Cy Kellett, Edgar Lujano, and Todd Aglialoro examine the defining Church and cultural developments of 2025, beginning with the historic election of Pope Leo XIV, the first American pope, following the death of Pope Francis. They also discuss why the Church’s vast charitable work is so often overlooked, the surprising rise of Christianity among young people, and debates surrounding a potential Person of the Year. The episode closes with a sobering look at growing threats to religious freedom in the West and the rapid expansion of euthanasia and assisted suicide as one of the most urgent moral crises facing society.
Questions Covered:
03:30 – The election of Pope Leo XIV, the first American pope, following the death of Pope Francis
29:30 – The Church’s charitable work remains massively underreported
36:00 – The rise of Christianity among the young
45:15 – Person of the Year Discussion
49:13 – Threats to religious freedom in Western countries
51:34 – The rapid spread of euthanasia and assisted suicide, perhaps the most urgent moral crisis Catholics are not talking about enough.
Cy Kellett, Edgar Lujano, and Todd Aglialoro review and analyze some of the most important Catholic and Church-related developments of 2025, including Pope Leo XIV’s meeting with King Charles III, the Archdiocese of New York’s major settlement fund for clergy abuse claims, and the conclusion of the Synod on Synodality with its focus on inclusion. They also examine the significance of Pope Leo XIV’s first international trip to Turkey and Lebanon, explaining what these events reveal about the direction of the Church and its engagement with the world.
Join the Catholic Answers Live Club Newsletter
Invite our apologists to speak at your parish! Visit Catholicanswersspeakers.com
Questions Covered:
4:43 – Pope Leo XIV meets King Charles III
19:05 – The Archdiocese of New York announces a $300 million fund to settle clergy abuse claims
29:41 – The Synod on Synodality concludes, emphasizing inclusion
40:48 – Pope Leo XIV’s inaugural trip to Turkey and Lebanon
This is an encore episode, originally aired on October 1, 2025.
“Can the Hierarchy Change Itself?” This episode delves into the complexities of Church authority and reform, addressing questions such as whether the Church still uses canon priests and how to trust the hierarchy. We also explore intriguing topics like Pope Leo’s blessing of ice and the implications of a heretical pope according to Bellarmine.
Join the Catholic Answers Live Club Newsletter
Invite our apologists to speak at your parish! Visit Catholicanswersspeakers.com
Questions Covered:
02:55 – Does that Church still set up canon priests to assist and convey messages for bishops?
06:57 – Does the Church hierarchy have the authority to change the Church hierarchy?
15:05 – I’m returning to the Church but I’m having a hard time trusting the hierarchy.
24:09 – Why should we conform to a magisterium who has abandoned Christ?
37:55 – Are you familiar with Pope Leo blessing the block of ice and the whole significance behind that?
48:30 – When Robert Bellarmine said that there can be a heretical pope, what did he mean by that?
This is an encore episode, originally aired on October 1, 2025
“Does God Want Organized Religion?” In this episode, we explore the role of organized faith and its significance, along with questions like why Protestants should respect the Pope and how a priest can absolve sin. We also delve into the historical presence of bishops and the continuity of apostolic authority, providing a comprehensive look at these vital topics.
Join the Catholic Answers Live Club Newsletter
Invite our apologists to speak at your parish! Visit Catholicanswersspeakers.com
Questions Covered:
05:01 – Does God Want An Organized Religion?
13:37 – How do I explain to protestants why they should at least respect the pope?
17:38 – How can a priest absolve a person from sin if he is also only a man?
29:05 – What are biblical or historical proofs that bishops were present from the beginning and not an addition in the 4th century?
42:00 – How would we address someone who agrees that Jesus gave authority to his apostles but disagrees that it was passed on?
47:49 – I’m distressed with the pope. How can I have any confidence in the Church? I need guidance.
In this wide-ranging Catholic Answers Live episode, Trent Horn tackles everything from pop-culture mysteries like whether Jar-Jar Binks could secretly be a Sith Lord and how the Home Alone dad could afford his lavish lifestyle, to serious moral and theological questions including embryo adoption, the strongest arguments against utilitarianism, and the best defenses of natural law ethics. Listeners also hear practical advice on helping friends who are drifting into charismatic churches, evangelizing atheist family members, and keeping college-bound Catholics rooted in the faith, along with a thoughtful explanation of Pope Leo’s comments on Marian titles such as Co-Redemptrix and Mater Populi Fidelis.
Join the Catholic Answers Live Club Newsletter
Invite our apologists to speak at your parish! Visit Catholicanswersspeakers.com
Questions Covered:
01:35 – Was Jar-Jar a Sith lord?
05:55 – How did the Home Alone dad afford that house and trip?
12:35 – What are your thoughts on embryo adoption?
15:40 – What do you think is the best argument against utilitarianism and what are some good resources to refute this normative theory? What book or resource do you think provides the best defense of natural law ethics?
22:07 – Hi Trent. How do I approach a friend who believes many of our dogmas, but feels like he’s growing spiritually in his charismatic church, so he feels no need to change?
29:08 – Do you have any recommendations on trying to evangelize family members who are atheists?
32:52 – Hi Trent! What does Pope Leo’s statement on not using the title of Mary as co-redemptrix mean for the direction of the Church? Why was that statement important? As a new convert, I am unsure of the importance of the “Mater Populi Fidelis,” and I wondered if you could help me understand.
39:53 – How’s Laura?
46:03 – Hi, Trent. What do you think a pastor of a parish can do to keep his college-bound parishioners from straying from the Catholic faith?
Catholic Answers Live addresses the resurgence of anti-Semitism by defining what it truly means, clarifying misunderstood language like “perfidious,” and explaining the Catholic Church’s authoritative teaching on the Jewish people. Cy Kellett and Trent Horn also examine the biblical phrase “May his blood be upon us” in its proper theological and historical context, showing why it cannot be used to justify hatred, and they explore how political instability and social unrest often fuel anti-Jewish hostility in the modern world.
Join the Catholic Answers Live Club Newsletter
Invite our apologists to speak at your parish! Visit Catholicanswersspeakers.com
Topics Covered:
05:45 – Revival of anti-Semitism
10:44 – Defining anti-Semitism
28:45 – “perfidious”
34:26 – The Catholic teaching
38:28 – “May his blood be upon us” scripture quote.
48:26 – Anti-Semitism and political instability
Cy’s Wishes you all a Merry Christmas and shares some updates at Catholic Answers.
Interview with Fr. Andrew Dalton debunking claims against the authenticity of the Shroud of Turin
Join the Catholic Answers Live Club Newsletter
Invite our apologists to speak at your parish! Visit Catholicanswersspeakers.com
Topics Covered:
05:50 – Carbon dating has already proved the shroud as a fake.
13:57 – Was there any evidence of the shroud before the 1300s?
20:41 – Does Jesus’ long hair go against historical trends for Jewish men of the time?
22:40 – Is the blood too red on the shroud?
29:00 – Was a burst of light what imprinted the image on the shroud?
33:34 – What should our methodology be?
38-28 – Baby Jesus and the shroud
43:31 – The crown of thrones
47:20 – The connection to Abraham and Isaac
51:55 – Wounds on the wrists instead of the hands
In this Catholic Answers Live episode, we address the Catholic appeal to oral tradition beyond Scripture. The discussion examines historical evidence that apostolic oral traditions persisted in the early Church, explains St. Paul’s teaching in 2 Thessalonians 3:6 on holding fast to received tradition, and responds to objections from Mark 7 regarding “traditions of men.” The episode concludes by addressing the problem of a fallible authority being required to identify the infallible canon of Scripture, offering a coherent Catholic defense of Sacred Tradition and biblical authority.
Questions Covered:
00:30 – The Catholic’s Appeal to Oral Traditions Beyond Scripture
18:23 – Do we have any evidence that some oral traditions persisted?
29:35 – The Catholic’s Use of 2 Thess. 3:6—“stay away from brother who does not walk in accord with the tradition received”
44:25 – The Catholic’s Counter to Mark 7 and the “traditions of men” Argument
47:45 – The Catholic’s Counter to a Fallible List of Infallible Books
In this Catholic Answers Live episode, we examine the Catholic understanding of justification in light of Scripture. The discussion begins with James 2:24 and the question of being “justified by works,” followed by the Church’s rejection of works preceding initial justification. We then explain how Catholics reconcile good works with grace through cooperation, respond to Romans 3:28 and “works of the law,” and conclude with a defense of Sacred Tradition alongside Scripture. A clear, step-by-step breakdown of how faith, grace, works, and tradition fit together in Catholic teaching.
Topics Covered:
05:45 – We’re Justified by Works—James 2:24
18:01 – The Catholic Rejection of Works Preceding Initial Justification
30:28 – The Catholic Attempt to Reconcile Our Good Works with Grace—“We Must Cooperate with grace”
36:38 – The Catholic Counter to Romans 3:28—“We are Justified by Faith and Not Works of the Law”
49:35 – The Catholic’s Appeal to Oral Traditions Beyond Scripture
“What should we make of the hidden years of the Holy Family?” The Gospels provide limited insight into this period, prompting questions about what we can infer. Additionally, the discussion touches on the nature of Hophni and Phinehas’s sins, the relationship between baptism and circumcision, and the implications of Leviticus 12 regarding purification after childbirth.
Join the Catholic Answers Live Club Newsletter
Invite our apologists to speak at your parish! Visit Catholicanswersspeakers.com
Questions Covered:
01:58 – The Gospels tell us very little about the hidden years of the Holy Family—what should we make of that, and what do we actually know about them?
12:00 – In today’s reading, Hophni, and Phineshs, what was the nature of their sin, different bible’s translate them differently.
15:20 – How does baptism replace circumcision?
20:48 – Leviticus 12, When woman goes to temple after giving birth to offer the sin offering for purification would that apply to her child as well?
24:26 – Can a priest or extraordinary minister deny someone communion during communion service?
33:39 – How do we clarify that Mary and Joseph’s marriage was consummated but not in the traditional sense of having intimate relations?
42:25 – Does Jesus have two souls, one eternal and one from his incarnation?
49:27 – Catholic faith teaches that believing in miracles is optional, but if we reject modern miracles would we be rejecting dogmatic miracles from the past?
“Why is the Incarnation necessary for salvation?” This question opens a discussion on the profound significance of God becoming man, touching on themes of divine presence among His people. Other topics include the implications of Deepak Chopra’s views on Jesus, the challenges of bringing a family member back to the faith, and the nuances of different traditions within the Church.
Join the Catholic Answers Live Club Newsletter
Invite our apologists to speak at your parish! Visit Catholicanswersspeakers.com
Questions Covered:
03:45 – Israel was waiting for God’s salvation—for the Messiah and the restoration of all things—but in the Jewish Scriptures themselves, are there hints that God would actually come to live among His people as a man?
12:38 – What about Deepak Chopra’s view that Jesus was someone who achieved enlightenment?
14:28 – Jeremiah 8:8 Having trouble understanding?
18:33 – My mom fell away from the Church – how can I get her back in?
24:20 – He married civilly, then had church ceremony, then came to the Catholic Faith and had a Catholic wedding, he is concerned that he may have been in sin before getting married in the Catholic faith…his priest did not say anything about it.
34:00 – What’s the difference between. Constitutory Tradition and expository tradition?
39:38 – Why the Incarnation necessary for Salvation…and why didn’t God just save us from original sin without Jesus having to sacrifice for us?
43:24 – She is planning on attending Novus Ordo, TLM and Ukranian Byzantine Christmas vigils, can she receive communion at each one? Two will take place before midnight, and one after midnight.
“Why is Judas’s Death Different in Acts?” This episode addresses the differences in accounts of Judas’s death found in Matthew and Acts, while also delving into how a non-literal interpretation of the creation story affects the concept of original sin. Additional questions include the implications of kneeling at statues and why God sent Jesus long after Adam and Eve.
Join the Catholic Answers Live Club Newsletter
Invite our apologists to speak at your parish! Visit Catholicanswersspeakers.com
Questions Covered:
03:39 – Can you clear up why Judas’s death differs in Matthew 27 and Acts?
05:47 – Does Revelation 22:8-9 where John bows down and worships the angel prove kneeling at a statue can be considered worship?
19:40 – Can you explain how if the creation story is not literal how would this impact original sin?
31:43 – Why did God send Jesus long after Adam and Eve not right after?
34:42 – Did Jesus participate in the last supper? Did he eat the bread with his disciple?
39:00 – How could you explain Mary’s need for a cleansing in the bible when she was without sin?
46:15 – Are translations considered inspired? Was this protected by the Holy Spirit?
51:55 – When the angel appeared to Zachariah and Mary they both seem to show disbelief. Why did only Zachariah get punished?
“Why Isn’t The Book of Enoch Canonical?” This question opens a discussion on the nature of scriptural authority, while also addressing varied topics such as the significance of Acts 27:34-36 in relation to the Mass, and whether intelligent life on other planets could receive the Sacraments. Additionally, the conversation touches on the implications of discovering ancient biblical documents and the concept of Divine Inspiration in scripture.
Join the Catholic Answers Live Club Newsletter
Invite our apologists to speak at your parish! Visit Catholicanswersspeakers.com
Questions Covered:
02:35 – Should we consider the book of Enoch canonical?
22:51 – Can you explain if Act 27:34-36 storm of the sea, is considered the institution of the Mass.
32:45 – Is there any biblical direction on if another planet with intelligent life could they receive the Sacraments.
37:47 – Can the bible be added to if we found ancient documents? (Matthew’s Gospel – in Hebrew)
45:50 – How many copies might there have been of Mark’s gospel?
52:23 – What does the church mean by the text being Divinely Inspired? What does that entail?
“Does God love some people more?” This question opens a discussion on divine love and justice, addressing whether God favors certain individuals over others. The conversation also touches on why God created the devil, the validity of non-Catholic wedding ceremonies for baptized Catholics, and the implications of a bishop’s directive on kneeling during Holy Communion.
Join the Catholic Answers Live Club Newsletter
Invite our apologists to speak at your parish! Visit Catholicanswersspeakers.com
Questions Covered:
02:00 – Does God really love some people more than others, does he hate certain people? —and if so, in what sense? Help me make sense of this
07:55 – Why did God make the devil?
15:10 – Can two baptized Catholics have a non-Catholic wedding ceremony, presided over by someone who is not a priest, inside a Catholic Church?
18:06 – I’m in the Charlotte diocese. The bishop just asked us not to kneel during Holy Communion. Why is the norm to stand and not to kneel?
30:20 – If someone is baptized and raised Catholic, but leaves the Church and become Protestant, but they still love Jesus, can they be saved?
42:12 – How do we know that the Mass is a continuation of what Jesus did at the Last Supper?
50:08 – I have a friend who gave me a Saint Benedict medal and told me it was extra powerful. Actually she gave me three of them and told me to put them around the house. This seems like superstition to me.