#11733 Ask Me Anything - Tim Staples

Questions Covered: 09:42 – I have an adult family member who is developing mental health issues and I’m noticing a lot of overlap with addiction and compulsion. How would CIR be able to help? 14:43 – I have an addiction to hoarding and still struggle. What advice do you have for me? 19:06 – How do I find a good Catholic sponsor? 24:17 – I’ve been addicted to heroin for many years and have been praying for Jesus to take this addiction away. Have you heard of any stories where people are healed from it? 32:27 – Through God, Mass and prayer I am 11 months sober from pornography. 41:45 – How does mental health and recovery relate to mortal sin? How much is in and out of our control? 46:09 – Do you have resources for families of adult children who struggle from addiction? 51:05 – Can someone have a drink and still say that they have been sober for 5 years? …

Questions Covered: 04:45 – How could one in the Church still believe in the claim of authority in light of all the controversy? 15:13 – My co-worker says he is spiritual and believes in the pineal gland and its supernatural effect. Do you know anything about this? 18:29 – How should Catholics navigate modern dating? 25:12 – Would you be willing to do a dialogue with Gavin Ortlund especially after all your videos? 36:55 – Was Paul an apostle? 43:12 – How do we reconcile No Salvation outside the Church and those ignorant of Christ possibly having salvation? 49:52 – My protestant admits the Early Church was Catholic but how do I convince her of apostolic succession and why it still matters today? …

Questions Covered: 01:48 – How can I trust that the whole of tradition is divine revelation rather than a false doctrine of human beings? 12:00 – What about people who feel so close to God, what about their authority? 18:51 – What’s the relationship between James and Peter and the authority of the two? 24:20 – If I didn’t go to Church on Sunday and wanted to watch football, then if I die, would I go to hell? 33:57 – I’m a catechist. What are the dogmas of the Church? Is there a definitive list? 40:07 – I don’t know what kind of Christian I am. Can you help me to clarify where I stand? 47:15 – In Matthew Jesus rebukes the Pharisees and tells his people to listen to them. Why did you use that story as evidence to follow authority? 52:42 – What would be the main way to bring a friend to Catholicism who is interested in Orthodoxy? …

Questions Covered: 05:08 – Is it accurate to put scripture and tradition in the same level of authority? 08:49 – Why should we believe the magisterium over a Protestant pastor? 20:11 – What gives priests and bishops authority to consecrate the Eucharist? 29:31 – How does a Catholic reconcile 1 John 2:27 and the authority of the magisterium? 36:40 – What’s the difference between big “T” traditions and small “t” traditions? 43:52 – How do we show that from authority that apostasy is not the only mortal sin but also includes the breaking of the 10 commandments? 51:28 – Why does the Church give authority to the Protoevangelium of James? …

Questions Covered: 02:56 – If a person goes missing and is presumed dead. What would happen if the spouse remarried? 10:10 – I need direction on presidential candidates on the issues of abortion and immigration. What’s your advice? 10:10 – I need direction on presidential candidates on the issues of abortion and immigration. What’s your advice? 19:30 – Could you explain the canonical delict of heresy and notoriety in fact? 28:39 – I bought a rosary at the Vatican gift shop but the center metal had a skull and crossbones instead of a Marian medal. What should I make of this? 32:26 – Can you clarify on Mary remaining a virgin and the meaning of until in the phrase, she remained a virgin until… 37:36 – Can you explain how Pope Benedict can potentially agree with Sola Fide? 44:06 – At mass, a priest encouraged everyone to receive communion and to approach confession afterwards if they needed. Is this okay to do? 46:30 – I was denied absolution, but then another priest gave it to me. Am I absolved? 48:47 – Can we still hold to traditional understanding purgatory? 51:39 – Jesus mentions he is one with the father and mentions all he knows is through the father but claims to not know the end times. Why is that? …

Questions Covered: 25:15 – Is the song, Mary Did You Know, biblically accurate? 35:25 – What does it mean to be consecrated to Mary? How do you do it and why is it important? 43:44 – what are the Greek words when talking about Mary having other children? 48:52 – Are we human race a type of Mary that’s looking for Jesus?   …

Questions Covered:  00:52 – The recent ruling regarding Medjugorje  05:09 – Why isn’t the Bible written in such a way that there isn’t wiggle room on moral topics?   13:07 – Can you explain the difference of the Greek and Aramaic word for “my Church” in Matthew 16:18?   19:42 – How can I respond to the Pope’s comments in Singapore that all religions lead to God?  23:49 – How can I effectively Catechize my daughters without over complicating the faith?  30:26 – How late can you be to a Sunday Mass for it to be considered valid attendance?   33:55 – Do we get to meet our Guardian Angels in heaven?   35:42 – Why does a marriage need to be consummate in the Catholic church?  40:13 – How do we reconcile our free will with God’s omniscience?  43:14 – If Jesus and Mary’s bodies are in heaven, would other symbiotic organisms be with them?  49:40 – Can divorced Catholics be allowed to receive Holy Communion?  …

Questions Covered:  05:11 – Is it possible to do a group Reconciliation or is the individual way the best practice?  13:36 – Was the early Eucharist psychedelic?   18:25 – How can we verify the claims of the Papacy without falling on a dogmatic assertion?  29:03 – The Catholic Church killed William Tyndale for translating the Bible into English because they didn’t want anyone to have it.   31:39 – What is the difference between social and classical Trinitarianism?   34:03 – What can laity do for wayward souls?   45:58 – Can girls be altar servers?  49:41 – Can Saul pursuing David be viewed as a prefiguration to Saul, in the New Testament, persecuting Christians?   51:20 – Do you think action figures can be considered the modern-day idols referenced in Revelations 9:20?   …

Questions Covered: 02:37 – If God doesn’t hold people accountable for their ignorance, why should we evangelize?  08:19 – My husband had his first marriage annulled before marrying me. His father has told me that I’m “Carrying his [my husband’s] cross [first marriage].” Is he right?  17:25 – What is the message of Our Lady of La Salette?  20:24 – What is the standing of the gospel of the birth of Mary in the Catholic Church? Can it be read devotionally?  23:46 – Is grace better defined as “an empowering of our free will to do that which we think is good” rather than “obliging us to do good?”  32:00 – How is the next pope going to be chosen?  41:33 – Would my wife and I occupy the same place in heaven since we were so close in this life?  48:23 – How do you reconcile Jesus’ commands to love our enemies and turn the other cheek with him saying he came not to bring peace but division?  52:30 – What’s the difference Roman and Palmerian Catholics?  …

Questions Covered: 03:17 – Did the council of Jamnia exist? And if so, what came out of it?  07:45 – A Protestant told me we break the sabbath commandment in Exodus because we worship on Sunday instead of Saturday. How do I respond to that?  28:36 – Since Padre Pio’s stigmata allegedly disappeared as he died, could someone use that to argue that the saints’ intercessory abilities are diminished after they die?  34:47 – If someone commits a mortal sin, repents, but hasn’t gone to confession yet, what is the current state of their soul?  44:38 – What did Jesus mean by “Let the dead bury their dead”?  51:57 – Why are relics of the saints allowed to be distributed? …