Open Forum – Questions Covered:

10:54 – I left the Church because I feel like God was giving me a hard time. I’m Protestant now and I feel like the sin I was committing was that I didn’t have enough faith. I’m considering coming back to the Church. What are your thoughts on this?

17:55 – What is the Catholic teaching on salvation? How does it differ from what our protestants believe?

22:36 – Act 8:21 Peter rejecting Simon. Today we hear that we should not judge, then how could Peter have done this?

36:52 – I couldn’t make a confession when I became Catholic and on the Easter vigil Mass the priest absolved me right in the middle of mass since I approached for a blessing. I received communion. Was this valid?

42:53 – Since Ingo Swan was a Scientologist; does it affect the permissibility of remote viewing?

50:41 – I wear a cross that someone told me was a Rosicrucian cross. Who are Rosicrucian’s, Is the cross affiliated with them and is it ok to wear them?

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Questions Covered:

13:42 – What does salvation look like for people that have left the Church due to the sex abuse scandal? Good question

20:31 – Jesus says he is the way, the truth and the life. Catholics say the Catholic Church is the way. Is this contradictory?

24:20 – Paul says those who call in the name of the Lord will be saved. That which you are proclaiming is false.

34:45 – Can you give me 3 of the best reasons to be Catholic and not Orthodox?

38:18 – I’m Anglican and faithful. Is your Church saying that I can’t have salvation?

45:47 – How do we practically communicate this teaching to ecumenical groups?

48:40 – What are your thoughts on the movie Silence and the question on salvation in it?

50:33 – Are there any documents prior to the 60’s that show the caveats regarding salvation that we hear about today?

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Open Forum – Questions Covered:

10:31 – Is a confession valid if a priest forgets to ask you for your act of contrition?

13:12 – In the Mass, why do we pray for those who have passed away and those who have fallen asleep? Why separate them?

14:36 – If we can pray directly to God why go to a priest for confession?

20:34 – I’m a convert and now my son is going through RCIA. He was baptized in a protestant Church. Was it valid? Should he go to confession before receiving communion?

32:00 – I’m a new Catholic and just went to adoration for the first time. Why is adoration ok? Should the eucharist be consumed?

40:01 – How do we prove polygamy wrong using scripture?

47:25 – I’m a non-practicing Catholic and looking to return. I got married and divorced and never had an annulment. I just discovered that my ex-wife filed and was granted an annulment without my knowledge. Would it be in my best interest to have the case reopened to have my testimony on file?

52:18 – What is the sin against the Holy Spirit?

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Open Forum – Questions Covered:

04:19 – What do we Catholics believe about protestants receiving communion at their own churches?

07:06 – Where do we get the traditions of Peter being crucified upside down and Veronica wiping the face of Jesus?

11:50 – The bible says God is a trinity and also one. Which is it?

16:04 – I’m failing to understand how the Eucharist is a sacrifice. Can you help clarify?

21:43 – What do we know about the similarities and differences between the Pharisees and Sadducees. What role did they play in the Passion?

28:37 – If Adam and Eve didn’t sin, would there still be a heaven?

30:47 – I stopped practicing my faith because of the sex abuse many years ago. I’m beginning my return but now I see new abuses. Why were the priests shuffled around?

34:31 – How can you tell if a message is coming from God or the devil?

41:05 – What happened to Moses and Elijah after the Transfiguration of Jesus?

42:59 – The GIRM 199 states that the priests cannot celebrate the Easter vigil mass alone but later 204 it contradicts that. Can you help clarify?

44:31 – How do we read the age of people in the Old Testament, especially since some people lived for hundreds of years?

51:36 – Why is Mt. 17:21 missing from some bibles?

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Questions Covered:

01:47 – Why do Catholics believe you can pray to the dead when the bible says the opposite?

12:22 – Why does the Church believe that Mary is sinless?

18:08 – Were the Assumption of Mary and JP2’s declaration on the male only priesthood fall under ex cathedra?

23:00 – Could you help explain why we use relics?

32:32 – Why do we use the phrase “Mother of God” instead of “Mother of God Incarnate” in the Hail Mary prayer?

43:23 – If you’re in a relationship with someone who is going through RCIA, why do you have to be married to them to be their sponsor?

51:52 – Why do we Catholics find it easier to accept scientific discoveries over protestants if we have a lot of the same materials?

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Questions Covered:

08:45 – How did the Church come up with the idea that Mary was conceived without sin?

17:39 – Why does the pope only speak ex cathedra on morals? What exactly is ex cathedra?

29:32 – My friend passed away and left her kids behind. Why would God allow that?

37:29 – Why do we celebrate Easter when we do? Did we replace Passover with Easter to follow a pagan holiday?

44:07 – How many times has ex cathedra been used? And why?

47:48 – Is organ donation licit as a Catholic? Why or Why not?

50:41 – What does the Church teach about creationism and evolution? What are the boundaries and why?

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Open Forum – Questions Covered:

01:33 – Why are there some Catholic churches that feel like they don’t want people with mental disabilities?

11:13 – Can you explain the presumption of mercy?

18:12 – A lot of non-religious and native Americans use sage for purification. Can we as Catholics use it if we get it blessed?

21:31 – What’s a good response to once saved always saved?

31:56 – Why was the fall of the angels irreparable? Why can’t they repent?

36:15 – If Vatican 2 was successful then why are those who prefer the Latin Mass being attacked?

45:58 – How does one know when you are going to heaven?

51:00 – I’m divorced and have been banned from receiving communion. How am I supposed to be nourished?

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Open Forum – Questions Covered:

08:55 – Did God know the devil would become a fallen angel? Were there other fallen angels apart from the devil?

14:41 – Is it Catholic to say that God is consistently pouring out his grace and by cooperation we come into a closer relationship with him?

18:18 – What is the official position on eschatology?

23:27 – I’m Lutheran. I see saints say contradictory things about Mary. Some say we should be slaves to her and others say don’t put Mary above God. Can you clarify?

36:40 – What would be a good response to a protestant who rejects private revelation?

42:05 – What is the mechanism by which we have the hope for salvation?

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Questions Covered:

06:02 – How does one respond to an atheist who says every theist version of evolution puts sin before death, that death didn’t exist until sin. How does one respond? 

15:04 – Is divorce a sin? Is it okay to date before an annulment has been given? 

22:08 – If you kill 3 people do you have to name them in confession? Do you have to name each individual instance? 

29:37 – How can the laity make sense of priests and bishops who speak out against the pope? 

33:07 – My wife doesn’t feel loved by me, and I don’t know how to show her. How do I approach her and suggest we go to therapy? 

40:36 – I’m a medical student and help with surgeries including tying tubes. What is my culpability in those surgeries? 

46:08 – If you’re destined for heaven, why are souls tortured in purgatory? 

50:22 – We hear a lot about the second coming, but what was the first coming? Who was that? 

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Questions Covered:

14:31 – Does atheism lead to nihilism?

21:13 – Why do so many Christians fall into atheism?

23:02 – Is the intelligent design argument against evolution helpful, unhelpful or irrelevant in the debate about God?

33:41 – Why the Judeo-Christian God instead of any other God?

40:58 – What are good resources for atheists who want to get into philosophy?

48:38 – My belief in God stems from my illness.

52:05 – I just discovered the idea that we are born seeking God. Can you comment on that?

 

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