Catholic Answers Live

Catholic Answers LIVE is a daily, call-in radio program of Catholic apologetics and evangelization airing live from 6-8 pm ET.
Open Forum – Questions Covered: 07:07 – Why did Jesus pick John and James to witness the Transfiguration? 12:47 – Jesus made a strong statement towards Judas “better not to have been born.” What is your interpretation of that verse? 19:57 – We hear that all the angels and saints are always present at Mass. What does that look like on a practical level since Mass is happening across the world? 28:46 – Constantine founded Catholicism, and he was a pagan sun god worshiper. 32:45 – If a Catholic couple is civilly married but only one of them wants to get married in the Church, what are their options? 37:19 – At my parish they are introducing a new model where there is no longer a pastor. They will put a lay person in charge. What is your view on this? 43:09 – Why did the Transfiguration happen? Was it in any way related to Jesus’ Baptism since those are the only 2 places God speaks? 46:29 – Without the act of betrayal of Jesus, would the passion have happened? Is his life an example of the consequences of free will? 50:10 – Jesus’ greeting towards Nathaniel seemed light-hearted. Does this affect the Catholic Church and how they view Nathaniel? …
Questions Covered: 13:26 – you give me advice on how to successfully discuss these matters with someone who is having a crisis of faith and trying to make Christianity fit with the gay lifestyle? 20:32 – Could people living in a publicly known same-sex relationship serve in public ministry like lectoring? 30:49 – It feels as though the bigotry of the Catholic faith is a cause for the high suicide rate in the gay community. Where is the compassion for these people? 40:07 – What are your thoughts on Catholic ministries that support all aspects of the LGBT lifestyle? 46:24 – How do I relate and love my son who lives out his SSA while holding my ground? 52:34 – I have SSA and what made it difficult for me to return to the faith was by how mean Catholics were, especially online. What advice can you give so we can welcome people? …
Open Forum – Questions Covered: 04:48 – How would you respond to the claim that the Church has tried to keep the bible from people? 15:21 – Is there a book that gives a summary of the major theological differences and mainline protestant denominations? 19:33 – Should you genuflect every time to enter or exit a pew? 22:43 – Judges in the bible sometimes punish others don’t. Which of those are the most just? 30:40 – Good Friday and First Friday fall on the same day. Since there is no mass that day how does this affect our obligations? 34:41 – What’s the purpose of the St. Michael medal? 42:46 – Can you elaborate on your previous comment that the new Mass is just a translation of the old? 46:48 – If a person is made in a lab, will that person have a soul? 52:17 – Is purgatory the same as Sheol, Gahanna, and limbo? …
Open Forum – Questions Covered: 03:33 – Is it immoral to sell one’s blood plasma? 6:57 – Is it ok for a woman to be a surrogate for her sister? 13:55 – If God never says no to our prayers, and we pray for someone not to die but they do anyway. Does God fulfill those prayers by taking that person to heaven? 19:44 – I’m trying to return to the Catholic Church. I’m struggling to understand praying to Mary and statues. Can you help me comprehend it? 24:43 – Where in the bible does it say that one could drink poison and not be affected? Since we are not supposed to take it literally, What is the real meaning of the verse? 35:26 – Could Romeo and Juliet’s marriage actually have taken place? 41:14 – Is it necessary under the pain of sin, to call out blasphemy or people who use the Lord’s name in vain? 44:06 – I’ve had someone bring me communion for 6 weeks now. Recently she has been coming during lunch time. What’s the rule on taking communion with food in this circumstance? 47:01 – I have 3 protestant roommates that want a deeper connection with Christ. How do I best present the Catholic faith as the best option? 49:16 – What do Catholics believe that they need in order to have eternal life? …
Questions Covered: 05:19 – I’m struggling connecting and loving a God setting up things how he wants and having no input from us. 18:55 – Slavery in the bible. Why isn’t it more clear in condemning it? 29:12 – I want to ask about opulence in the Catholic Church. 36:28 – the Western Schism is a big obstacle. How does the Church explain the multiple popes 42:44 – I don’t think transubstantiation is possible because I don’t believe in substances. 47:52 – Jesus says you are not supposed to give anything up until you make amends with others. Do Catholics ignore this teaching? …
Questions Covered: 05:18 – Eastern Catholicism seems like they follow the theology of Orthodox and not the west. 12:13 – The Church’s stance on capital punishment bothers me. 23:03 – I’m Protestant, when do Catholics actually make time for the bible? 36:29 – I’ve always had a problem with kids not being able to be baptized if the parents are not practicing Catholics. 46:58 – My friend’s obstacle to returning to the Church is because the Church did not grant him an annulment. He thinks it’s because he didn’t want to pay $3000 for the process. …
Open Forum – Questions Covered: 01:59 – I think 1 Cor. 3:15 is not actually evidence for purgatory as Catholics claim. What’s your response? 14:11 – I’m Protestant, I notice a lot of ads to respond to protestants but are there any initiatives by Catholics to call for reunification with us? 29:55 – Why did God create predator animals that cause death and suffering? 37:30 – I’m in the middle of getting an annulment. What do I do if we can’t prove that my former husband was baptized? 44:06 – Do Catholics speak in tongues in their Church services? 47:46 – St. Therese of Lisieux said that people go to purgatory for not believing enough in God’s mercy. What are your thoughts on this? …
Open Forum – Questions Covered: 06:30 – What does a scapular do? 08:47 – For an ecumenical council to be ecumenical does it need the majority of the world’s bishops to be valid? 15:37 – Is there a specific time in the gospel where the apostles received holy orders? 18:22 – How do I explain to my non-Catholic wife why we pray for the dead even though we don’t know where they ended up? 28:10 – Is it appropriate to have a baby shower on the Saturday before Easter? 32:38 – Is it possible for someone to enter into a vocation that God didn’t intend for them? What would be the results of that? 37:05 – When are Joe’s books going to be available in audio format? 41:30 – I heard that St. Patrick was schizophrenic because he heard voices. Is this true? 47:18 – When Christ quotes Psalm 22 on the cross, did those mocking him know he was quoting it? 50:51 – The Catechism says God created all of creation to show his glory. Who was he showing it to if there was nothing there? …
Questions Covered: 09:02 – Is the situation in Germany going to permeate into the Church in the US? 18:54 – How do you get over being treated wrong in the Church? 30:18 – I’m a huge fan of Dcn Harold and I wanted to know if you plan to visit New Jersey? 33:25 – How do I talk to my daughter since I feel there is a divide happening between us due to our opposing views on abortion? 51:22 – My wife and I teach marriage prep. I wanted to share some of the struggles that these young couples have with the Church’s teaching. …
Questions Covered: 07:54 – Does the bible tell us if we can be certain that someone goes to heaven? 11:47 – What is your favorite book of the bible? What is your favorite verse of the bible? 15:19 – The bible says one receives a crown in heaven. Does one get a crown if one has to pass through purgatory first? 18:54 – Are plenary indulgences in the bible and how do they relate to purgatory? 22:35 – Does the bible tell us to confess our sins to a priest? 35:48 – How do I respond to a protestant who makes a distinction between Petra and Petros when talking about Peter’s papal authority? 43:19 – How do I reply to Jehovah Witnesses? 47:24 – Does the Catholic bible have passages about the rich man in Luke 16? Was Lazarus in the bosom of Abraham? 52:11 – Why do Catholics believe what they do about Mary? …
Questions Covered: 06:14 – What is the Catholic response to the accusation that the church is a “revamped/updated” version of Judaism?  11:11 – How did the Apostles know what to say after the Last Supper? How do we know that their words do indeed consecrate the host?  18:22 – I had a mass said by my priest at Christmastime for a late term abortionist that just started a business last year. When the priest says the mass, it’s for their intentions but I don’t want their intentions honored. How does that work, and does it need to be changed?  22:30 – My mother-in-law is not Catholic, and my wife is a convert. My mother-in-law insists on her ashes being split when she passes away. Would going to her funeral knowing this be condoning the splitting of her ashes?  24:31 – In the Our Father we say “…and lead us not into temptation…” Jesus says in the bible “a kingdom divided against itself cannot stand.” Why do we ask Christ not to lead us into temptation if he wouldn’t do so in the first place?  29:44 – I’m a protestant and want to go to mass and start RCIA. Can you explain why there is so much disagreement in the church about the Latin Mass and the Novus Ordo Mass?  37:40 – Is there a connection between the skull cap and the Jewish yarmulke? Also, what’s the significance of the large cap the pope wears?  42:25 – Why do I feel like I’m demanding things from God when praying certain prayers? For example, “…lead all souls to heaven, especially those in most need of thy mercy.”  44:51 – I confessed that I had an “impure thought” and the priest asked me to tell him what exactly that impure thought was. If that ever happened again, am I obligated to tell him that?  48:13 – We have rules and regulations but are never encouraged to bring back fallen away Catholics. Why is that never addressed by the clergy and how can we approach this better?  51:38 – What’s the difference between Lourdes water and holy water? Is there a difference between blessing yourself and blessing a room with either? …
Questions Covered: 17:40 – Sometimes people do things that they did not intend but had the same consequence. And It was something they should have known. How does that fit into this calculus?  25:06 – I tried to forgive my father but hung up on him. He then passed away. How do I forgive myself for that?  35:38 – Do you find it important to not detract from someone’s dignity when making light of something?  46:10 – I was in the same situation as Jan and I was able to forgive after speaking to my brother.  48:59 – My mother and father passed away and the siblings have been having a hard time. My brother won’t forgive me and now doesn’t want anything to do with the family. What can I do?  …
Open Forum – Questions Covered: 07:00 – As a practicing Catholic, can I get ordained as a minister to marry my non-Catholic niece and her fiance? 12:00 – What is faith working through charity? 17:31 – How can we explain to Jews that the New Covenant fulfills the Jewish law, especially concerning Jesus as the Messiah? 22:07 – Are ghosts real? 29:46 – Can you recommend any reading that make the case for Catholicism over Orthodoxy? 34:45 – Is there an ancient Jewish pre-Christian equivalent to praying to the saints? 45:18 – How can I combat relativism in conversations? 51:35 – Calvin Robinson is an Anglican who claims that The Anglican Church is the ‘established’ Church. Are you familiar with him and what would that comment mean? …
Questions Covered: 10:52 – I have visitation every other week. What’s the best thing I can do? 14:13 – As a mother, should I be limiting the time my daughter is with my ex who mistreated me? 30:01 – When my daughters were growing up, my husband had the idea of disciplining them by having them stand with their arms out like Jesus so they understood what he did for them. What are Dr. Ray’s thoughts on that? 33:42 – As a widower, how do I find some balance in parenting when the kids just have me and no mother? 41:43 – How important is it for a father to have a sense of humor? Do you think God has a sense of humor? 45:17 – I grew up without a father, so what resources do you recommend for me to learn what I missed out on? 49:00 – What’s the most difficult part of parenting? …
Topics Covered: 04:22 – Daylight savings 07:32 – With the recent vote by the German bishops and the pope’s comments, is homosexuality mainly wrong for the same reasons as adultery? 29:50 – What is Pope Francis doing? …
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