Catholic Answers Live

If a gorilla could understand the Gospel through sign language, could it be saved? We explore this unusual but fascinating question, plus why St. Philomena’s feast was removed, the Church’s view on devotionals, and how to approach celibacy in unexpected life situations. Questions Covered:  03:38 – How can I invite my college Newman Center to a seder dinner as part of an interfaith event? 08:32 – Why was St. Philomena’s feast day removed from the Roman Calendar? 12:38 – If a person could evangelize via sign language to a gorilla, could the gorilla be saved? 24:33 – Does the Church have a stance on devotionals that seem to put words in God’s mouth? 32:05 – How do I respond to the claim that situations like David and the bread of the temple or Jesus’ disciples eating on the sabbath should be applied to same-sex relationships? 42:46 – Catechism 1658 talks about single persons — not by choice, but by life circumstance–; is God calling them to celibacy? If God is all-knowing, why would He call people to a vocation they can’t fulfill? 49:00 – What is the threshold for the Church to make a public excommunication of an individual(s) spreading hatred explicitly or implicitly and claiming the Catholic faith informs their hateful worldview? 52:21 – Where does St. Veronica come from? Why are there three times Christ falls in the Stations when the Bible says he fell once?

Are Marian doctrines like the Immaculate Conception and the Assumption late inventions, or do they have earlier roots? We explore pre-Augustinian thought, why some doctrines develop differently, and how Marian beliefs compare to teachings like eternal security and sola fide. Join The CA Live Club Newsletter: Click Here Questions Covered:  12:41 – I know the Eucharist is the Body, Blood, Soul & Divinity of Jesus. Is it his Resurrected body?  16:30 – Do we have any prior to Augustine who taught the concept of the Immaculate Conception and the Assumption? Why is the argument of time work for eternal security and sola fide, but not Marian doctrines?  47:30 – Have you read “Jesus Wept”?   

Are all Catholics bound by the same beliefs, regardless of rite? We explore the unity and diversity within the Catholic Church, plus discuss attending Byzantine parishes, Marian theology in the East, and inter-rite confessions.   Questions Covered:  10:17 – Can a priest of a certain rite celebrate the Eucharist in a different rite?  15:21 – Do the Eastern Catholic Churches believe in Mary the same way the Orthodox?  19:15 – Have any of the Eastern Catholic Churches undergo sweeping liturgical changes like the Latin Rite?  19:15 – Have any of the Eastern Catholic Churches undergone sweeping liturgical changes like the Latin Rite?  25:15 – How do you answer the objection that the early Church was Orthodox, not Catholic?  29:59 – As a Roman Catholic, can I attend a Byzantine Parish to fulfill my Sunday obligation?  34:30 – You helped me in my conversion. Is there anything in the Bible to help me point my wife towards Catholicism?  45:29 – What was the biggest adjustment when you started attending the Byzantine Rite?  46:43 – Why do we use “the Roman Catholic Church” to refer to all the rites? Can’t we just use “The Catholic Church” and use “Roman Catholic” for the specific rite?  48:40 – Did you take it easy on George Janko?  51:08 – Can I get Confession from an Eastern Rite priest?  53:00 – Are Eastern Catholics required to believe everything that other Catholics are required to believe? 

In this episode, the Flannel Panel goes through the biased takes of NPR and offers commentary from a Catholic perspective. Topics Covered: 03:30 – Understanding the context of NPR 05:15 – What are religious people divided on according to NPR

With so many voices on social media and YouTube, is Catholicism gaining ground in the digital world? We explore the Church’s online presence and also look at trends in adult conversions to the faith. Join The CA Live Club Newsletter: Click Here Topics Covered: 09:00 – Are more adults converting to Catholicism? 33:00 – Are Catholics winning online?

Is it required belief that St. Joseph remained celibate his whole life? We explore Church teaching on this tradition and also dive into Mary’s sorrowful apparitions, obedience to the pope, and infant baptism debates with Protestants. Join The CA Live Club Newsletter: Click Here Questions Covered: 12:03 – Why does Mary sometimes appear sad, like at appearance la Salette and in the seven sorrows of Mary? 19:20 – Is it necessary for Catholics to believe that St. Joseph was a perpetual virgin? 34:36 – My OBGYN is recommending that I do not have any more pregnancies after having an ectopic pregnancy. What should I do? 38:35 – When scripture speaks of Jesus having Brothers and Sisters, are those cousins? 43:14 – How do I respond to Protestants that say infant baptism is not correct because scripture says “repent and be baptized” but infants cannot repent? Is it sinful to have incorrect understanding of Catholic doctrines and teachings. 46:01 – How far does obedience to the pope go? What are the parameters in which we can disagree with the Pope?

What happens if the priest or pastor doesn’t say the exact words during a baptism? Does it still count? We explore the Church’s teaching on valid baptism, plus questions on receiving Communion before convalidation, judgment after death, and depictions of Jesus in iconography. Join The CA Live Club Newsletter: Click Here Questions Covered: 06:19 – I’m having my marriage convalidated in a couple of weeks. I will go to confession the day before. The next day I will go to Mass at 9am and the convalidation ceremony is at 1pm. Can I receive Eucharist at Mass or do I have to wait until after the convalidation? 09:08 – Is my baptism valid? The pastor changed the words. 17:33 – When do the general judgment (Mt. 25-31) and individual judgment (Hebrews 9:27) take place? 22:21 – If Mary had said no, would that have been her exercising her free will and not committing sin? 32:01 – As Catholics how should we practically approach suffering and should we pray to have it removed? 38:12 – Why do Catholics believe they can get messages from guardian angels, specifically regarding Archangel Gabriel on this solemnity of the Annunciation? 48:43 – Where to start with learning to sing the Psalter? What radio? 52:23 – In iconography, why is Jesus usually painted white when he was probably darker skinned?

If the writings of the Church Fathers aren’t part of the Bible, why do they matter? We explore their authority and role in understanding the faith, plus tackle questions about God’s omniscience, Eucharistic miracles, and why Mary doesn’t appear more often in Scripture. Join The CA Live Club Newsletter: Click Here Questions Covered: 04:15 – I constantly hear that God knows everything that’s going to happen, but in the Old Testament He changed His mind. It sounds like a contradiction. 10:02 – How seriously should I take the ancient church fathers given that they are not sacred scripture? 13:50 – How do I get atheists/agnostics to recognize the bible as a legitimate source? 16:00 – On the assumption that God is all-powerful, merciful, etc. Then why would he make us if he knew we were going to go through all this suffering and anguish? 22:52 – Is heaven empty until Jesus returns? If not, then how can Catholics believe that we all go to sleep and enter heaven until the second coming? 30:59 – In the Our Father, what is the true meaning of” thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven?” 35:14 – How is it possible for Satan to stand in the presence of God in Job if evil can’t withstand the presence of God? 41:00 – Why doesn’t Mary appear more in the Bible for all the reverence we give her? 46:01 – Debating with a Christian who claims Eucharistic miracles are demonic; how do I respond to them? 51:46 – Why should I care if there is a God?

Many Marian prayers mention having “recourse” to her—but where does that phrase come from, and is it something Catholics are required to believe? We explore its origin and meaning, plus questions on Mary’s titles, Christ’s conception, and the early practice of the sign of the cross. Join The CA Live Club Newsletter: Click Here Questions Covered: 04:44 – Many prayers to Mary say we have recourse to her. What is the origin of that? Is it required to believe that?  08:12 – In the liturgy it says that Christ was conceived through the overshadowing of the Holy Spirit. Doesn’t the bible say “the most high” overshadowed her?  12:30 – How can Mary be both the spouse of Joseph and the spouse of the Holy Spirit? It’s kind of uncomfortable to hear that.  17:14 – When CCC 674 says Jesus won’t come back until he is recognized by “all of Israel,” who are they talking about?  23:21 – How early on did the practice of making the sign of the cross happen?  28:39 – Why do we withhold the Eucharist from adults up until confirmation?  33:33 – If you forget to confess sins during confession are they absolved or is it a valid confession?  37:50 – When we are in heaven do we reflect on our lives on earth?  42:55 – What are your thoughts on children marrying someone who’s not Catholic?  46:31 – I’m Catholic but this is a question that I get from atheists: Why did God create us in the first place?  50:02 – How do I talk to a very combative protestant who demonizes everything the Church teaches? 

Are we responsible for staying silent when others sin? We explore what Scripture says, plus why some parishes don’t offer the chalice, how to pray for a seriously ill loved one, and the meaning of “action follows being” in Thomistic philosophy. Join The CA Live Club Newsletter: Click Here Questions Covered: 02:44 – Where does it say in the bible that we would be culpable if we don’t speak up against someone else’s sin? 10:57 – Do you think the people present at the Tower of Babel were different races? 24:18 – Why do some parishes not offer the chalice during communion? 35:00 – What type of novena or sacrifice should I be doing for my very ill 27-year-old daughter? 50:58 – What evidence do we have for the Thomistic principle of action following being?