“Can you explain papal authority?” This question opens a discussion on the complexities of Church leadership, including the reconciliation of Vatican I and the Council of Constance. Other topics include the practice of praying for the dead and the perspectives of Orthodox believers on Roman primacy, highlighting the diverse theological inquiries that arise in Catholic apologetics.

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Questions Covered:

• 02:07 – I am no longer Catholic but I don’t really know why it’s taking me long to desire to come back.
• 20:15 – Even if I were to accept 2 Macc. We could not accept the practice of praying for the dead because it was descriptive, not prescriptive.
• 23:59 – I’m Orthodox. In the 7th Ecumenical Council it talks about the agreement with the patriarchs. I do see a Roman primacy but it feels like there’s something missing where Rome didn’t do things with the agreement of the other patriarchs.
• 43:05 – How do you reconcile the contradiction on papal authority in Vatican 1 and Council of Constance?
• 50:25 – A couple was struck down in Acts of the Apostles after holding back. That feels like it contradicts the message of Jesus and the gospel. Can you explain?

“Is Receiving Ashes Against Scripture? This question opens a discussion on the intersection of faith and politics, addressing concerns about the implications of such support. Other topics include the challenge of serving both God and money, and the complexities of identity in faith, such as navigating historical claims about the papacy and exploring the differences between Catholicism and Orthodoxy.

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Questions Covered:

• 03:12 – Reading not doing public penance, but then we get big ashes on our heads.
• 09:23 – Jesus said you can’t serve God and money. Is it contrary to being a christian for a Church to support a political party or movement?
• 18:38 – Isn’t it condescending to ask the question, why aren’t you Catholic? You’re asking, why aren’t you one of us? Wouldn’t it be better to ask who raised you to be the faith you are?
• 40:56 – 1689 London Baptist confession of faith claims the pope is the Anti-Christ, how do I navigate that as a non-Catholic?
• 51:52 – I’m looking into Catholicism and Orthodoxy. What’s the Catholic response to the claim that Rome used to be orthodox before the great schism?

“Can non-Catholics receive ashes?” This question opens a discussion on the significance of rituals in the Catholic faith. Other topics include the differences between Catholic Mass and Protestant services, the removal of certain feast days from the calendar, and the meaning behind the priest adding a drop of water to the wine.

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Questions Covered:

• 01:30 – Can Non-Catholics receive ashes?
• 06:09 – I’m in OCIA. How do I sum up the differences between a Catholic mass and a protestant service and why it’s important?
• 12:44 – In the new calendar we removed feast days of saints. Why did that happen and did it undermine papal authority?
• 16:58 – How can the bread turn into the body and the wine turn into the blood?
• 21:50 – Iowa Catholic Radio. Why does the priest add a drop of water into the wine?
• 28:47 – Are the SSPX in communion with Rome? What do you say to someone who goes to those masses?
• 34:28 – Can you emphasize why our Catholic rituals have meaning?
• 43:49 – Why does the eucharist have to be celebrated at every mass if it’s only required once a year?
• 51:14 – My priest changes words during the mass. What are your thoughts on that?

“Why is Mary our Mother?” This question opens a discussion on the significance of Mary in Catholicism, touching on her role as a mediator and the importance of the rosary. Other topics include the justification of the saints in Scripture and the nature of Marian apparitions, providing a comprehensive look at these essential aspects of faith.

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Questions Covered:

• 04:30 – What Bible passage do you like as far as justifying the Catholic view of the saints?
• 09:08 – I want to pray the rosary but I struggle with the amount of prayers meditating on Mary rather than Jesus. Can you help me get over this hurdle?
• 24:08 – Why is the rosary so repetitive?
• 34:31 – How does the Church determine whether a Marian apparition is authentic?
• 40:35 – The Orthodox reject the immaculate conception but believes that Mary had her sin removed at some point in her life. Why isn’t that the Catholic position?
• 46:13 – Why is it imperative for Mary to have remained a virgin? Does it have anything to do with Mary being the Ark of the covenant?
• 49:42 – The decades of the rosary meditate on the life of Jesus. What are your thoughts on that?

“Did God will Adam and Eve to sin?” This question opens a discussion that touches on the necessity of the cross and whether God could have chosen another means for salvation. Other topics include the validity of baptism when the recipient lacks full desire, and the Church’s stance on karma, providing a rich exploration of faith and doctrine.

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Questions Covered:

• 02:06 – Did God will Adam and Eve to sin?
• 14:06 – Regarding the necessity of the cross. I’m bothered by the Catholic idea that God could have used something else other than the cross.
• 20:18 – For doctrine to change, what mechanically needs to change as a prerequisite?
• 28:59 – What is the validity of the baptism of a person who does not fully desire it or desires it for the wrong reasons?
• 34:16 – How does the Church view karma and why does she reject it?
• 44:40 – I accept the real presence, but I have a hard time adoring the host in adoration?
• 51:41 – I attended a sede-vacantist church and I admired their unity. Our Catholic churches seem so divided. Will we admit that the experiment of Vatican II failed?

“Does the Church make Scripture pointless?” This question addresses concerns some Protestants have regarding the Church’s role as the infallible interpreter of Scripture and its implications for the authority of the Bible. Other topics include the mechanics of transubstantiation, the Catholic understanding of being born again, and the relationship between faith and works.

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Questions Covered:

• 04:49 – Some Protestants have a problem with the belief that the Church (identified in the magisterium) is the infallible interpreter of Scripture. They argue that if the Church is infallible in this task, then Scripture has no inherent authority.
• 20:00 – How does transubstantiation work?
• 29:01 – How do Catholics understand the born-again discourse?
• 32:50 – Can you clarify why you believe in Faith plus works?
• 43:50 – Why has the Church changed so much in the last 80 years?
• 49:16 – Why does the Church exclusively associate the Petrine office with Rome?

“Could the Pope Crown a New Holy Roman Emperor Today?” While the papal authority in this regard has evolved, the discussion touches on the historical significance of such ceremonies. Other intriguing questions include whether zombies could get married and what argument one might use to convince a medieval king of time travel. Additionally, the conversation explores the limits of a priest’s ability to bless water.

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Questions Covered:

• 01:20 – Could zombies get married?
• 12:04 – What person does Jimmy consider a healer
• 21:45 – Does the Pope still hypothetically have the power to crown a Holy Roman Emperor?
• 28:47 – If you were cast back in time, let’s say to medieval Europe. You are captured upon the moment that you materialized in the past and were brought before the King immediately. You have one argument that you can present to the King to prove that you are a time traveler (and not say a witch). What argument could you use to convince the king that you time travelled? If you fail at the argument you’re burned at the stake. Those are high stakes!!
• 37:12 – Is there any evidence that ancient humans may have reached a level of technological advancement similar to, or even higher than, ours, and that this knowledge was somehow lost after the fall or after the great flood?
• 51:20 – How much water can a Priest bless in one time? Presumably they cannot bless the whole ocean so how far is their reach in this regard?

“Could vampires be creatures of God?” This question opens a fascinating discussion about the nature of evil and creation, particularly in light of the belief that vampires, as blood-consuming beings, oppose Christ. Other intriguing topics include the theological implications of aliens being viewed as demons and whether fictional narratives can align with real-life moral principles.

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Questions Covered:

• 03:52 – How do we grapple with the Eastern Orthodox theology that aliens would be considered demons? I think the idea is largely from Fr Seraphim Rose (although he’s quite contentious in orthodox circles as I have many friends who dislike him a lot, and others who consider him better than basically every saint)
• 13:37 – Hello, thank you for taking the time to read my email. I watched your video “Could You Marry An Alien,” and I found it to be quite comprehensive in answering that question. But, now I have a question on whether the exact same principles for real life need to be followed in a fictional story. I have been reading a serialized science fiction story by an Anglican author. In the story, a relationship starts to develop between a human male and a humanoid female alien. I have talked with the author about his plans for the story, and while most of the criteria have been met (being with a rational soul, will be baptized later in the story) the author decided to treat the ability to have children the same as an infertile human couple. Is this an okay approach for a fictional story, or should real-life principles be applied? He has also discussed another potential solution, potentially objectionable idea. Having sci-fi technology be capable of allowing inter-species couples to reproduce. Is this a viable solution, provided that it works like acceptable fertility treatments (instead of IVF, cloning, or any other unnatural intrusion) or is this also bad? Can the same principles be applied to humanoid fantasy creatures as to aliens?
• 22:54 – I understand vampires to be the antithesis of Christ, consuming blood to give themselves life whereas Christ shed His blood to give us life, and this makes vampires evil. If they were real, how could they be evil since they would be creations of God? It seems a paradox to me that they would be naturally evil (the evil act of consuming blood is in their nature) while being a creature of God.
• 35:18 – I enjoy listening to much of your content! I am wondering: Does Jesus genetically resemble God in genotype and/or phenotype? How about Mary? Thank you for considering answering my question!
• 42:51 – Is it ok for one to hold the view that the Tree of Life from Kabbalah is a valid conception of God without straying from the doctrinal belief in the Trinity? Like, if God is so beyond the realm of human comprehension (in the sense of the story of the blind men and the elephant, where we as mortals don’t possess the capacity to conceptualize God in His totality), is it valid to explore other conceptions of the role God plays in the world without straying into heretical territory so long as you still hold onto the traditional categorization of the Trinity as well?
• 50:58 – If there were no Fall, would philosophy exist?