Catholic Answers Live

Some Protestants argue that Catholicism is a cult—how should you answer? Andrew Petiprin tackles this common objection and discusses misconceptions about the Church, early Christian history, and the differences between Catholicism and other denominations. Questions Covered: 12:25 – I’m Protestant. How would you respond to the claim that the Catholic Church is a cult? 23:04 – Why do people have misconceptions about Catholicism, especially to other Christians faiths? 35:45 – What do you recommend doing to dispel someone from the idea that Catholicism is just another denomination? 44:35 – How would I respond to the claim that the Church for the first 700 years was trying to limit its ideas? 52:05 – I’m Protestant but my son is Catholic. My daughter’s father-in-law told me that he was going to go to hell for not converting me. How do I respond?

When should you rely on faith alone, and when is it time to seek professional help? Gary Zimak tackles questions on giving up worrying for Lent and more, including Scripture recommendations,  and accepting life’s crosses. Questions Covered: 15:00 – How do we give up worry in a case where one has clinical depression? 18:44 – What good scripture and writing from the Church Fathers do you recommend I read? 23:12 – I’ve used therapy, and it never helped. Now that I follow faith it’s been a huge change. Should I still continue traditional therapy? 34:45 – I want to improve my faith life before seeking professional help for anxiety. How do I know whether or not I need to seek professional help, or I’m simply just not trying enough with my faith life? I feel like getting professional help would be “failing” or giving up on trying to solve my anxiety with Jesus. How do I know when I’ve tried hard enough that I need outside help? 42:17 – I worry about a friend who has basically given up in life. How do I help or stop worrying? 46:57 – How does one accept that life will have crosses, and that life is not always happy? 49:11 – I personally went through a period of terrible anxiety due to a traumatic event. I was given medication, and it helped so much! Both prayer and medication can be from God.

Could a dream about purgatory have spiritual significance, or is it just the mind at work? Jimmy Akin explores how to approach such dreams and answers more on the Eucharist, spiritual warfare, and hyper-charismatic movements.   Questions Covered:  01:08 – I’ve had a frightening dream about purgatory. How should I approach or interpret it? 12:43 – Is water witching a form of divination? 22:00 – How would you introduce the truth of the Eucharist to a layperson who doesn’t believe or objects? 29:00 – Could you explain lesser Yahweh and how it relates to the figure Yahoel and the angel Metatron? 34:36 – My son joined a hyper-charismatic group. What can I do to help besides praying for him? Is there a book that would help me defend the faith? 44:01 – How could I as a Non-Denominational Christian seek help with spiritual warfare? 52:56 – My estranged son is trying to get married by a friend who is “ordained” by the internet. Should I attend this?

If God created human life on other planets, would original sin apply to them? Jimmy Akin explores this fascinating question and more, including papal authority, Friday fasting rules, and Confession in non-church marriages.   Questions Covered:  03:56 – How do I approach my non-ecclesiastical marriage in terms of the martial embrace and Confession? 11:23 – Can you explain why Christians should be subject to the pope? 13:40 – I had collagen mixed with my coffee today. Is that against the Friday fast and abstinence? 17:13 – Did priests celebrating the Mass at the time of RFK Sr.’s funeral celebrate in English and Latin? 19:20 – Was concelebration allowed before Vatican II? 20:46 – What do you think about the claim “God tortures people in hell for eternity”? 29:22 – My estranged daughter was diagnosed with borderline personality disorder; how should I react to this? Should I go to Confession? 37:34 – If God created human beings on other planets, would the sin of Adam and Eve affect those humans? 42:46 – Can priests forgive excommunications centered around abortion? 46:30 – A pastor I know said that in Hebrews, it proves we no longer need priests; how do I respond to this? 50:44 – How do I remain consistent with my faith while having ADHD and commitment issues?

How Do You Defend Papal Primacy Using Scripture? And More What biblical evidence supports the Pope’s authority and the early Church’s foundation in Rome? Joe Heschmeyer explores this question and more from the audience at SEEK 2025, including Sheol’s transformation after Christ, infant baptism, and the Real Presence in Anglican and Orthodox churches. Questions Covered: 05:46 – What did it actually mean to go to Sheol and how did that change with Christ? 07:42 – How do I defend papal primacy using scripture? How do we defend how the early Church was based out of Rome? 17:08 – I’m Protestant and struggle with infant baptism. How can A child be saved if they have no belief? 23:44 – Hypothetical from an atheist? If I tell my wife: love me or i will set you on fire?” Does she have a choice, and do I actually love my wife? 29:29 – What’s wrong with the following argument: Protestants are more catholic than Catholics because they have fewer factors that need to unify them? 32:30 – How does one discern who has the fullness of the faith between Catholics and Orthodox? 37:50 – Is it ok to refer to Scripture as Jesus since he is he is the word of God? 41:30 – How do we encounter the world, take criticism, and spread the gospel without being obnoxious? 42:12 – If Mary is the Mother of God and she is not the source of his divinity, why does she need to be sinless? 51:13 – Do the Anglican Church and Orthodox have the Real presence? Am I supposed to bow if they do?

Join Catholic Answers Live as Cy Kellett interviews Fr. David Michael Moses on reaching young people through social media and evangelization in today’s digital age!

Tradition says Jesus was 33 when He died, but did early Church Fathers like St. Irenaeus suggest otherwise? Tim Staples explores this question and more, including Mary’s virginity, swearing as a sin, and historical accounts of Jesus’ miracles. Questions Covered:  08:39 – Can you explain Jesus’ age when he died? St. Irenaeus seems to say Jesus died around the age of 50? 17:08 – Is there a list of spiritual faculties? 29:45 – Did Jesus know Mary was a virgin? Did he introduce her to people as “my virgin mother”? 42:28 – If I swear or use vulgar language, is that a mortal sin? 46:26 – Since Josephus was Jewish, did he include Jesus’ raising of the dead in his histories? 51:09 – Should I house my sister who lives with her female partner if she loses her job?

Sharing and defending Catholicism can be overwhelming—how can we do it with confidence and peace? Tim Staples offers practical advice and answers more on the Wailing Wall prophecy, Eucharistic Adoration, and the role of the Trinity in Baptism. Questions Covered:  08:15 – Why is a Wailing Wall leftover from the temple (Mt 24, there will not be a stone leftover)? 19:31 – What is Joseph referring to in Gen 50:19? 23:58 – How can we defend the faith and not be anxious? 42:00 – How do you explain Adoration to a Protestant? 50:55 – Do we have to believe in the Trinity for the Baptismal regeneration to occur?

What’s the difference between change and development in Catholic teaching? Karlo Broussard explains how the Church maintains continuity and answers more on First Confession, receiving Communion, and the first miracle of creation. Want more free exclusive content? JOIN THE CA LIVE CLUB NEWSLETTER  Questions Covered:  03:08 – What are we supposed to confess at First Confession?  05:30 – What is the standard to know if Catholic Doctrine has changed versus developed?  14:51 – Why can’t I receive Communion unless I’m in a state of grace?  32:17 – Why is it okay for Catholics to only receive the bread versus both species?  37:12 – Could the Creation of Eve be considered the first miracle?  43:19 – Why do we cling to certain Biblical teachings and stray from others? 

Why do sins have consequences even after the forgiveness of sins? Karlo Broussard breaks down the concept of temporal punishment and provides more answers on OCIA preparation, early Christian persecution, and proving the Resurrection to skeptics. Want more free exclusive content? JOIN THE CA LIVE CLUB NEWSLETTER  Questions Covered:  06:31 – I find more people coming to OCIA with no knowledge of Jesus Christ? How would you approach this? 22:08 – How do I explain to others the temporal punishment for sin? My example was drinking and the effects on your liver. 31:02 – Can you tell me about early Christian persecutions before its legalization? 35:51 – Based on 2 Tim 3:8, would it be appropriate that as Catholics we believe in an oral tradition exclusively from the Jewish tradition? 41:05 – In relation to my personal experience, how should I honor my father and mother? 47:57 – If you were to talk to an atheist, what evidence would you provide to prove the Resurrection? How would we explain other religions getting prayers answered or getting some private revelation?