Catholic Answers Live #12938 Why Does the Church Reject Penal Substitution? Indulgences, Demons - Karlo Broussard
Oct 16, 2026
Karlo Broussard, a Catholic apologist and author, tackles challenging questions about Catholic belief. He explores atonement, indulgences, demonic power, and why Catholic priests are male. The conversation also examines the Rosary, Eucharistic miracles, Christ’s appearances after the Resurrection, and how faith relates to Scripture, tradition, and reason.
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Catholic Vicarious Satisfaction And Penal Substitution
- Catholic theology accepts Christ as substitute who bears death’s penalty, but rejects the Father actively punishing Him.
- God permitted human injustice and ordered it toward redemption without causing anyone to sin.
Why Indulgences Are Not Buying Salvation
- Indulgences address unhealthy attachments and temporary punishment remaining after sin’s guilt has been forgiven.
- They involve grace-driven acts of love, not purchasing salvation, with the Church applying the saints’ charitable merits.
What Power Demons Actually Have
- Catholic teaching describes demons as fallen spiritual creatures able to tempt people and affect the material world.
- Scripture’s possessions, exorcisms, and the swine episode illustrate that demonic activity is real but subordinate to Christ.
