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>“Is there a scriptural basis for St. Joseph’s Assumption?” This question opens a discussion on the biblical foundations of St. Joseph’s bodily assumption into Heaven. Other topics include the differences between the Douay–Rheims versions, the appropriateness of praying for intercession from souls in purgatory, and the practice of clergy praying with covered heads during Mass.</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>18:29 – What is the difference between the Douay–Rheims reims and the traditional Douay–Rheims?</li>
<li>21:45 – Is it okay to not just pray for the souls in purgatory, but to ask for their intercession?</li>
<li>29:07 – 1 Cor 11 says to not pray with your head covered. So how do we reconcile that with clergy praying with heads covered (mitres, cardinals hats, berettas, etc) during Mass?</li>
<li>32:49 – Should we offer Masses for the recently deceased leader of Iran and his party?</li>
<li>42:39 – How does one pray to saints? Also, The Bible records Jesus’ words of prayer in the agony in the garden, but how do we know what he said if nobody was there to witness and report it?</li>
<li>45:23 – How often can one make a general confession?</li>
<li>48:22 – Can you help me understand this controversy of interpreting the bible as saying we are either “declared” righteous or “made” righteous?</li>
<li>52:04 – I feel like God’s love and mercy has already washed my sins away even though I haven’t been to confession yet. What’s the deal with that?</li>
</ul>
<p>When exactly can Catholics fulfill their Easter duty, and why does the Church require it? In this episode of <em data-start="246" data-end="269" data-is-only-node="">Catholic Answers Live</em>, Jimmy Akin answers thoughtful questions from listeners on a wide range of topics. He explains how we know the Scriptures are divinely inspired without falling into circular reasoning, discusses theories about the causes of same-sex attraction, and examines whether monastic life conflicts with the Church’s mission to evangelize. Jimmy also explores the relationship between the Eucharist and the resurrection of the body, moral responsibility for actions done in ignorance, whether swallowing something stuck in your teeth breaks the Eucharistic fast, and how Catholic moral theology evaluates difficult scenarios like stopping a hijacked plane. A wide-ranging discussion covering Scripture, moral theology, and practical questions about living the Catholic faith.</p>
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<p>Invite our apologists to speak at your parish! Visit <a href="https://www.catholic.com/speakers">Catholicanswersspeakers.com</a></p>
<p><strong>Questions Covered:</strong></p>
<ul>
<li>01:00 – When can you fulfill your Easter duty?</li>
<li>11:07 – How can we know that the Scriptures are divinely inspired?</li>
<li>The idea that “the Church says the Scriptures are divinely inspired because the Church has the authority to say so, but the Church has the authority to say so because the Scriptures give them the authority to” feels like a circular argument. I know there’s more to it, but I can’t quite articulate it, so any help would be appreciated!</li>
<li>19:33 – Have you in your learnings come to understand what causes Same-Sex Attraction? Is there a theory you find convincing? Do you have a theory of your own?</li>
<li>29:11 – Is monasticism selfish? For example, how could have the apostles fulfilled the Great Commission if they were cloistered? And how would that apply today? Can evangelization be accomplished from inside a monastic cell?</li>
<li>39:54 – It seems to me that God’s ultimate goal is to get us back bodily in heaven with him. Would that be like the garden of Eden again and how does us eating the eucharist help with that? Or does it? It seems we need to eat our savior to be bodily with God like he is. Is this correct or am I going somewhere I shouldn’t with this line of reasoning?</li>
<li>44:17 – If somebody does something evil out of stupidity, how responsible is he for said action? Can he be at least partly excused?</li>
<li>47:58 – This might sound silly, but I’ve wondered it a lot: If you are in mass and you’ve fasted the hour but find something in your teeth, does it break the fast to swallow it?</li>
<li> 50:00 – Would it be moral to shoot down a hijacked plane full of civilians over an unpopulated area, if it is believed the hijackers intend to crash it in a populated area? Would this be considered doing evil that good may come of it or double effect?</li>
<li></li>
</ul>
<p>Are generational curses real, and does the Bible support the idea that sins can pass down through families? In this episode of <em data-start="264" data-end="287" data-is-only-node="">Catholic Answers Live</em>, Jimmy Akin tackles a wide range of fascinating questions from listeners. He explains the Church’s teaching on generational curses, whether Christians can eat food offered to other gods, and when it may be morally permissible to disobey unjust laws. Jimmy also explores deeper philosophical and theological questions, including how we can experience happiness in Heaven before the resurrection of the body, whether a pope emeritus remains a cardinal, and whether delaying confession can itself become sinful. A thoughtful and wide-ranging discussion covering moral theology, Church authority, and practical Catholic living.</p>
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<p>Invite our apologists to speak at your parish! Visit <a href="https://www.catholic.com/speakers">Catholicanswersspeakers.com</a></p>
<p><strong>Questions Covered:</strong></p>
<ul>
<li>00:55 – Is there such a thing as generational curses?</li>
<li>13:21 – Could you please summarize the church’s teaching on food offered to other gods? Is it a sin to eat it if it’s offered to me or is it fine if I just think of it as something to eat?</li>
<li>20:09 – When does illegally acquired power become legal? For example, when can a Chinese person stop obeying the authorities in Taiwan, and henceforth honor the ruling Communists?</li>
<li> 23:27 – Yes, can you please explain when, if ever, it is okay to disobey laws and rules? Also, while vigilantism is against Catholic teaching, when, if ever, is it appropriate to try to restore justice as an ordinary citizen if corruption has gone so far? Sorry, I know this is very broad but I appreciate any thoughts. Thank you so much. God bless you always, Jimmy.</li>
<li>34:13 – How can we be happy in Heaven before the general resurrection if happiness is dependent on chemicals in our brains?</li>
<li>44:34 – Is a pope emeritus still a cardinal, or would the next pope need to create his predecessor as a cardinal again so that he could vote in a conclave again?</li>
<li> 49:00 – Is it an additional sin to delay confession if you know you need to go? Someone on X argued Aquinas says delaying confession is not a sin. I argued that he says it’s impractical to go “immediately,” but it can still be a sin depending on your access to a priest and why you delay.</li>
</ul>
<p>“Is ecumenism compromising doctrine?” This question leads to a discussion on the goals of ecumenism and whether it involves compromising with Protestant beliefs. Other topics include the Church’s relationship with modern culture, the historical and biblical basis for apostolic authority, and the theological implications of God’s actions in the stories of David and Bathsheba.</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>01:41 – What is the goal of Ecumenism? Is it us compromising on doctrine with Protestants?</li>
<li>11:00 – Do you think the Church should change with modern culture or stand apart from it?</li>
<li>17:40 – How can we demonstrate historically and biblically that the apostles passed on their authority to bishops?</li>
<li>29:04 – Why did God create man alone when he knew he would create woman after?</li>
<li>40:53 – Why did God take out his anger on David and Bathsheba’s first baby?</li>
<li>49:15 – Why does freemasonry have an appeal that Catholicism doesn’t have, and why is Catholicism better?</li>
</ul>
<p>“How can couples avoid bitterness?” Respect and patience are essential in nurturing relationships. In this episode, Rose Sweet shares her personal journey and offers insights on seeking understanding, addressing disrespect, and maintaining perspective. She also discusses coping strategies through art and the challenges of navigating annulment processes within marriage.</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>29:01 – Through my marital difficulties I coped with it through doing art.</li>
<li>33:03 – After going through all of that, how did you pick up the pieces and move on after your husband passed?</li>
<li>35:21 – I’m civilly married to my wife. We’re both Catholic. She and her first husband have tried to go through the annulment process but one of the witnesses died. Another time another witness would not cooperate. We’d like to try again but a little reluctant given the previous difficulties. Do you have any advice? We do not receive Communion because my wife’s first marriage is not annulled.</li>
<li>43:24 – I can relate to your story and had a similar experience. I had to learn to detach with love when he went from alcohol to crack.</li>
<li>48:02 – I’m having a problem with patience with my spouse. I’m married to a schismatic. I don’t think I’d call myself bitter, but I’m getting tired of it. I’m a former schismatic myself.</li>
<li>50:49 – To get through our difficulties I increased my adoration time.</li>
</ul>
