Catholic Answers Live

Join Jimmy Akin, a renowned Catholic apologist and author, as he delves into the roots of Vatican I's teachings. He discusses whether early Church authority, like papal primacy and infallibility, emerged in the first century. Akin connects Peter’s leadership to early documents such as First Clement, revealing the continuity between apostolic Christianity and the official Church doctrines. They tackle intriguing questions surrounding worship, the nature of sacrifice, and the spiritual importance of the Eucharist, providing deep insights for believers and seekers alike.

In this discussion, guest Jimmy Akin, a senior apologist and host of Jimmy Akin's Mysterious World, navigates the moral complexities surrounding pregnancy complications and the Church's teachings on abortion. He clarifies the principle of double effect, distinguishing permissible medical treatments from direct abortion, which is deemed morally unacceptable. With sensitivity, Akin debunks common myths and emphasizes compassion in these challenging situations, providing a thoughtful perspective on the intersection of faith and healthcare.

Tim Staples, a Senior apologist at Catholic Answers and author, shares valuable insights on Catholic Social Teaching. He discusses essential resources for understanding human dignity, the common good, subsidiarity, and solidarity. Staples emphasizes how these teachings relate to politics, economics, and justice, making them accessible for beginners. Additionally, he addresses intriguing questions about the legitimacy of lay-led communion services and the impact of papal indulgences, shedding light on contemporary Catholic concerns.

William Albrecht, an apologist and speaker specializing in theology, discusses the implications of Pope Leo XIV's name choice. He examines its historical connections to figures like Leo the Great and Leo XIII, suggesting a vision for a moderate papacy focused on social justice. The conversation also touches on the significance of having an American pope in light of rising traditionalism in the Church, and how this could impact perceptions and unity within Catholicism. Expect lively anecdotes and insights on navigating contemporary spiritual challenges!

What happens if someone grows up Catholic but was never properly taught the faith? In this episode, we explore the Church’s teaching on invincible ignorance, personal responsibility, and how culpability is assessed when someone lacks formation. Does ignorance excuse sin? What if that ignorance is the result of others’ failure? Karlo Broussard breaks it all down. Join The CA Live Club Newsletter: Click Here Invite our apologists to speak at your parish! Visit Catholicanswersspeakers.com Questions Covered: 05:51 – I got a tattoo at 16 of the number 666. I got it covered up and have confessed. Are there any implications for still having it on my body? 09:46 – When you were protestant, how did you handle church shopping with Jesus saying he is the way, the truth and the life? 19:25 – What do the 153 fish mean when Jesus met with his apostles after the resurrection? 22:55 – How can the Trinity have one divine mind of the persons are each other? 29:32 – If a person receives the anointing of the sick before they die are they absolved of all of their sins? 32:17 – What is or is not allowed in adoration? Can I do my homework in his presence? 39:40 – CCC 2156 discusses receiving a Christian name. Did my parents mess up by not naming me after a saint? 43:54 – What is the Church’s view on suicide? 49:08 – If a person goes to Catholic school and is poorly catechized would he be culpable or would he have invincible ignorance?

Many Christians find it hard to see the papacy in the first-century Church. In this episode, Erick Ybarra addresses the historical and biblical foundations for the papal office. Was Peter truly the first pope? How did early Christians view his authority? And what evidence do we have from Scripture and tradition that connects the leadership of Peter to the role of today’s pope? Join The CA Live Club Newsletter: Click Here Invite our apologists to speak at your parish! Visit Catholicanswersspeakers.com Questions Covered: 12:33 – I struggle with not seeing the papacy in the first century. Can you help clarify where we see it? 18:30 – How close have we ever gotten to the pope who was the minimal requirement, a male baptized Catholic? 22:32 – Regarding his debate with Ubi Petrus. Do you have clarification from one of your questions from the debate? 35:29 – How is it ok that we added the filioque to the Nicene creed? Didn’t the Nicene Creed have a clause that not one word could be changed? 42:09 – How do you think the Church balances separating itself from being too political and how it’s done that historically? 48:24 – How closely do we tie our belief in Christ to our belief in the Church? If the pope were to dogmatically declare heresy, would it invalidate the magisterium? 52:06 – What do you think about the passages in First Clement where he says the Holy Spirit is writing/speaking through him? Is this evidence of papal infallibility?

How long do souls stay in purgatory? Can they meet their guardian angel? Is it okay to ask them to pray for you? We explore Catholic teaching on purgatory—its duration, biblical references, and the mystery of hope beyond purification. Join The CA Live Club Newsletter: Click Here Invite our apologists to speak at your parish! Visit Catholicanswersspeakers.com Questions Covered: 03:52 – Length of time in purgatory. How do we know how long we’ll be in purgatory? 08:46 – When you’re in purgatory do you get to meet your guardian angel? 29:29 – What does Philippians 2:10 mean? Is ‘under the earth’ a reference to purgatory? 34:06 – My father died 10 years ago. What happens to the indulgences I offer for him if no longer in purgatory and in heaven? 36:40 – I’ve heard of Purgatory as described as hell but with the hope of heaven. Is this accurate? 42:27 – I praise God, thank God and give my intentions for those in purgatory. I make a deal with those souls to pray for me when they get to heaven. Is this okay to do? 51:42 – If God can save infants who are not baptized, then why does he extend this grace to everyone through purgatory?

If Christ’s death paid the full price for our sins, why do Catholics still teach purgatory? In this episode, we break down common objections using Scripture and tradition—explaining why purgatory isn’t a rejection of Christ’s sacrifice, but a deepening of its transformative power. Join The CA Live Club Newsletter: Click Here Invite our apologists to speak at your parish! Visit Catholicanswersspeakers.com Questions Covered: 05:42 – Where is “purgatory” in the Bible? 12:50 – Catholics appeal to 1 Corinthians 3:11-15 for purgatory. But Paul doesn’t say the person is tested by fire. Rather, he teaches “works” are tested by fire. 16:52 – Catholics appeal to Jesus’ teaching about the unforgivable sin not being forgiven in this age or in the age to come in Matthew 12:32. But all Jesus meant by this is that the unpardonable sin is never forgiven, as Mark’s version makes clear in 3:29. 22:10 – Does the doctrine of purgatory contradict the Bible’s teaching on the immediacy of heaven after death (“to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord”)? 29:30 – Didn’t Jesus tell the thief on the cross, “Today you will be with me in paradise”? Doesn’t that disprove purgatory? 35:40 – Doesn’t the Bible teach that there are only two eternal destinies: heaven or hell? 39:55 – Didn’t Jesus’ death on the cross fully pay for all our sins? Why would additional purification be needed? 48:34 – Isn’t the idea of purgatory a denial of justification by faith alone? 49:55 – Why would a loving God punish believers after death if they’re already saved?

Many Catholics read the Vatican II documents and wonder: where are the reforms we see today? We explore what the Council actually said, how those ideas were implemented, and also dive into Marian theology and questions about spiritual warfare. Join The CA Live Club Newsletter: Click Here Invite our apologists to speak at your parish! Visit Catholicanswersspeakers.com Questions Covered: 15:36 – Who were Mary’s parents? Did she have a natural birth? Did she have original sin? 29:36 – I’m new to the Church. Is studying spiritual warfare making me a target for demonic attacks? 41:54 – I read the documents of Vatican 2. I don’t see a lot of the liturgical reforms. Where did they come from?

A new law in Washington state requires priests to report abuse heard in confession—can civil law override the sacred seal? We explore Church teaching, legal precedent, and why this issue matters for Catholics everywhere, along with insights on forgiveness, tradition, and spiritual healing. Join The CA Live Club Newsletter: Click Here Invite our apologists to speak at your parish! Visit Catholicanswersspeakers.com Questions Covered: 13:16 – If God said all creation is good, were there predators and prey from the beginning? 16:44 – How do I get over being hurt from my local Catholic Church? Sorry i put up the wrong fader at first. 20:54 – How do I better explain why can’t women be priests? 28:49 – I’ve been forgiven in confession for hurting others. My heart still yearns to be forgiven from them. Some are living and some are deceased. Is it ok to feel this way? 33:27 – I’m a new Catholic. What do you recommend I read more about traditions of the Church that I didn’t cover in OCIA? 43:44 – On Friday the governor of Washington signed a law that priests will be required to report child abuse revealed during confession. Isn’t this already settled law? 51:34 – What is your best argument against the essence/energies distinction as proposed by Gregory Palamas?