Catholic Answers Live

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Catholic Answers Live episodes

March 12#12627 How Do You Make a Great Confession? Priests and Revelation - Tim Staples
“How do you make a great confession if you haven’t been in a long time?” This question opens a discussion on the sacrament of reconciliation, addressing the steps to prepare for confession. Other topics include the morality of working for a divorced employer and the concept of priests acting in persona Christi, providing a rich exploration of faith and practice.
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Questions Covered:
01:10 – How do you make a great confession if you haven’t been in a long time?
14:45 – Is it okay to work for an employer who is divorced? I told her not to get divorced because it’s against God but it’s a good job.
31:52 – Where do we get the idea of priests acting in persona christi?
43:30 – Until recently I’ve never never heard of the Synagogue of Satan. But I see it twice in the book of Revelation. What is it all about?
0 min
March 12#12626 What Does the Bible Say About Confession and Mortal Sins - Tom Nash
“What does the Bible say about Confession?” This episode addresses the significance of confession in the Catholic faith, alongside questions about whether one should confess venial sins, how priests maintain confidentiality, and the necessity of confession before receiving communion. The discussion also touches on the nature of mortal sins and the concept of perfect contrition.
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Questions Covered:
08:53 – Should I go to confession if I don’t have any mortal sins, since my venial sins are forgiven at Mass?
11:49 – How can priests keep all these confessions confidential? They see their parishioners all the time, how do they not slip?
17:11 – Do you need to go to confession every time before taking communion?
19:35 – When I confess my sins I don’t say how many times. But I heard I should be saying the number of times.
31:16 – What are the mortal sins?
39:24 – Regarding priests keeping the seal of confession — how would it even benefit a priest to talk about a confession, even if they don’t reveal who the person is?
41:42 – I’m in OCIA and my wife isn’t. I’m trying to help her understand why we don’t just confess to our hearts directly to God.
45:25 – I was baptized presbyterian and became Catholic last year. Sometimes I remember a sin from my pre-Catholic life that I didn’t mention in my first confession. Do I need to confess those?
48:26 – If you have committed a mortal sin and die before going to confession, I understand you’re good if you have perfect confession. But what exactly is perfect contrition?
50:40 – Is the withdrawal method a mortal sin?
56 min
March 11#12625 Where Does the Church Stand on Neuralink and Ethics? - Fr. Tad Pacholczyk
“Where does the Church stand on the ethics of Neuralink?” This question opens a discussion on the intersection of technology and morality, while also addressing the ethical considerations surrounding frozen embryos and the implications of pharmaceutical birth control methods. Additionally, the conversation touches on the responsibilities of attorneys in providing ethical healthcare advice in line with Catholic teaching.
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Questions Covered:
01:30 – Where does the Church stand on the ethics of Neuralink?
18:32 – We have frozen embryos from before we became Catholic. What is the ethical way to handle them?
33:50 – Do all pharmaceutical birth control methods prevent implantation of the embryo?
42:14 – I’m an attorney. What do I need to know to give good ethical advice about healthcare directives? I have clients that want things that might contradict Catholic teaching. Can I not draft the document for them?
56 min
March 11#12624 Who Received the First Eucharist? Real Presence and Prayer - Karlo Broussard
“Who received the first Eucharist?” This question opens a discussion on the significance of the Eucharist and the scriptural evidence for the real presence of Christ. Other topics include how to address Catholics who feel more fulfilled in Protestant services, the morality of the death penalty, and the rationale behind the Hail Mary prayer in the rosary.
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Questions Covered:
01:34 – Who received the first eucharist? Which scripture is the best to show as evidence for the real presence?
12:23 – How do we respond when a Catholic says they are getting more out of going to a Protestant church? How do we bring them back?
22:49 – How is the death penalty an immoral thing, and why is it changed for the first time in history?
37:30 – What is the response to the justification that the reformation is valid because the reformers followed the example of the apostles being kicked out of the temple?
42:05 – I see a lot of inconsistencies in the Catholic Church. I have an issue because if Doctrine can change how can I agree with what will change in the future?
51:24 – Why do Catholics pray the hail mary so much during the rosary? Isn’t it against scripture?
0 min
March 10#12623 How Do I Explain James 2 to Protestants? Canon and Tradition - Karlo Broussard
“How do I explain James 2 to Protestants?” This question opens a discussion on the Catholic understanding of faith and works, while also addressing how we determine the canon of Scripture and the role of tradition in the Church. Other topics include the significance of traditions like kissing the bishop’s ring and the implications of 2 Timothy 3:16-17 for interpreting Scripture.
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Questions Covered:
13:13 – How do we figure out the canon? Are the books self attesting. Why does the Holy Spirit give infallibility to the Church but the Holy Spirit does not give infallibility to individuals?
20:31 – I’m entering into the Church and recently met my bishop. Are traditions like kissing the bishop’s ring still necessary? Why or why not?
31:50 – How do I explain the Catholic approach to James 2 to Protestants?
42:11 – What are our areas of disagreement apart from Sola Scriptura?
49:11 – What does it mean when it says all scripture in 2 Timothy 3:16-17?
0 min
March 10#12622 How Can Catholics Hold Councils Without Orthodox Bishops? - William Albrecht
“How can Catholics hold councils without Orthodox bishops?” This question opens a discussion on the complexities of ecclesiastical authority and governance. Additionally, the episode addresses whether one must be Catholic to be saved, the Orthodox perspective on the Immaculate Conception, and the differing views on the Filioque in the Creed.
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Questions Covered:
01:45 – How can Catholics still hold councils without the Orthodox bishops?
12:12 – Do you have to be Catholic in order to be saved?
15:15 – What’s the Orthodox view of Immaculate Conception? Is the Orthodox canon different from ours?
20:25 – Leo III wouldn’t add the Filioque to the Creed and gave his reasons?. Did the pope who added it ever give an explanation as to why?
28:43 – Is it ok for Catholics to accept the Ethiopian canon description of Jesus?
30:18 – I’ve heard some Orthodox say they don’t adore Jesus in the Eucharist because they view it as food. Is this uniform thought?
33:33 – How can a non-Christian evaluate the competing claim of the Eastern Orthodox who also claims apostolic authority?
39:21 – Why does the Eastern Orthodox allow contraception and Catholics don’t?
43:55 – Can a person who became Eastern Orthodox from Catholicism just jump back and forth? How can Eastern Orthodox justify 3 sacramental marriages?
48:12 – Do you think the Catholics and all other churches will ever fully reunite?
56 min
March 09#12621 What Are the Top Reasons for Gospel Reliability? St. Luke, Eyewitnesses - Cy Kellett
“What are the top reasons for Gospel reliability?” This question opens a discussion on the foundational aspects that affirm the Gospels’ trustworthiness, including the significance of eyewitness accounts. Other topics include the challenges posed by Bart Ehrman regarding Jesus’ words, the role of St. Luke among the apostles, and the criteria used to determine authentic Gospels versus apocryphal texts.
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Questions Covered:
02:10 – What are the top 3 reasons for the reliability of the gospels?
29:07 – Have you considered the work of Bart Ehrman and his problems with what Jesus really said?
35:56 – Is it safe to assume that St. Luke was one of the 72 that was originally sent out?
42:27 – How did they figure out which gospels were the actual eye witnesses and others weren’t like the gospel of Thomas?
46:49 – How would you go about balancing knowing the bible is the word of God and knowing humans had some influence on it?
50:44 – How would you compare the reliability of transmission of the NT compared to the Quran and the Hadiths?
56 min
March 07 #12620 Why Two Catholic Masses? Answers on Latin Mass AMA: Dropped Calls - Jimmy Akin
Why does the Catholic Church have both the Traditional Latin Mass and the modern form of the Mass—and how should you explain the difference without getting pulled into “liturgy wars”? In this episode of Catholic Answers Live, Catholic Answers apologists address this common question before diving into a wide range of topics. They explore whether charging interest is still considered usury, how just war theory applies to rebellions, and how historical cases like the Knights Templar fit with Church law. The episode also explains the role of baptism in justification, offers arguments against naturalism, and gives practical advice for strengthening Catholic marriages. Additional questions include how to understand Peter’s denial of Jesus and what it means for salvation. A rich discussion covering liturgy, moral theology, and everyday Catholic life.
Questions Covered:
05:32 – I attend the Tridentine Mass Almost exclusively at my ‘local’ FSSP parish. I have a friend seeking the Catholic Church who asked me ‘why do you have two different masses in the Western Rite? Why don’t you just attend the regular English one?’ I often say that I am drawn to the beauty and simplicity of it. How do we respond to this simply without dragging them into the so-called ‘liturgy wars’? How do we respond given the restrictions placed on the older masses? Basically, how do we address this difference to those outside the church? Do I just keep a response about ‘preferences of the faithful’?
11:46 – The Church has been quite vocal against usury over the centuries. Is it still defined as any lending of money at interest? How does this notion square with the idea of a variable money supply? Would things like bank accounts, bonds, cds or stocks still be considered illicit? Has there been any recent guidance from the magisterium?
19:02 – Does just war theory apply to rebellions? Historically, I’m thinking of Irish wars against the British Empire and slave revolts of African-descended peoples in the Americas, including during the U.S. Civil War. What would be the conditions of jus ad bellum in cases like these or any other group dealing with an oppressor?
28:46 – Canon 7 of Chalcedon forbids clergy and monks from war and holding secular office. How then did the Knights Templar, and bishops such as the bishop of Andorra, who also holds title of Co-Prince of Andorra, not violate this?
34:03 – How does baptism fit with “faith alone working through love?” Can someone with “faith alone working through love” be initially justified apart from baptism?
19:44 – What do you think is the most convincing argument/thought exercise against naturalism/empricism (or at least what the average indifferent secular person thinks they believe).
46:29 – What is your best advice for a married Catholic couple to strengthen their bond in marriage? Your stories about you and Renee are always so beautiful (the blue birds especially). Also thanks for being a Catholic cowboy. I grew up Southern Baptist, and seeing a southern Catholic gentleman do apologetics is really cool.
50:51 – Peter denied Jesus 3 times. After the cock crows three times he ran away in shame. What if he falls, hits his head and dies after this? Would his soul be in danger of damnation?
56 min
March 06#12619 What If We’re Misunderstanding the Bible? AMA Dropped Calls - Jimmy Akin
What if Christians today are misunderstanding what God really meant in Scripture? In this episode of Catholic Answers Live, Catholic Answers apologists address a thoughtful concern about biblical translation and interpretation, explaining how the Church safeguards authentic teaching across centuries. The discussion also covers how to discern and use your God-given talents responsibly, why there isn’t a simple official Vatican list of all dogmas, and whether belief in Marian dogmas is required for justification. Additional questions explore the nature of election and free will, whether artificial intelligence could ever possess consciousness, and whether uncertainty around ex cathedra statements challenges papal infallibility. A wide-ranging and intellectually engaging conversation on faith, reason, and modern questions.
Questions Covered:
01:47 – Knowing that the Bible and other texts have been translated over the centuries… what if how they’re understood now, by any faith, is wrong? What if God is sitting in heaven, looking down and thinking, “that’s not what I meant at all”? If it matters, I’m a convert to Catholicism from the Baptist church (and it’s been the best decision I’ve ever made by the way), I just think about weird stuff like this from time to time watching the debates about who’s right and who’s wrong or the meaning of things we now read in translated texts.
12:00 – When you have more than 1 talent and competing basic life priorities, what’s the most prudent way to act in a pleasing manner to God so as to not be at fault for neglecting a gift from God.
17:33 – Why is there no official Vatican list of Catholic Dogmas? Google has its own searchable list of 255 dogmas. But, you would think….
30:27 – Is justification predicated upon belief on your four Marian dogmas.
35:46 – Would it be fair to say there are two steps to being considered elect? That is to say God elects everyone (calls them to salvation and has a plan for them in place) but that our cooperation with his grace makes that initial unconditional election conditional on our acceptance and continued faithfulness?
43:18 – Can something like AI ever gain consciousness and what should we make of it if it does or doesn’t and on what grounds?
51:20 – Isn’t the fact that we can’t precisely define how many Papal statements have been made “ex cathedra” a problem for Papal Infallibility?
56 min
March 06#12618 Why Don’t Jews Accept Jesus as Messiah? AMA Dropped Calls - Karlo Broussard
Why didn’t the Jewish people of Jesus’ time—and many today—accept Him as the Messiah? In this episode of Catholic Answers Live, Catholic Answers apologists explore this foundational question before diving into others on the core of Christian belief. They explain the evidence for the resurrection, whether Pascal’s Wager could justify belief in the Eucharist, and if our prayers can override God’s will. The episode also unpacks St. Augustine’s famous reflection on the Trinity, clarifies what indulgences really are, and examines difficult biblical passages like 1 Corinthians 15:29. Finally, they address why the Catholic Church accepts Protestant baptisms but not confirmations, and how to respond to claims that infant baptism isn’t found in Scripture.
Questions Covered:
04:21 – What is it about Jesus that the Jews of his time and today still don’t accept him as messiah and considered him sacrilegious?
12:14 – What are the reasons to believe in the resurrection? What convinced you? 
17:40 – If we did pascals wager with the eucharist, If we’re wrong, is it idolatry?
21:10 – Do our prayers override God’s will?
28:40 – Could you expound on the story of Augustine trying to understand the Trinity? (The story of Augustine seeing a boy trying to fill a hole with the ocean.)
36:15 – I don’t understand indulgences. Can you help clarify what they mean?
43:55 – What is the Catholic position on 1 Cor. 15:29?
49:49 – Why is baptism in a Christian denomination accepted to join the Catholic Faith, but confirmation is not?
51:16 – We have friends that say they can’t find infant Baptism in the bible. How do I respond?
56 min