Catholic Answers LIVE
Catholic Answers Live, hosted by Cy Kellett, is a daily, two-hour radio program dedicated to Catholic apologetics and evangelization. According to listener surveys, it is a runaway favorite on Catholic stations across America.
As a call-in program, Catholic Answers Live connects listeners to prominent leaders in the Church today—including scholars, nuns, priests, bishops, and cardinals—and touches on every aspect of our lives as Christians. You'll hear discussions on just about everything relating to the Church: doctrinal controversies, family concerns, social issues, evangelization, ethics…you name it!
Catholic Answers Live airs every Monday through Friday from 6-8 PM Eastern (3-4 PM Pacific) on over 360 AM and FM stations in the United States, Sirius Satellite Radio channel 130, and through the Internet at catholic.com. If you can't listen live, you can subscribe to our podcast or download individual shows from our MP3 archive.
Call in with your question at 1-888-31-TRUTH!
Most Recent Episodes
<p>Can suffering or illness in our family be a punishment from God for our sins? In this episode of <em data-start="244" data-end="267" data-is-only-node="">Catholic Answers Live</em>, Catholic Answers apologists address this difficult and deeply personal question before exploring a wide range of theological and pastoral topics. The discussion covers whether Catholics may hold the Genesis Gap Theory, how the Church can better evangelize people with disabilities, and why Catholic teaching on the death penalty has developed over time. Additional questions examine the extraordinary endurance of St. Paul, the purpose of offering prayer intentions with the Rosary, why Catholicism claims to be more than just another denomination, and why sacramental confession is necessary before receiving Holy Communion in certain situations. A thoughtful conversation on suffering, grace, Church authority, and the sacraments.</p>
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<p><strong>Questions Covered:</strong></p>
<ul>
<li><span data-contrast="auto"> 01:12 – Is it possible that God punishes my continuous sin through my son’s disease? </span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></li>
<li><span data-contrast="auto"> 04:19 – Can a Catholic hold to the Genesis Gap Theory? Or is it heretical? </span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></li>
<li><span data-contrast="auto">12:41 – How can the Church evangelize to those with disabilities? What are good resources that can help me get started? </span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></li>
<li><span data-contrast="auto"> 19:28 – Can we in good conscience support the death penalty? I can’t seem to understand why the church changed this. In theory can’t the church’s teaching on this revert? </span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></li>
<li><span data-contrast="auto"> 28:37 – Is there a miraculous quality to St. Paul recovering from the stoning at Lystra or from all of the other beatings he suffered? It seems any number of the rods, stonings, etc. could have disabled him and made his long-distance travel impossible. </span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></li>
<li><span data-contrast="auto"> 32:49 – How does setting a prayer intention before praying a rosary differ from just praying for that intention directly without praying a rosary, does it have something to do with the merit involved with praying a rosary? Thank you! </span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></li>
<li><span data-contrast="auto"> 36:40 – Why can’t Catholicism be just another denomination among the denominations? I think Protestants see Catholicism as a Christian denomination, thus no need to make the move if they are already happy where they are. </span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></li>
<li><span data-contrast="auto">43:02 – If priests have the sacramental power to ordain, why has this actually happened so rarely in Church history? </span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></li>
<li><span data-contrast="auto"> 46:50 – Why is it mandatory to go to a priest for confession before one can go for Holy Communion. Why isn’t going to God directly sufficient for this? If someone sits on his seat because he hasn’t gone for confession, everyone would see that he hasn’t gone to confession, it would elicit some kind of shame on this person.</span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></li>
</ul>
<p>“What’s the best argument for Catholicism?” This episode addresses the top argument to convince an unbeliever, while also tackling questions about submitting to the Church amid concerns of sin, the differences between original sin and ancestral sin, and the significance of Marian prayers.</p>
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<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Invite our apologists to speak at your parish! Visit </span><a href="https://www.catholic.com/speakers"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Catholicanswersspeakers.com</span></a></p>
<p><strong>Questions Covered:</strong></p>
<ul>
<li>01:55 – What’s the top argument to convince an unbeliever?</li>
<li>10:40 – Am I supposed to submit to the Church even though it might be sinning?</li>
<li>18:20 – How is the Catholic doctrine of original sin better than the Eastern doctrine of ancestral sin?</li>
<li>29:10 – In the earliest known Marian prayer its written, “…do not despise our petitions in time of trouble, but rescue us from danger. Only pure one, only blessed one.“ As a former Protestant, the “rescue us“ Part troubles me a bit to pray.</li>
<li>32:54 – How can I explain to a non-Catholic the difference between a blessed item and a “good luck” charm?</li>
<li>40:03 – What is the explanation for the Celibate priesthood?</li>
<li>46:42 – My friend is not Catholic because other denominations have sacraments and clergy, how do I as a Catholic respond to that argument?</li>
<li>52:03 – Can you clarify the teaching of paragraph 1377 in the Catechism which states that…” Consecration endures as long as the Eucharistic species exists…?</li>
</ul>
<p>“Where do we see the Marian doctrines in Scripture?” This question opens a discussion on the biblical foundations of Marian beliefs, alongside inquiries about why Catholics refer to Mary as “holy” and “our life, our sweetness, and our hope,” and the differences in veneration of Mary among various Christian traditions. The episode also addresses the Catholic and Orthodox views on the Immaculate Conception and the significance of Mary as the Queen of Heaven.</p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><a href="https://wvw.catholic.com/radioclub?email"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Join the Catholic Answers Live Club Newsletter</span></a></span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Invite our apologists to speak at your parish! Visit </span><a href="https://www.catholic.com/speakers"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Catholicanswersspeakers.com</span></a></p>
<p><strong>Questions Covered:</strong></p>
<ul>
<li>02:00 – Where do we see the Marian Doctrines in scripture?</li>
<li>23:43 – Why do Catholics call Mary “holy” and “our life, our sweetness, and our hope” in the Salve Regina?</li>
<li>28:59 – Is there a difference in veneration of Mary in EO, Assyrian Church Of The East, OO and Catholicism?</li>
<li>32:49 – How does the Catholic view of the Immaculate Conception differ from the Orthodox view (as it relates to Original Sin)? And what is the evidence for the Catholic view?</li>
<li>45:45 – How can we be sure Mary is the Queen of Heaven?</li>
<li>50:40 – Why are there so many apparitions of Mary but not of Jesus?</li>
</ul>
<p>“What are Near Death Experiences?” This question opens a discussion on near-death experiences and the nature of the soul. The conversation also addresses critiques of NDE content, the concept of purification in the afterlife as described by Father Nathan Castle, and intriguing thoughts on the relationship between soul and brain in hypothetical scenarios.</p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><a href="https://wvw.catholic.com/radioclub?email"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Join the Catholic Answers Live Club Newsletter</span></a></span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Invite our apologists to speak at your parish! Visit </span><a href="https://www.catholic.com/speakers"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Catholicanswersspeakers.com</span></a></p>
<p><strong>Questions Covered:</strong></p>
<ul>
<li>00:55 – What do you say to critics of your content on NDEs, who say that it understates the skeptical research in the academic NDE literature?</li>
<li>18:50 – What do you think of the way purification seems to occur in Father Nathan Castle’s afterlife accounts? It would seem that rather than experiencing a “painful” and “fiery” purification as often depicted in pious stories and prayers about purgatory over the centuries, the souls essentially just learn new things and gradually correct their misunderstandings and errors, including needing to come to grips with their past sins and their effects on others. The idea that angels, saints and deceased relatives all get involved at different points along the journey of purification of souls and to help them move to a new level really appeals to me.</li>
<li>36:17 – If two individuals had their brains swapped, would their soul remain in their original bodies? Or if it stayed, how would the mismatched soul/brain experience consciousness?</li>
<li>46:01 – My wife is utterly convinced that all lizards including and especially the dinosaurs used to be dragons and wings were the limbs mentioned in Genesis when God punished the serpent. Note that most modern-day lizards although they do have legs still scurry around on their bellies because of their wide stance.</li>
</ul>
<p>“Can humans possess one another?” This question opens a discussion on the nature of influence and control, including the implications of brainwashing techniques. Additionally, the episode addresses what happens to souls in purgatory at the end of the world and whether it’s morally acceptable to seek the identity of a ghost that may be trying to communicate. Other intriguing topics include the concept of fallen guardian angels and their replacements.</p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><a href="https://wvw.catholic.com/radioclub?email"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Join the Catholic Answers Live Club Newsletter</span></a></span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Invite our apologists to speak at your parish! Visit </span><a href="https://www.catholic.com/speakers"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Catholicanswersspeakers.com</span></a></p>
<p><strong>Questions Covered:</strong></p>
<ul>
<li>03:40 – can human beings possess one another? For example: would brainwashing techniques done by the CIA and other government agencies with the use of LSD and other mind-altering drugs count as possession? My understanding is that the subject’s personality is changed, and they become very influenceable. Is this a form of possession by humans?</li>
<li>20:07 – My 9-year-old son loves listening to your show. He is wondering if you could shed any light on what might happen to the souls in purgatory when the end of the world comes. Do they get forcibly zapped through the rest of their purification process?</li>
<li>33:21 – If you have good reason to believe a ghost in purgatory is trying to get your attention, is it morally okay to ask them to reveal their identity? Context: a few years ago I was home alone with my newborn daughter on All Souls Day and heard repeated loud rattling sounds coming from the kitchen. The baby began screaming. I calmly walked out and said, “Whoever is bothering my baby, go away.” The rattling stopped and I have never heard it since. I have had Mass said for the soul, and also for one person I suspect it might have been, but I am not sure. Is it forbidden to ask for such knowledge or should I be content to wait?</li>
<li>44:37 – Are there fallen guardian angels, if so do we get a replacement if our intended guardian angel fell?</li>
</ul>
