?

37:48 – What exactly has the Church defined as eschatology or the end times?

47:07 – What is the difference between Christ being with us till the end of the earth and his presence in the Eucharist?

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Questions Covered: 

02:52 – What book do you recommend for a well-rounded treatment of the Trinity? How does the Church understand Jesus entering time and space in relation to the Trinity? 

07:48 – How well did the apostles understand the Trinity? 

14:42 – I read a story about a mass grave found in Ireland just like in Canada and they are blaming the Catholic Church. What is the best way to address this because it doesn’t look good? 

20:21 – I just became Catholic but my wife is not. We got married civilly. Would my wedding be recognized? If not, what criteria are necessary? 

24:33 – St. Thomas Aquinas talks about “the fires of purgatory.” Is that a proper way of referring to purgatory? 

33:15 – Why do we refer to Jesus as a Palestinian if the term wasn’t created until after Jesus’ time? 

40:02 – Do you affirm libertarian freedom or compatibilist freedom? If compatibilist, then what is the meaningful distinction between Thomism and Calvinism? 

45:30 – Can I unite my sufferings to Christ’s suffering even though they happened many years ago? 

48:36 – Is there any written evidence against the resurrection in the first century? I would expect there to be people who would try to disprove it. 

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Questions Covered:

06:11 – Is Heaven divided into different time periods? How will those people understand and get along with each other? 

07:54 – What does the Church believe about modern Israel fulfilling biblical prophecies? 

12:43 – Is one really lying if one is telling an automated phone system false information? 

18:14 – Jimmy: What is the unforgivable sin against the Holy Spirit? 

22:24 – How do corruptionist and survivalist theories work with the Catholic understanding of Purgatory and intercession? 

29:06 – Can you give me a historical account of the Fraternal Lodge of the Eagles. Can Catholics join? Are they Masonic? 

30:50 – Do you believe there to be a parallel between the Great Schism of 1054 and the supernova explosion of the same year? 

35:46 – Where in the bible does it say anything about purgatory? 

43:02 – I was told in RCIA that I shouldn’t be reading writings from the saints because they’re reliable. Is this true? How can we know if anything is reliable? 

47:50 – I was told that the Catholic Church teaches that civil war is always wrong? Is this true? 

49:57 – Do you believe there to be a parallel between the Great Schism of 1054 and the supernova explosion of the same year? 

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Questions Covered:

02:14 – How could God have 1 will and Jesus 2 wills without us saying that the Father and the Holy Spirit both have a human will? 

06:57 – How do I get over the fear of Mary? 

15:50 – How is veneration of relics not superstition? 

20:08 – Is there a parallel between Jesus being fully God and being fully man and the Eucharist being fully bread and fully Jesus? 

29:57 – When I went through RCIA they said purgatory wasn’t real. Can you clarify? 

40:45 – What is the Consecration of Russia?  What are we supposed to do? 

46:40 – My future daughter in law wanted to get married soon but didn’t finish the RCIA process. Can she still get married in the Church? 

50:04 – Can you clarify Revelation 5:8? 

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Questions Covered:

10:19 – I’m considering entering RCIA. Is it ok to pray for bad people like Hitler? 

16:33 – Is it necessary to actually attend RCIA? Does it matter to God? 

22:06 – There’s a lot of Catholic traditions that I haven’t encountered. Is there a book where I would be able to find these or research them? 

29:27 – Why is there so much confusion with baptism of desire? 

36:57 – Why did God allow Satan to enter the garden of Eden? 

53:18 – Could you clarify from a previous call, are protestants also saved or just Catholics? 

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A debate is raging within Catholicism over the legitimacy of modern liberalism. R.R. Reno, editor of First Things magazine, stops by to help us understand the stakes in the debate.

Cy Kellet:

Modern ideas about freedom are not setting people free. Catholics are debating what to do about it. R.R. Reno is next.

Cy Kellet:

Hello, and welcome to Focus, the Catholic Answers Podcast for living, understanding and defending your Catholic faith. I’m psych Kelly, your host. First Things is a big deal. It has had a huge effect on culture in recent decades, and it is one of the places that religiou...

Questions Covered: 

05:02 – Where is the earliest mention of the celebration of the Eucharist outside of the bible? 

12:17 – I ran into a claim that Jesus was actually King Tut. I heard it said that the name Tut also means “I Am that I Am.” Can you help refute it? 

14:38 – What would be the Catholic response to Dispensationalism? 

21:55 – Could I be a moral car salesman? 

24:13 – If God knew that I would be skeptical and that would lead to hell, does that mean that he created me just to suffer? 

29:34 – Does the Church have a teaching on the fundamental option? 

34:38 – I had a Protestant tell me that we don’t have a choice on which graces we receive from God. How do I respond to this? 

42:52 – During the Collect at Mass the priest no longer says, “One God forever and ever,” and now just says “God, Forever and Ever.” Why was there a change? 

45:46 – Where can I find in the bible that we are supposed to honor Mary and the saints? 

50:31 – If most of Protestant concerns for the Church have been answered, why is there still Protestantism? 

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Questions Covered:

16:29 – Could you share more information about your work? 

23:44 – How can I explain to people that men and women are different? Why is that a good thing? 

29:26 – How do we charitably defend our womanhood in a society that says womanhood is malleable? 

48:17 – I’m a 1950’s wife and it’s good to have some support and reassurance! 

51:03 – Do you think women should be required to register for the draft? 

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