In this Catholic Answers Live episode, we address the Catholic appeal to oral tradition beyond Scripture. The discussion examines historical evidence that apostolic oral traditions persisted in the early Church, explains St. Paul’s teaching in 2 Thessalonians 3:6 on holding fast to received tradition, and responds to objections from Mark 7 regarding “traditions of men.” The episode concludes by addressing the problem of a fallible authority being required to identify the infallible canon of Scripture, offering a coherent Catholic defense of Sacred Tradition and biblical authority.

Questions Covered:

• 00:30 – The Catholic’s Appeal to Oral Traditions Beyond Scripture
• 18:23 – Do we have any evidence that some oral traditions persisted?
• 29:35 – The Catholic’s Use of 2 Thess. 3:6—“stay away from brother who does not walk in accord with the tradition received”
• 44:25 – The Catholic’s Counter to Mark 7 and the “traditions of men” Argument
• 47:45 – The Catholic’s Counter to a Fallible List of Infallible Books

In this Catholic Answers Live episode, we examine the Catholic understanding of justification in light of Scripture. The discussion begins with James 2:24 and the question of being “justified by works,” followed by the Church’s rejection of works preceding initial justification. We then explain how Catholics reconcile good works with grace through cooperation, respond to Romans 3:28 and “works of the law,” and conclude with a defense of Sacred Tradition alongside Scripture. A clear, step-by-step breakdown of how faith, grace, works, and tradition fit together in Catholic teaching.

Topics Covered:

• 05:45 – We’re Justified by Works—James 2:24
• 18:01 – The Catholic Rejection of Works Preceding Initial Justification
• 30:28 – The Catholic Attempt to Reconcile Our Good Works with Grace—“We Must Cooperate with grace”
• 36:38 – The Catholic Counter to Romans 3:28—“We are Justified by Faith and Not Works of the Law”
• 49:35 – The Catholic’s Appeal to Oral Traditions Beyond Scripture

“What should we make of the hidden years of the Holy Family?” The Gospels provide limited insight into this period, prompting questions about what we can infer. Additionally, the discussion touches on the nature of Hophni and Phinehas’s sins, the relationship between baptism and circumcision, and the implications of Leviticus 12 regarding purification after childbirth.

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Questions Covered:

• 01:58 – The Gospels tell us very little about the hidden years of the Holy Family—what should we make of that, and what do we actually know about them?
• 12:00 – In today’s reading, Hophni, and Phineshs, what was the nature of their sin, different bible’s translate them differently.
• 15:20 – How does baptism replace circumcision?
• 20:48 – Leviticus 12, When woman goes to temple after giving birth to offer the sin offering for purification would that apply to her child as well?
• 24:26 – Can a priest or extraordinary minister deny someone communion during communion service?
• 33:39 – How do we clarify that Mary and Joseph’s marriage was consummated but not in the traditional sense of having intimate relations?
• 42:25 – Does Jesus have two souls, one eternal and one from his incarnation?
• 49:27 – Catholic faith teaches that believing in miracles is optional, but if we reject modern miracles would we be rejecting dogmatic miracles from the past?

“Why is the Incarnation necessary for salvation?” This question opens a discussion on the profound significance of God becoming man, touching on themes of divine presence among His people. Other topics include the implications of Deepak Chopra’s views on Jesus, the challenges of bringing a family member back to the faith, and the nuances of different traditions within the Church.

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Questions Covered:

• 03:45 – Israel was waiting for God’s salvation—for the Messiah and the restoration of all things—but in the Jewish Scriptures themselves, are there hints that God would actually come to live among His people as a man?
• 12:38 – What about Deepak Chopra’s view that Jesus was someone who achieved enlightenment?
• 14:28 – Jeremiah 8:8 Having trouble understanding?
• 18:33 – My mom fell away from the Church – how can I get her back in?
• 24:20 – He married civilly, then had church ceremony, then came to the Catholic Faith and had a Catholic wedding, he is concerned that he may have been in sin before getting married in the Catholic faith…his priest did not say anything about it.
• 34:00 – What’s the difference between. Constitutory Tradition and expository tradition?
• 39:38 – Why the Incarnation necessary for Salvation…and why didn’t God just save us from original sin without Jesus having to sacrifice for us?
• 43:24 – She is planning on attending Novus Ordo, TLM and Ukranian Byzantine Christmas vigils, can she receive communion at each one? Two will take place before midnight, and one after midnight.

“Why is Judas’s Death Different in Acts?” This episode addresses the differences in accounts of Judas’s death found in Matthew and Acts, while also delving into how a non-literal interpretation of the creation story affects the concept of original sin. Additional questions include the implications of kneeling at statues and why God sent Jesus long after Adam and Eve.

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Questions Covered:

• 03:39 – Can you clear up why Judas’s death differs in Matthew 27 and Acts?
• 05:47 – Does Revelation 22:8-9 where John bows down and worships the angel prove kneeling at a statue can be considered worship?
• 19:40 – Can you explain how if the creation story is not literal how would this impact original sin?
• 31:43 – Why did God send Jesus long after Adam and Eve not right after?
• 34:42 – Did Jesus participate in the last supper? Did he eat the bread with his disciple?
• 39:00 – How could you explain Mary’s need for a cleansing in the bible when she was without sin?
• 46:15 – Are translations considered inspired? Was this protected by the Holy Spirit?
• 51:55 – When the angel appeared to Zachariah and Mary they both seem to show disbelief. Why did only Zachariah get punished?

“Why Isn’t The Book of Enoch Canonical?” This question opens a discussion on the nature of scriptural authority, while also addressing varied topics such as the significance of Acts 27:34-36 in relation to the Mass, and whether intelligent life on other planets could receive the Sacraments. Additionally, the conversation touches on the implications of discovering ancient biblical documents and the concept of Divine Inspiration in scripture.

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Questions Covered:

• 02:35 – Should we consider the book of Enoch canonical?
• 22:51 – Can you explain if Act 27:34-36 storm of the sea, is considered the institution of the Mass.
• 32:45 – Is there any biblical direction on if another planet with intelligent life could they receive the Sacraments.
• 37:47 – Can the bible be added to if we found ancient documents? (Matthew’s Gospel – in Hebrew)
• 45:50 – How many copies might there have been of Mark’s gospel?
• 52:23 – What does the church mean by the text being Divinely Inspired? What does that entail?

“Does God love some people more?” This question opens a discussion on divine love and justice, addressing whether God favors certain individuals over others. The conversation also touches on why God created the devil, the validity of non-Catholic wedding ceremonies for baptized Catholics, and the implications of a bishop’s directive on kneeling during Holy Communion.

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Questions Covered:

• 02:00 – Does God really love some people more than others, does he hate certain people? —and if so, in what sense? Help me make sense of this
• 07:55 – Why did God make the devil?
• 15:10 – Can two baptized Catholics have a non-Catholic wedding ceremony, presided over by someone who is not a priest, inside a Catholic Church?
• 18:06 – I’m in the Charlotte diocese. The bishop just asked us not to kneel during Holy Communion. Why is the norm to stand and not to kneel?
• 30:20 – If someone is baptized and raised Catholic, but leaves the Church and become Protestant, but they still love Jesus, can they be saved?
• 42:12 – How do we know that the Mass is a continuation of what Jesus did at the Last Supper?
• 50:08 – I have a friend who gave me a Saint Benedict medal and told me it was extra powerful. Actually she gave me three of them and told me to put them around the house. This seems like superstition to me.

“Why Did the Charlotte Diocese Bishop Banning Altar Rails?” This question opens a discussion on the various practices surrounding Communion, including the history of receiving in the hand versus kneeling and the implications of obedience to bishops. Other topics include the fate of those who died before the Resurrection and the Church’s view on civil marriages.

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Questions Covered:

• 01:44 – What’s the history of receiving in the hand vs, kneeling, and why would a bishop want to promote one over the other? How Are We Allowed to receive communion? Is Obedience Owed to the bishop here?
• 13:28 – Did anyone who died before the Resurrection go to Purgatory?
• 15:55 – What does the Church think of marriages that are just done civilly? What does an invalid marriage mean?
• 20:49 – In the reading of the Genealogy of Christ, why are there only two women mentioned?
• 23:30 – Why do Catholics worship Mary and the saints by praying to them?
• 32:55 – If someone is married by the Church and divorced civilly, are they in perpetual sin until one of them dies?
• 37:30 – What is the US Bishops stance on receiving the Eucharist through intinction?
• 43:05 – I was baptized Catholic but not raised Catholic after that. My parents are atheist. But I’d like to learn about being a practicing Catholic because I am drawn toward it.
• 49:40 – How long are you supposed to pray for a loved one in Purgatory?
• 52:39 – What happens to the victims of people victimized in a satanic dark mass? Do they go to hell?