Catholic Answers Live

Can we trust Scripture as divinely inspired? We look at the historical and theological reasons Catholics believe the Bible is the Word of God, plus tackle topics like the early Church’s view of the afterlife, confirmation saints, and what really happened in the Roman Inquisition. Join The CA Live Club Newsletter: Click Here Questions Covered:

If God’s will is inevitable, why pray at all? We explore how prayer fits into God’s providence, and also tackle questions on prudential judgment, understanding papal encyclicals, and the emotional hurdles people face when approaching full conversion. Join The CA Live Club Newsletter: Click Here Questions Covered: 06:56 – We just got confirmed this past weekend and I just want to say thank you! 15:16 – I’ve been praying the 7 Sorrows. One-line states something about suffering in silence. Should I not tell my husband when I’m having a bad day? 23:59 – What is the relationship between a prudential judgement and the justification for it? Can a bad reason undermine the judgment itself? 36:46 – If God’s Will will always be done, then what is the purpose of praying for things? 44:20 – What resources do you recommend to properly understand Papal encyclicals? 51:01 – How do I deal with the final hurdles to conversion?

More than just a symbol, baptism is a sacrament with real spiritual power. We dive into what it accomplishes, who can receive it, and how early Christians—like the Church Fathers—understood it. Plus, we explore topics like baptism of desire, evangelical outreach, and infant baptism. Join The CA Live Club Newsletter: Click Here Questions Covered:

Does Ephesians 2:8–9 contradict Catholic teaching on the role of works in salvation? We unpack this key verse and how Catholics interpret it, along with insights on baptism’s power, Mary and Adam, and resistance to Church reforms like those from the SSPX. Join The CA Live Club Newsletter: Click Here Questions Covered:

The Flannel Panel discusses the recent passing of Pope Francis and how the media has reacted to the news. Join The CA Live Club Newsletter: Click Here

Trent Horn shares the story of meeting Pope Francis and reflects on what it meant for Francis to “lead with his heart.” JD Flynn explores Francis’ reforms—what was completed, what remains unfinished, and the role of mercy at the heart of his papacy. What’s next for the conclave? Could Africa rise? Jimmy Akin weighs in on the papal name and even touches on the Malachi prophecy. Join The CA Live Club Newsletter: Click Here Topic Covered:

Join The CA Live Club Newsletter: Click Here Why did Jesus have to suffer and die on the cross? On this Good Friday episode of Catholic Answers Live, Cy Kellett speaks with Joe Heschmeyer, author of The Early Church Was the Catholic Church, to unpack the meaning behind Christ’s crucifixion. Joe explains how the cross is not divine punishment but the ultimate act of love—God offering Himself for our salvation. Drawing from Scripture, the Church Fathers, and the theology of St. Thomas Aquinas, this episode explores: Why there’s no Mass on Good Friday The meaning of Christ’s sacrifice How the cross heals our relationship with God The spiritual power of praying before the crucifix Why Good Friday is both history’s darkest and brightest day

On this encore special Holy Thursday episode of Catholic Answers Live, Cy Kellett sits down with apologist Joe Heschmeyer to explore the profound meaning of the Last Supper. Why did Jesus institute the Eucharist and the priesthood on this night? How does the Gospel of John’s account—focused on the washing of the feet—fit with the synoptic Gospels’ focus on the bread and wine? Joe connects the dots between the Passover sacrifice, Christ’s role as the Paschal Lamb, and the liturgical richness of the early Church. You’ll also learn why Holy Thursday marks the beginning of the Church’s most sacred three-day liturgy—and how Catholics today are called to enter into this mystery. Join The CA Live Club Newsletter: Click Here

Many exploring Orthodoxy question whether the pope’s authority was recognized in the early centuries. We look at the history behind papal infallibility, plus Catholic answers on the devil, 1 Timothy 2:12, and the Bread of Life discourse. Join The CA Live Club Newsletter: Click Here Questions Covered: 00:20 – Content Creator Spotlight: Desirea Sifuentes, the Uncatechized Catholic 15:98 – Why does God let the devil run around to cause problems? 28:45 – I’m Catholic, considering Orthodoxy. Was papal infallibility practiced in the early Church? 38:30 – What’s the context 1 Tim 2:12 and what was going on for him to write it? 44:28 – What supporting verses do you have for your understanding of the Bread of Life discourse?

The apostolic pardon offers a powerful grace at the moment of death—but what exactly is it? We explain its purpose, how it works, and also discuss the Church’s authority in science, the reality of hell, and why confession is an underrated tool in apologetics. Join The CA Live Club Newsletter: Click Here Questions Covered: 05:16 – What authority does the Church have on scientific matters when it comes to faith and morals? 12:32 – What is an apostolic pardon and how does it work? 20:08 – How can people go to hell if God knows what would be good for them? 37:59 – Why don’t we use the availability of confession as an apologetics selling point?

If sin is forgiven, why does temporal punishment still exist? We explore scriptural and early Church support for this Catholic teaching and also touch on the rapture, eternal punishment, and how Protestants can begin attending a faithful Catholic parish. Join The CA Live Club Newsletter: Click Here Questions Covered:

The Apostles’ Creed says Jesus “descended into hell,” but where is that in Scripture? We explore the biblical foundation for this teaching and also cover Marian dogmas, priestly celibacy, and how to explain Catholic beliefs to Protestant friends. Join The CA Live Club Newsletter: Click Here Questions Covered:

Many Muslims argue that the Bible can’t be trusted because it was corrupted. We explore effective Catholic responses to this common objection, along with tips for respectful dialogue, Islam’s historical roots, and Muslim views on divine inspiration. Join The CA Live Club Newsletter: Click Here Questions Covered:

Jesus performed countless miracles and changed lives—but where were those people when He was suffering? We explore this thought-provoking question and what it reveals about human nature, gratitude, and the loneliness of the Cross. Join The CA Live Club Newsletter: Click Here Questions Covered:

Protestants often point to Matthew 6:7-11 to argue against repeated prayers—so how can Catholics reconcile this with prayers like the Rosary or the Our Father? Jimmy Akin explores this concern along with Catholic teaching on saints, Mary’s spiritual motherhood, and mixed-faith marriages. Join The CA Live Club Newsletter: Click Here Questions Covered: Unam Sanctam

The Church teaches that baptism is a once-in-a-lifetime sacrament—but what are the consequences of being re-baptized? We break down the theological and spiritual implications, and also explore topics like Peter’s crucifixion, the authority of the Church Fathers, and what makes a sin truly mortal. Join The CA Live Club Newsletter: Click Here Questions Covered:

Does changing the words during the consecration make the Eucharist invalid? We dive into what the Church teaches about the essential form of the sacrament and also address confession practices, Orthodox weddings in Catholic churches, and bridging the gap with Protestants on faith and works. Join The CA Live Club Newsletter: Click Here Questions Covered:

If the Old Testament was accepted without an infallible Church, why is that needed for the New Testament? We explore this key apologetics question, along with topics like apostolic succession, Catholic-Orthodox unity, and defending the faith online. Join The CA Live Club Newsletter: Click Here Questions Covered:

Does free will really exist, and how does Catholicism explain it? We explore the Church’s teaching on human freedom, how to defend it in conversations, and also tackle questions about burial and cremation, suffering, Jesus’ childhood, and even pseudoarchaeology. Join The CA Live Club Newsletter: Click Here Questions Covered: 01:21 – Supposing a cannibal eats a Christian, and then the cannibal gets converted, who gets which bits in the resurrection? 12:37 – Is the requirement to receive communion to not be conscious of mortal sin or grave sin? I ask because the official canon law says grave sin, but grave sins can be venial in the case of addiction 14:13 – Could you clarify the Catholic teachings on burial, specifically concerning what is/isn’t permitted, and what is preferred. I’ve been told that cremation isn’t forbidden, but scattering ashes is, due to our desire to respect the body. 20:49 – Can you explain the problem with Islam: Is the word of Allah separate from Allah? 22:41 – What was Jesus’ life like in childhood and adolescence? 24:41 – What is the catholic understanding of free will, and how can we argue for it? 37:00 – What are cardinals and how did that position become established? 41:45 – I know that God brings a greater good from evil He allows and that He helps save our brothers and sisters through OUR efforts but are those the only answers to why God would allow tens of millions of people to starve under Mao and Stalin? Or why so many people, including children, are trafficked, and satanically ritually abused? I mean the scale of human pain is mind-blowing. Is the realization of our impotence in the face of evil and our need to surrender to God for help the point? 48:13 – Recently a real Archaeologist Flint Dibble debated Graham Hancock a pseudo archaeologist. Are you still planning on doing an episode on pseudo archaeology? Would you consider interviewing someone like him for it? There seems to be a war brewing between mainstream archaeology and a few camps of pseudo archaeology online. I have to admit, I was in one of these camps until I watched a good volume of your material. 50:21 – I would like to know if it is true that Our Lady of Fatima told Lucia, that Francesco would pass and his soul would be in purgatory until the end of time. It is hard to believe that a child would have such horrible sins that would keep him there for so long.

What happens if someone receives a sacrament while pretending to be someone else? We explore a wild baptism scenario involving identical twins and what it means for the validity and liceity of the sacrament. Plus, we tackle guardian angels, Mass in space, miracles, and the mystery of God’s plan. Join The CA Live Club Newsletter: Click Here Questions Covered: 02:52 – Considering most of your show is about theology I was wondering if you experience anything more on the personal side. 13:25 – Would it be permissible for a Catholic to believe that God knows all possible multiverses and chose to create the one we are in where we have freewill and God reveals himself and incarnates as Jesus to help us know God, but that the universe basically runs on its own and our choices are our own. Would that be a way to reconcile that God has a plan, but that we also have free will? 18:20 – Why does God allow miracles in some cases but not others, especially in reference to Matthew 18:19 which states, “Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven”? For example, why does this not apply when groups of people are praying for someone to be healed and they are not. 23:25 – Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except by me.” Did he mean that he, Jesus Christ is the door, or did he mean “the way, the truth, and the life” is the door? Or both? 28:42 – Does Mary have the same kind of guardian angel as we do? Could it possibly be Gabriel? Is there any value in contemplating the guardian angels of others? 34:49 – You mentioned something about shared death experiences (where someone else will be in the room when someone is dying and someone will be in the room who is not dying and they both experience the visions) in one of your videos. Have you come across any contemporary accounts of these that are credible? Asking for my friend who is a grad student in philosophy. 37:46 – I was wondering about Holy Mass and space travel. if you were traveling near lightspeed, let’s say 99% , You start to experience some heavy time dilation. Specifically at 99% light speed you’re you are experiencing 14% of the time that passes on Earth relative to an observer on Earth. Would your Sunday obligation depend on Earth time or ship time assuming there’s a priest on the ship? I figured it out that there will be about one day for a week so you could do mass everyday, but I was also wondering about calculating the date of Easter while you’re on a relativistic speed journey. Would the priest need to start Mass at the short time that it’s still Easter on Earth? 43:30 – Is it a correct understanding of the teaching of the Catechism of the Council of Trent to say that the expression “God died” is not to be understood literally but rather figuratively (i.e., anthropomorphism and/or synecdoche)? 46:25 – Let’s say there are two identical twin sisters, Kait and Leia. Neither are baptized, but Kait wishes to become baptized. For reasons, Leia does not want her sister to be baptized, and so has her sister kidnapped. Leia pretends to be her sister Kait and receives the sacrament. Question: When the priest says, “I baptize you *Kait in the name….”, how does this affect the validity and liceity of the sacrament? Is Leia actually baptized? What about Kait?