Catholic Answers Live

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#12733 How Could Mary Ascend to Heaven? Indulgences and the Saints - Karlo Broussard May 26, 2026

Show notes

“How Could Mary ascend to heaven?” This question leads to a discussion about the implications of Jesus’ words in John 3:13 regarding who has ascended to heaven. The conversation also touches on the scriptural basis for the communion of saints, the Church’s stance on marriage for the infertile, and the complexities of indulgences.

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Questions Covered:

03:00 – Mary’s bodily assumption doesn’t make sense because Jesus says in John 3:13, “No one has ascended up to heaven, but he who descended from heaven, the Son of Man.” If no man has ascended into heaven, wouldn’t that include the Blessed Virgin Mary?
07:23 – Where do we find the communion of saints in scripture?
14:22 – Is it true that a person who is infertile cannot get married in the Catholic Church?
19:09 – I cannot wrap my mind around indulgences.
31:17 – How do I defend Jesus and the accusations that he was a fraud?
46:11 – Why do we profess in the Nicene Creed that the power of the Holy Spirit made Jesus incarnate not the power of the Son?
51:36 – Are we called to suffer or do we ask the saints to relieve our suffering?

#12732 Every Mortal Sin Explained - Tom Nash May 26, 2026

Show notes

Questions Covered:

05:13 – Sexual Sins
08:56 – Fornication
16:20 – Adultery
18:30 – Pornography
21:54 – Masturbation
29:52 – Homosexual Acts and Contraception
33:00 – Sins of the Heart

#12731 Every Mortal Sin Explained - Tom Nash May 25, 2026

Show notes

Questions Covered:

06:05 – What is a mortal sin?
07:08 – The three components of mortal sins
20:33 – Sins Against God
21:00 – Idolatry
23:42 – Blasphemy
29:32 – Missing Mass
32:51 – Occult practices
37:42 – Sins Against Others
39:19 – Murder/War
42:00 – Gossip
50:41 – Lying/Slander

#12730 AMA: Catholicism - Joe Heschmeyer May 23, 2026

Show notes

Questions Covered:

02:20 – How culpable are people of other religions when it comes to not following Jesus?
09:42 – How did the Church select the popes before conclaves? When did it fall on the shoulders of the college of cardinals?
13:50 – Why do we have the books in the bible that we do? Why did they remove those books in the reformation?
21:57 – Which Church Father writings about Mary would you recommend for a Protestant?
23:47 – Why do Catholics believe that both species contain the body, blood, soul and divinity if the consecration separates them?
29:00 – If the Jews couldn’t kill Jesus, forcing them to send Jesus to be crucified, then why did they stone people?
41:07 – How is it that the Orthodox Church is considered in schism, but the Anglican Church is not? Seems like they have similar issues with unity with the Catholic Church.
48:42 – Do we know when St. Joseph died? Is there anything in the bible?
49:23 – On what level of reality does the eucharist change?
50:32 – What do you think are the weirdest things that Jesus taught?

#12729 AMA: Catholicism - Joe Heschmeyer May 22, 2026

Show notes

Questions Covered:

4:00 – If the early church was Catholic, then why doesn’t it look anything like the Catholic Church of today?
11:32 – Can Catholics use the title Christotokos alongside theotokos?
17:31 – Question from Non Catholic Family-Member: How does Mary intercede for us if she’s not alive?
23:43 – If the Eucharist is truly Jesus, body and soul, why isn’t it open to everyone, and why are priests allowed to determine who receives it? How do I answer?
31:03 – What is the best argument for Catholicism to a Protestant who accepts the Nicene creed?
36:59 – If someone who received the gospel of Jesus and believed, should the Church immediately baptize him since we have a similar example in the Ethiopian eunuch?
44:11 – What are the theological differences between the Catholics and the Orthodox?
49:33 – Is there a list of infallible teachings that has been published?

#12728 What Is the Catholic Church? Homosexuality in Families - Tim Staples May 22, 2026

Show notes

“What is the Catholic Church?” This question opens a discussion about the Church’s identity and mission, while also addressing how to navigate family dynamics when dealing with issues like homosexuality. Additional topics include the challenges of engaging with an evangelical perspective on the Catholic Church and fostering relationships with family members who hold anti-Catholic views.

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Questions Covered:

06:45 – What is the Catholic Church?
13:48 – How do I deal with family who is fully immersed in homosexuality?
28:57 – I’m evangelical. The premise that the Church that Jesus founded was the Roman Catholic Church is false.
49:07 – My mom is a evangelical, former Catholic and anti-Cathoic. How do I bridge that gap and have a relationship with her?

#12727 What Makes Music Sacred? Chant Sheets and Faith in Music - Paul Rose May 21, 2026

Show notes

“What makes music sacred?” This question opens a discussion on the essence of sacred music, touching on its spiritual significance. The conversation also addresses practical concerns like where to find chant sheets for traditional Latin Mass altar serving and whether sacred music must stem from a place of faith.

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Questions Covered:

02:00 – What makes music sacred?
30:15 – I altar serve at the TLM and have a hard time chant sheets. Where do you recommend I find them?
36:35 – Would you agree that sacred music has to be a product of faith?

#12726 How Do I Explain Marys Sinlessness to My Protestant Wife? - Joe Heschmeyer May 21, 2026

Show notes

“How do I explain Mary’s sinlessness to my Protestant wife?” This question opens a discussion on the role of Mary in Catholic theology, addressing concerns from recent converts and their families. Other topics include offering comfort after a loved one’s passing, navigating doubts about Sola Scriptura, and understanding the Church’s teachings on end times and marital relations.

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Questions Covered:

06:21 – I’m a recent convert. How do I address the sinlessness of Mary to my Protestant wife?
17:41 – My non-Catholic father-in-law died suddenly. What words of comfort can I offer to my Catholic family?
24:33 – If I become convinced of certain Church teachings but still have major questions about things regarding Sola Scriptura, would it be a good thing to move towards Catholicism?
34:05 – Regarding the end time, it appears Irenaeus is premillennial and claims he gets it from St. John, but the Church teaches against it. How binding is this?
42:35 – I’m a recent convert. My wife had a procedure to save her life that required the removal of parts of her reproductive system. Is it a sin to have relations since we cannot be open to life?
47:31 – Where does Mary fit in because she’s always popping up everywhere? Why is she so prominently seen?

#12725 Did the Early Church Teach That Mary Sinned? IVF and Evil - Joe Heschmeyer May 20, 2026

Show notes

“Did the Early Church teach that Mary sinned?” This question opens a discussion on Marian doctrine, while also addressing the moral implications of investing in Christian-friendly funds versus secular ones. Other topics include reconciling John 6:35 with the Eucharist and the ethical concerns surrounding IVF, providing a comprehensive look at contemporary Catholic issues.

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Questions Covered:

02:50 – Did the Early Church teach that Mary sinned?
14:00 – Regarding the principles of cooperating with evil. Do I have a moral obligation to invest in Christian friendly funds over secular ones?
21:38 – How do I reconcile John 6:35 with the literal understanding of his body and blood?
30:37 – What makes IVF fundamentally wrong? Where does the right to be conceived through natural means come from?
50:35 – How do we respond to the Protestant claim that they also offer a sacrifice, but it’s a sacrifice of praise?

#12724 Is God Punishing Me Through Suffering? AMA: Mailbag - Jimmy Akin May 20, 2026

Show notes

Can suffering or illness in our family be a punishment from God for our sins? In this episode of Catholic Answers Live, 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.

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Questions Covered:

01:12 – Is it possible that God punishes my continuous sin through my son’s disease?
 04:19 – Can a Catholic hold to the Genesis Gap Theory? Or is it heretical?
12:41 – How can the Church evangelize to those with disabilities? What are good resources that can help me get started?
 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?
 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.
 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!
 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.
43:02 – If priests have the sacramental power to ordain, why has this actually happened so rarely in Church history?
 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.

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