Catholic Answers Live

Questions Covered:

03:48 – What is your opinion on who built the megalithic structures in the Azore islands? 

08:27 – Can I be a good Catholic and believe in Universalism? 

18:46 – What constitutes being in a state of grace? Do you need to be in a state of grace to receive communion? 

30:18 – Does the devil still have access to heaven? Also, does the devil have to take permission from God? 

42:27 – I’ve been feeling the need recently to pray for a person I’ve never met. How can I be sure to stay away from anything occult and how can I best pray for them? Also, are there any stories of saints having feelings of souls needing prayer? 

48:45 – I’m a Lutheran. Is there one thing you would recommend from Catholicism for Lutherans as an extension from the faith? 

52:21 – Is it ok to have mass said for a departed loved one who was not Catholic? 

 

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Questions Covered:

06:07 – My son was received into the Catholic Church at 1 year old. Would he be considered a cradle Catholic? 

10:43 – What does it mean to be Jewish? Is it a nationality or purely a religion? If someone were to convert from Judaism to Catholicism, would they still be ethnically Jewish? 

14:21 – What’s the difference between the Chinese Lunar New Year and regular New Years? Also, since we’re in AD, shouldn’t the new year be celebrated in relation to when Jesus died? 

23:37 – I had a pocket watch blessed a couple weeks ago. Does anything about the blessing change if I remove the chain? 

28:53 – I found a website that makes it easy to go between English and Greek with the Septuagint and the New Testament. What do you think of it? Also, could you give me some advice on writing about my RCIA process? 

37:33 – If the Catholic Church teaches that by way of baptism salvation is still accessible to Protestants, then how come it also teaches that someone dies outside of friendship with God without confession? How are they still able to be saved since they don’t have confession? 

44:32 – I’ve heard multiple competing Catholic comments about Martin Luther’s acceptance of each book of the canon. What is the truth? 

48:09 – Can Jesus, and by extension Mary, get sick? 

51:49 – If you die a martyr but have a mortal sin on your soul, do you still go straight to heaven?

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Questions Covered:

04:55 – When I was young and attended the mass in Latin, I didn’t understand what was happening at the altar. It seemed nobody had any connection with each other or with God. Why can’t the mass today be a cooperation between Latin and English?

17:19 – In Boston, priests that moved from the Anglican church to the Catholic church can’t advertise that they are using the Anglican rite. Why is that and if there are people that like it, why can’t it be used more?

28:42 – I’ve been sick for 11 years and on bedrest. I’ve had so much joy and it’s been a happy time but recently my brain isn’t working as well so it’s hard to pray. Can I please have some pastoral advice for how to continue to be close to God?

39:28 – It seems that there are more options for ministry in Protestantism than in Catholicism. It seems that if you’re not a priest, there’s not as much you can do in terms of higher study. Is that correct or is this a misconception and there’s more than just being a lay person?

46:03 – What are your thoughts as to why people that are passionate about the Latin mass don’t put that same effort into the Novus Ordo mass? Is it really the guitars and English that are keeping them from the newer mass?

50:05 – I used to be Protestant pastor and I’m now Catholic. I’m fully tattooed from the neck down and married. Is there any way I can become a deacon while being fully tattooed?

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Questions Covered:

09:26 – Can your guardian angel physically touch other people and can we hear our guardian angels?

14:32 – I have a friend that’s confused about the idea that although God permits evil, that does not mean he creates evil. Can you help me with an explanation as to why they’re not the same?

19:53 – I was watching a video that said priests once played a small role in ecumenical councils. To me, it doesn’t seem fitting of the papal authority to play any role. What’s the most convincing reason for me to believe in the papacy?

28:45 – Why can only a bishop or ordained priest perform an exorcism?

36:53 – Has the church ever declared that Lutheran holy orders are valid or invalid?

42:15 – I’m going through an annulment. I can’t go to communion, yet hundreds of people go weekly that haven’t gone to confession in a long time as well as Protestants at a wedding I went to. Why are they able to go even if they have mortal sin on their souls?

52:05 – All of the ordinariate liturgical books have been long out of print. Do you have any sense as to when the ordinariate is going to reprint these books at a reasonable price?

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Questions covered:

02:59 – Before I pray the rosary, do I need to announce my prayer intentions out loud? 

14:44 – How do you reconcile the doctrine of hell with Christianity being a religion of “good news”? Does that mean it’s only good news for some people? 

22:04 – When I visited a Catholic church recently, I saw a statue of Mary that was higher than all the rest (including the ones of Jesus) with a label that said “Blessed Mary, Mother of God, above all things in heaven and on earth.” How is this not worshiping her? 

33:14 – Was St. Athanasius ever excommunicated or anathematized? I was talking to a non-Catholic who claimed that disproved papal infallibility. 

42:09 – How can someone evangelize to other Christians? 

48:26 – In my Bible study the others were saying that when we get to heaven we’ll immediately have all knowledge. I thought we still grew in knowledge, not that it was immediate. Am I wrong? 

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Questions covered:

04:53 – Is there any connection between the pagan goddess Bridgid and St. Bridgid of Ireland? If so, isn’t that a problem for the Church? 

16:51 – I’m having trouble with Deuteronomy 25:11-12 commanding Israelites to cut off peoples’ hands. 

22:02 – Why are the Mass readings rarely ever from the apocrypha? 

24:39 – What does it mean when Jesus is called “Son of Man”? I thought he was the son of God? 

32:17 – Do pets go to heaven? 

37:17 – I used to be in the SSPV (splinter group from SSPX), who claimed that Pope John XXIII was a mason. How would you respond to this? 

47:19 – What’s the difference between the Sanhedrin, the Sadducees, and the Pharisees in terms of what they do? 

51:11 – I’m a new convert. How do I make a good confession and what are the requirements? 

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Questions Covered:

14:55 -What do you think about the science of artificial womb technology? Do you think it might have any relation to the end of abortion? 

19:43 – Ethically, how much as Catholics can we trust that scientists are doing the right thing? Is using stem cells for cancer treatment ethical? I’m asking as a parent that has a child dying from cancer. 

29:24 – I work as a clinical research coordinator with humans. Is it ok for me as a faithful Catholic to present contraceptive options for women going into a trial? 

37:30 – Is insulin a necessity at the end of life? 

45:20 – My mother has recently been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. She’s also on dialysis for kidney failure. How long, morally, should she continue dialysis as her dementia progresses? 

50:17 – I’m 75 y.o. my adult children have all left the faith and don’t care about me anymore. What do I do if I’m hospitalized and have no advocate? 

Resources mentioned:

https://vimeo.com/bioethicsvideos

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Questions Covered:

10:04 – How would the church feel about a woman that was raped and must share custody with the rapist? Does that make it justified to kill the baby?

17:22 – I’m pro-life but can you explain why IVF is not pro-life? My wife was conceived that way and now that she’s becoming a doctor, I feel that will influence how she deals with IVF and contraception.

24:09 – I think it’s awful but I think women are going to have abortions whether we want them to or not and I want it done in a doctor’s office.

35:20 – I was pro-choice for a long time throughout my 20s and 30s. I then studied Buddhism and they talk in detail about how the soul enters at the time of the union of the sperm and egg. I am now going back to the beginning when I was baptized Catholic and comparing things to find my way

41:22 – I’m pro-life, for babies who survive late term abortions, aren’t they automatically American citizens?

46:52 – When I was younger, I went through two abortions and came to really regret them.

48:30 – I believe that there are times when pregnancies are dangerous for women.

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Questions Covered:

12:41 – How do I get this program started in my parish? 

18:39 – How do I get someone into rehab before they hit rock bottom, which would be death? 

24:01 – If this program is anonymous, then why give out your name? 

34:25 – If this is supplemental to the 12 steps, how come it follows the same format? 

43:35 – What was your breakthrough moment? 

51:45 – How do we find people to draw them to these groups? 

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Questions Covered:

16:36 – What tips do you have to evangelize those who don’t have the fullness of truth? 

21:27 – Thank you for bringing this up. It’s difficult to stay positive. 

31:10 – Why is the rosary such a good prayer? 

36:22 – It’s good to hear you and your message! 

43:00 – How do you give what’s to Caesar and God what’s to God in our world? 

47:53 – Am I at fault for others not having salvation if I’ve presented the faith to someone but they reject it? 

53:05 – I’m in the process of converting. What can I do to give my kids proper formation? 

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