Catholic Answers Live

Jimmy Akin, senior apologist and Catholic author known for clear biblical explanations, tackles marrying outside your faith and Paul’s line about being unequally yoked. He unpacks Matthew 7:6 and giving scripture, distinguishes Hades and Gehenna, defends particular judgment, and explains what it means to be poor in spirit.

Jimmy Akin, senior apologist and author known for Catholic biblical interpretation, tackles tricky scripture questions. He examines whether Jesus used a slur in Matthew 15 and explains ancient vs modern concepts of ethnicity. He discusses Paul on faith and works, how Catholics view justification, the meaning of 2 Corinthians 5:8 and purgatory, and practical tips for formal Bible study.

Tom Nash, Catholic theologian and apologist who explains doctrine and liturgy. He tackles whether a bishop can ordain married men without papal approval. He discusses if Muslims honor the one God, when priests may marry couples outside church buildings, recent Mass wording changes, and proper music and practice during Communion.

Tim Staples, longtime Catholic apologist and convert, shares his conversion story and clear takes on Church authority. He explains why Catholicism is rooted in grace, not works. Conversations cover RCIA concerns, Scripture and early Church support for papal primacy, and practical steps for former Jehovah's Witnesses seeking the faith.

William Albrecht, Catholic apologist who debates Islam and studies the early church fathers, offers practical ways to introduce Jesus to Muslim and Jewish friends. He discusses using shared scripture, living witness during Ramadan and Lent, how to explain Christ’s two natures, reasons Catholics reject the Quran, and loving approaches to evangelize close friends.

William Albrecht, Catholic apologist and patristics scholar, explores Catholic-Muslim questions. He outlines three key facts about Islam, contrasts Islamic and Christian views of salvation and the Trinity, and discusses whether both traditions aim at the God of Abraham. He also covers interfaith marriage, how to defend the Resurrection and biblical reliability, and responses to popular critiques of Christianity.

“How do I respond to once saved always saved?” This question opens a discussion on the nuances of salvation, including the belief that being born again and receiving the Holy Spirit occurs only once. Other topics include the appropriateness of receiving the anointing of the sick before baptism, the interpretation of 2 Timothy 3:16, and the implications of Lent practices for recent converts. Join the Catholic Answers Live Club Newsletter Invite our apologists to speak at your parish! Visit Catholicanswersspeakers.com Questions Covered: 02:50 – My Baptist friend believes in once saved always saved. He said being born again only happens once, and you only receive the Holy Spirit once. How do I respond? 17:32 – I am going to be baptized in a couple weeks. My parish gives out anointing of the sick once a month, and I was told I could receive that before being baptized. But that seems off to me. 19:59 – 2 Tim 3:16 says all scriptures are Godly. Which scriptures are they talking about? The NIV? 24:00 – On the lying question, was it wrong for Catholic priests to issue baptismal certificates to Jews in WWII? 41:52 – Is it sinful to marry a Catholic man who has not been circumcised? 44:45 – My friend is a recent convert, but still questions a lot of things. He says he’s going to eat meat on Fridays of Lent. How can I help him understand this practice?

“How do we respond to sola scriptura?” This question opens a discussion on the challenges of infallible testimony in the context of biblical canon, particularly in light of Protestant perspectives. Other topics include the sacrament of anointing of the sick in Eastern and Roman Rite practices, the morality of lying, and the doctrine of eternal conscious torment. Join the Catholic Answers Live Club Newsletter Invite our apologists to speak at your parish! Visit Catholicanswersspeakers.com Questions Covered: 3:00 – Catholics often critique sola scriptura by saying it blocks a Protestant from having an infallible testimony upon which they can base their belief that the Bible consists of 66 books, nothing more and nothing less. But Protestants counter that Jesus often held the Jews accountable to their scriptures even though they didn’t have infallible declarations of their canon. How do we respond to that? 12:46 – I’m an Eastern Rite Catholic. Every year in Holy Week we receive the sacrament of the anointing of the sick. My Roman Rite friends have said if you can only receive it if you are seriously ill. They’ve also said it can wipe away mortal sin. But that is not my understanding. Which is true? 22:00 – How can there never be instances where lying is okay? 34:55 – I’m having trouble with the doctrine of eternal conscious torment. 45:53 – Why do we have to accept the teaching of the magisterium even when it’s not infallible? 52:23 – what do you think of equivocation?

“How can I heal my relationship with my son and forgive?” This episode addresses the complexities of forgiveness in parent-child dynamics, including what true forgiveness looks like and how to navigate growing apart in faith within a marriage. Other questions tackle concerns about rekindling friendships after returning to the Church and the challenges of maintaining relationships with family. Join the Catholic Answers Live Club Newsletter Invite our apologists to speak at your parish! Visit Catholicanswersspeakers.com Questions Covered: 13:50 – I grew up Catholic and went away from the Church for over a decade and am now coming back. My friend is a devout Catholic and I’m worried I’ll sabotage our relationship by putting him on a pedestal. 18:27 – What exactly is forgiveness, and what does that look like in a parent-child relationship? 31:35 – What if my wife and I are growing apart because I am growing in my faith and she is not? Is that repairable? 40:00 – I call to wish my grandchildren a happy birthday but my son just hangs up on me. How can I heal the relationship with my son? 43:14 – How do I know if I have really forgiven someone?

“Can Catholics Believe in Young Earth Creationism?” This question opens a discussion on the relationship between faith and science, addressing topics such as the role of God in holding atoms together, the balance between atomism and Aristotelianism, and the implications of biblical statements on creation. Other questions touch on the nature of infinity and eternity, as well as the age of the earth from a Catholic perspective. Join the Catholic Answers Live Club Newsletter Invite our apologists to speak at your parish! Visit Catholicanswersspeakers.com Questions Covered: 12:05 – It seems to me that modern science substituted mathematics for formal cause. Do you have thoughts on that? 21:02 – I was taught that with atoms, it is somewhat inexplicable how they are held together since the protons naturally repel. In bible study I was taught that the only explanation is that God holds it together. Is this correct? 30:05 – If atomism is too bottom-up, is aristotelianism too top down? 36:28 – How do infinity and eternity go together? 40:35 – Have you read Ed Feser’s The Last Superstition and what do you think of it? 42:30 – Who came up with that time could somehow be subject to gravity? Is that for real? That seems so off to me. 45:00 – The bible says “let there be light” and that was the beginning. I think that proves that there was a beginning. 48:33 – I’m a convert and had been taught creationism my whole life. How do Catholics view the age of the earth?