Podcasts · Religion & Spirituality

Catholic Answers Focus

Catholic Answers

300 episodes

Catholic Answers Focus, the world's premier podcast on Catholic apologetics, helps you explain and defend the Catholic Faith. If you want to take a deep dive into the reasons behind Church teaching, Catholic Answers Focus is for you.

Episodes page 1 of 6

  1. #536 You Gotta Use Words - Thomas Heyne, MD, M.St

    As a student at Oxford and an instructor at Harvard, he tried living by the maxim, “Preach always, and when necessary, use words.” It didn’t work. Then he started talking about Jesus, and people responded. Some by…

  2. #535 Suffering 101 - Mark Giszczak

    The fact of suffering poses real intellectual challenges to the Christian message. So how do we share the gospel of a loving God, when suffering seems to reflect so poorly on him? Mark Giszcack, author of Suffering:…

  3. #534 Good News: God Is Father - Fr. Mark-Mary Ames CFR

    Father Mark Mary Ames joins us for a conversation about the centrality of God’s Fatherhood to the Christian message. The author of The Father: 30 Meditations to Draw You Into the Heart of God, offers insights for…

  4. #533 Is Belief in the Eucharist Absurd? - Karlo Broussard

    Karlo Broussard joins us to discuss the Catholic understanding of the Eucharist, specifically if believing that Jesus is fully present is absurd. Cy Kellett: Hello and welcome to Focus, the Catholic answers podcast…

  5. #532 The Accurate Date of the Crucifixion - Jimmy Akin

    A topic that tends to come around during Holy Week is the accuracy of the crucifixion, including when it occurred. In this episode, Cy and Catholic Answers Senior Apologist, Jimmy Akin, discuss the question of when…

  6. #531 A Deep Dive into the Real Presence of the Eucharist - Karlo Broussard

    The conversation over the real presence has been around for some time. Bible verses get thrown around but when we look at the full context of scripture, the words of Jesus come fully alive with its full glory. Catholic…

  7. #530 Keeping Cool in Apologetics Conversations - Trent Horn

    It can be tempting to bring the heat when defending Christ and his Church against infuriating arguments (and obnoxious personalities). Our guest, Trent Horn, has developed a reputation for turning down the heat while…

  8. #529 Apologetics for Regular People - Eric Tafoya

    Erik Tafoya’s story of imprisonment and redemption is a powerful demonstration of God’s mercy. Now Tafoya is on a mission to bring apologetics to everyday folks. He shares his story and his techniques for explaining…

  9. #528 Can Catholics Fix Feminism? - Carrie Gress

    Carrie Gress explores the intricate relationship between feminism and Catholicism. From tracing feminism’s historical roots to discussing its impact on modern society, she offers an insightful perspective on how the…

  10. #527 What Is My Body For? - Stephanie Gray Connors

    A major theme of modern morals is the slogan, “My body, my choice.” But is my body just a thing for me to use as I please, or does it have a more glorious purpose? Stephanie Gray Connors joins us for a discussion of…

  11. #526 Wars and Rumors of Wars - Joseph Capizzi, Ph.D.

    Given the hyper- destructive nature of modern warfare, and the frequency of modern military engagements, can a Christian still accept the Just War thinking of earlier ages? Would Jesus? We asked theologian Joseph…

  12. #525 The Best Argument for God - Pat Flynn

    In his engaging new book, The Best Argument for God, Pat Flynn gives … wait for it … the best argument for God. We asked him to share it with us. We also asked him for suggestions on becoming proficient in defending…

  13. #524 Apologetics in a Digitized Age - Kyle Washut

    Kyle Washut, president of Wyoming Catholic College, joins us to discuss the difficulties of evangelization and apologetics in the plugged-in era. He explains why, if you want to come to WCC, you won’t need to bring…

  14. #523 Straight to Heaven? - Karlo Broussard

    Some Christians are adamant that those who confess Jesus as Lord go directly to Heaven when they die. But is this teaching biblical? Karlo Broussard joins us for a discussion of what Christians can really hope for at…

  15. #522 Love in Action: Navigating Controversies with Accompaniment - Tom Nash

    Tom Nash explores the controversy surrounding the term “accompaniment” and delves into its true meaning, emphasizing the importance of genuine love, humility, and support in helping others grow in their faith and…

  16. #521 Are Christians Consistent on Their Beliefs on Sexuality? - Karlo Broussard

    Karlo joins Cy to discuss whether the Church is consistent on the teaching of sexual morality. Cy Kellett: Hello and welcome to Focus, the Catholic Answers Podcast for living, understanding and defending your Catholic…

  17. #520 Looking for Mary, Finding the Bible - Fr. John Waiss

    Catholics and Protestants often use biblical proof texts as they argue about the role of Mary in salvation. But this can form bad Bible reading habits, says Father John Waiss, author of Bible Mary: The Mother of Jesus…

  18. #519 Christmas Day with President Chris Check - Christopher Check

    A special Christmas Day episode of Focus with Catholic Answers President Christopher Check. ...

  19. #518 Free Speech, Genocide, and Liberalism’s Failure - Chad Pecknold

    University presidents are under fire for allowing genocidal and anti-Semitic speech on their campuses. But what can they do? Theologian Chad Pecknold from Catholic University of America joins us for a discussion of the…

  20. #517 Is the Virgin Birth Copied from Pagan Mythology? - Trent Horn

    As Christmas draws near, Trent sits down with Cy Kellett to discuss the unique elements of the Incarnation and how to answer arguments that claim it is a myth borrowed from paganism. Cy Kellett: Hello and welcome to…

  21. #516 Understanding Indulgences in the Catholic Faith - Joe Heschmeyer

    Joe Heschmeyer, author of The Eucharist is Really Jesus, explores the misunderstood topic of indulgences. He explains the historical context and biblical perspectives on indulgences, addressing misconceptions and…

  22. #515 Is the Pope Just The First among Equals? - Michael Lofton

    Michael Lofton, author of Answering Orthodoxy, joins us for a conversation about the first millennium of Christianity. Is it true that the pope was once considered just the first among equals, or was there always…

  23. #514 The Catholic Solution to Racism - Deacon Harold Burke-Sivers

    In his new book, Building a Civilization of Love: A Catholic Response to Racism, Deacon Harold Burke-Sivers is boldly honest about the Catholic Church and racism in the United States. But he is also hopeful because he…

  24. #513 What Christians Get Wrong About Original Sin - Joe Heschmeyer

    Joe Heschmeyer delves into the Catholic doctrine of original sin, responding to a Reddit user’s query about its compatibility with the innate goodness of humanity. He discusses the impact of original sin on…

  25. #512 Unmasking Moral Shame Culture - Karlo Broussard

    Karlo Broussard joins us to talk about his new book, The New Relativism: Unmasking the Philosophy of Today’s Woke Moralists. We discuss issues related to moral shaming and accusations of being judgmental, hateful, and…

  26. #511 Consumerism and the Christian Faith - Andrew Petiprin

    Whatever the world might say, Christian moral teaching is about more than sex. Andrew Petiprin joins us for a conversation about the Christian perspective on money, particularly in a consumerist culture. How is a…

  27. #510 The Church Fathers Against Protestant Theologies - Joshua Charles

    Joshua Charles, from the “Becoming Catholic” blog, describes his discovery that when the Church Fathers talked about heresy, the things they described sounded remarkably similar to his own Protestant beliefs. Cy…

  28. #509 Surviving Your First Year as a Catholic - Keith Nester

    Cy Kellett welcomes Keith Nester, a former Protestant pastor who converted to Catholicism. They discuss the challenges faced by converts and how to help them navigate their first year in the Catholic Church. Keith also…

  29. #508 Is Christianity Good for the World? - R. Jared Staudt

    Scholar Jared Staudt joins us for a conversation about the social value of Christianity. Does it do any good for anyone? Does it have a good record as a movement? Cy Kellett: Hello and welcome to Focus, the Catholic…

  30. #507 Understanding Church Councils - Paul Senz

    Church councils have shaped and formed the Faith for every living Christian, whether Catholic, Orthodox, or Protestant. So what is the basis for the councils, and what do we make of their teaching. We get answers from…

  31. #506 (Bonus) “The Exorcist” 50 Years Later - Tom Nash

    With the 50-year anniversary of the original film, The Exorcist, and the upcoming release of a sequel, we figured this would be a great time to sit down and talk to contributing apologist Tom Nash to discuss the film…

  32. #505 Questions Protestants Can’t Answer - John Martignoni

    Protestantism has some explaining to do about its own traditions. Did the new theologies of the reformers actually make sense? Do they make sense today? John Martignoni joins us. Cy Kellett: Hello and welcome to…

  33. #504 Why Catholics Aren’t Wrong about John 6 - Karlo Broussard

    If Catholics are right about John 6, every Christian is under divine command to celebrate the Eucharist. So is the Catholic Church right? Karlo Broussard joins us to explain why Catholics aren’t wrong. Cy Kellett:…

  34. #503 The Gospel of Thomas - Tim Staples

    What is the Gospel of Thomas? Is there just one such gospel? What can it teach us about Jesus? Tim Staples joins us. Cy Kellett: Hello and welcome to Focus, the Catholic Answers Podcast for living understanding and…

  35. #502 The Catholic Church and Slavery - Paul Kengor

    Everywhere you will find misconceptions about the Church’s role in slavery. Even most Catholics do not know the truth about what the Church did, and did not do, regarding slavery. Best-selling author Paul Kengor joins…

  36. #501 Sex Positivity - Angela Franks

    Are you “sex positive”? If not, get ready to be called a closed-minded bigot. Theologian Angela Franks, from St. John’s Seminary in Boston, gives us a Catholic critique of the “sex positivity” movement. Cy Kellett:…

  37. #500 Why Catholics Reject Sola Scriptura - Casey Chalk

    The idea that Scripture is the sole rule of faith is central to the thinking of man Protestants, who see Tradition as a watering down of scriptural purity. But Catholics have good reason to reject this view. Author…

  38. #499 Why Doctrine Matters - Tim Staples

    Christians often think that Christianity is purer–more Christlike–when it is less doctrinal. Tim Staples explains the dangers of this grave error. Cy Kellett: Hello and welcome to Focus, the Catholic Answers Podcast…

  39. #498 What Christians Get Wrong About the Resurrection of the Body - Joe Heschmeyer

    What does it mean that Jesus “rose from the dead?” Did his body literally come back to life? What kind of life? Joe Heschmeyer discusses common errors about the Resurrection, and the beautiful truths we often miss. Cy…

  40. #497 (Encore) Was Dropping the Atom Bomb Moral? - Christopher Check

    With “Oppenheimer” filling up the cinemas, and today being the anniversary of the bombing of Hiroshima, we take a look back at an earlier episode we produced about the morality of dropping the atom bomb. Can a Catholic…

  41. #496 Major Controversies in First Century Christianity - Jimmy Akin

    The first century of Christianity was often a raucous argument. Essential truths were constantly under threat, and confusion was common. Jimmy Akin joins us to discuss what the great arguments of the first century were…

  42. #495 Confession of a Catholic Worker - Larry Chapp

    Larry Chapp has some confessions to make, and some powerful insights to share with a Church in crisis. He joins us for a conversation about his new book, “Confession of a Catholic Worker: Our Current Moment of…

  43. #494 When did the Early Church Know that Jesus Is God? - Jimmy Akin

    The earliest Church did not think Jesus was God, says one modern theory. Rather, he was deified over time by people who loved his message. Jimmy Akin examines this theory, and finds precious little evidence for it in…

  44. #493 Discussing Euthanasia - Monica Doumit

    Discussing euthanasia with Monica Doumit. Cy Kellett: Hello and welcome to Focus, the Catholic Answers Podcast for living, understanding, and defending your Catholic faith. I’m Cy Kellett, your host, and we’ll talk a…

  45. #492 Jesus, Love, and the Threat of Hell - Karlo Broussard

    “Jesus loves you, and if you don’t have faith in him, he’ll send you to hell.” In one form or another this reduction ad absurdum is used against Christians again and again. It is not just silliness, however. The…

  46. #491 The Ethical Dilemma of Transhumanism - Fr. Tad Pacholczyk

    Having failed at humanism, secular modernity now moves on to trans-humanism. Father Tad Pacholczyk, director of Education for the National Catholic Bioethics Center explains transhumanism’s ethical problems. Cy…

  47. #490 Ethical Options for Infertility - Kimberly Henkel

    What are the options, and where is the hope, for Catholic couples who encounter infertility? Ann Koshute and Kimberly Henkel, founders of Springs in the Desert, a ministry to those struggling with infertility, join us…

  48. #489 The Power of Sacramental Marriage - Dan Burke

    The Sacrament of Marriage is filled with power for growth toward intimacy with God. Dan and Stephanie Burke, from the Avila Institute, explain how they are helping couples access that power and thrive. Cy Kellett:…

  49. #488 Making Sense of the Catechism - Jeff Cavins

    Jeff Cavins and Father Mike Schmitz are now doing for the catechism what they did for the Bible. Cavins joins us to explain the value of the catechism in sharing the Faith. Cy Kellett: Hello and welcome to Focus, the…

  50. #487 Talking to Kids About Gender and Identity - Ana Samuel

    In such a confusing world where nothing seems to make sense anymore, one question comes to mind: how do we discuss anything with our kids when they keep getting conflicting answers? Ana Samuels joins us to discuss…

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