#12625 Where Does the Church Stand on Neuralink and Ethics? - Fr. Tad Pacholczyk

“Where do we see the Mass in Acts of the Apostles?” This question opens a discussion on the early Church’s practices, alongside topics like defending infant baptism against claims of its necessity, and the significance of Jesus’ addition of “mind” in Mark 12:30. The conversation also touches on the reasons behind reluctance to go to confession and the implications of the papacy’s location. Join the Catholic Answers Live Club Newsletter Invite our apologists to speak at your parish! Visit Catholicanswersspeakers.com Questions Covered: 01:20 – Where do we see the Mass in Acts of the Apostles? 09:38 – How do we defend the baptism of infants? My co-worker says you just need faith and it’s not necessary to baptize babies. 17:52 – In Mark 12:30 Jesus quotes the great shema. In Deuteronomy it says to love God with your whole heart, soul, and strength. Why does Mark add the word “mind” to that? 22:15 – Why do some people feel reluctant to go to confession? 28:39 – Is the papacy so tied to Rome that it could never be somewhere else? If Islam took over Europe could the pope be based somewhere else? 31:58 – Why isn’t the book of Maccabees in the King James Bible? I’m trying to talk about the faith with my Seventh Day Adventist family members. 41:00 – Mt 10:3 calls James son of Alpheus, and Mk 2:14-17 calls Levi the son of Alpheus. Could they be brothers? 44:17 – My grown children think we are living in a simulation. How can I counter this? 50:13 – You said the King James did not translate the deuterocan books. But I have two KJV Bibles that include the deuterocanonical books. 52:01 – I’ve been getting along with my new coworkers because they are Christian. But today Mary came up and they really attacked Catholic teaching on Mary. What can I say to them?

“How do you make a great confession?” This question is essential for anyone returning to the sacrament after a long absence. Additionally, the discussion touches on whether it’s acceptable to work for a divorced employer and explores the concept of priests acting in persona Christi, along with insights into the Synagogue of Satan mentioned in Revelation. Join the Catholic Answers Live Club Newsletter Invite our apologists to speak at your parish! Visit Catholicanswersspeakers.com Questions Covered: 01:10 – How do you make a great confession if you haven’t been in a long time? 14:45 – Is it okay to work for an employer who is divorced? I told her not to get divorced because it’s against God but it’s a good job. 31:52 – Where do we get the idea of priests acting in persona christi? 43:30 – Until recently I’ve never never heard of the Synagogue of Satan. But I see it twice in the book of Revelation. What is it all about?

“What does the Bible say about Confession?” This episode addresses the significance of confession in the Catholic faith, alongside questions about whether one should confess venial sins, how priests maintain confidentiality, and the necessity of confession before receiving communion. The discussion also touches on the nature of mortal sins and the concept of perfect contrition. Join the Catholic Answers Live Club Newsletter Invite our apologists to speak at your parish! Visit Catholicanswersspeakers.com Questions Covered: 08:53 – Should I go to confession if I don’t have any mortal sins, since my venial sins are forgiven at Mass? 11:49 – How can priests keep all these confessions confidential? They see their parishioners all the time, how do they not slip? 17:11 – Do you need to go to confession every time before taking communion? 19:35 – When I confess my sins I don’t say how many times. But I heard I should be saying the number of times. 31:16 – What are the mortal sins? 39:24 – Regarding priests keeping the seal of confession — how would it even benefit a priest to talk about a confession, even if they don’t reveal who the person is? 41:42 – I’m in OCIA and my wife isn’t. I’m trying to help her understand why we don’t just confess to our hearts directly to God. 45:25 – I was baptized presbyterian and became Catholic last year. Sometimes I remember a sin from my pre-Catholic life that I didn’t mention in my first confession. Do I need to confess those? 48:26 – If you have committed a mortal sin and die before going to confession, I understand you’re good if you have perfect confession. But what exactly is perfect contrition? 50:40 – Is the withdrawal method a mortal sin?

“Where does the Church stand on the ethics of Neuralink?” This question opens a discussion on the intersection of technology and morality, while also addressing the ethical considerations surrounding frozen embryos and the implications of pharmaceutical birth control methods. Additionally, the conversation touches on the responsibilities of attorneys in providing ethical healthcare advice in line with Catholic teaching. Join the Catholic Answers Live Club Newsletter Invite our apologists to speak at your parish! Visit Catholicanswersspeakers.com Questions Covered: 01:30 – Where does the Church stand on the ethics of Neuralink? 18:32 – We have frozen embryos from before we became Catholic. What is the ethical way to handle them? 33:50 – Do all pharmaceutical birth control methods prevent implantation of the embryo? 42:14 – I’m an attorney. What do I need to know to give good ethical advice about healthcare directives? I have clients that want things that might contradict Catholic teaching. Can I not draft the document for them?

“Who received the first Eucharist?” This question opens a discussion on the significance of the Eucharist and the scriptural evidence for the real presence of Christ. Other topics include how to address Catholics who feel more fulfilled in Protestant services, the morality of the death penalty, and the rationale behind the Hail Mary prayer in the rosary. Join the Catholic Answers Live Club Newsletter Invite our apologists to speak at your parish! Visit Catholicanswersspeakers.com Questions Covered: 01:34 – Who received the first eucharist? Which scripture is the best to show as evidence for the real presence? 12:23 – How do we respond when a Catholic says they are getting more out of going to a Protestant church? How do we bring them back? 22:49 – How is the death penalty an immoral thing, and why is it changed for the first time in history? 37:30 – What is the response to the justification that the reformation is valid because the reformers followed the example of the apostles being kicked out of the temple? 42:05 – I see a lot of inconsistencies in the Catholic Church. I have an issue because if Doctrine can change how can I agree with what will change in the future? 51:24 – Why do Catholics pray the hail mary so much during the rosary? Isn’t it against scripture?

“How do I explain James 2 to Protestants?” This question opens a discussion on the Catholic understanding of faith and works, while also addressing how we determine the canon of Scripture and the role of tradition in the Church. Other topics include the significance of traditions like kissing the bishop’s ring and the implications of 2 Timothy 3:16-17 for interpreting Scripture. Join the Catholic Answers Live Club Newsletter Invite our apologists to speak at your parish! Visit Catholicanswersspeakers.com Questions Covered: 13:13 – How do we figure out the canon? Are the books self attesting. Why does the Holy Spirit give infallibility to the Church but the Holy Spirit does not give infallibility to individuals? 20:31 – I’m entering into the Church and recently met my bishop. Are traditions like kissing the bishop’s ring still necessary? Why or why not? 31:50 – How do I explain the Catholic approach to James 2 to Protestants? 42:11 – What are our areas of disagreement apart from Sola Scriptura? 49:11 – What does it mean when it says all scripture in 2 Timothy 3:16-17?

“How can Catholics hold councils without Orthodox bishops?” This question opens a discussion on the complexities of ecclesiastical authority and governance. Additionally, the episode addresses whether one must be Catholic to be saved, the Orthodox perspective on the Immaculate Conception, and the differing views on the Filioque in the Creed. Join the Catholic Answers Live Club Newsletter Invite our apologists to speak at your parish! Visit Catholicanswersspeakers.com Questions Covered: 01:45 – How can Catholics still hold councils without the Orthodox bishops? 12:12 – Do you have to be Catholic in order to be saved? 15:15 – What’s the Orthodox view of Immaculate Conception? Is the Orthodox canon different from ours? 20:25 – Leo III wouldn’t add the Filioque to the Creed and gave his reasons?. Did the pope who added it ever give an explanation as to why? 28:43 – Is it ok for Catholics to accept the Ethiopian canon description of Jesus? 30:18 – I’ve heard some Orthodox say they don’t adore Jesus in the Eucharist because they view it as food. Is this uniform thought? 33:33 – How can a non-Christian evaluate the competing claim of the Eastern Orthodox who also claims apostolic authority? 39:21 – Why does the Eastern Orthodox allow contraception and Catholics don’t? 43:55 – Can a person who became Eastern Orthodox from Catholicism just jump back and forth? How can Eastern Orthodox justify 3 sacramental marriages? 48:12 – Do you think the Catholics and all other churches will ever fully reunite?

“What are the top reasons for Gospel reliability?” This question opens a discussion on the foundational aspects that affirm the Gospels’ trustworthiness, including the significance of eyewitness accounts. Other topics include the challenges posed by Bart Ehrman regarding Jesus’ words, the role of St. Luke among the apostles, and the criteria used to determine authentic Gospels versus apocryphal texts. Join the Catholic Answers Live Club Newsletter Invite our apologists to speak at your parish! Visit Catholicanswersspeakers.com Questions Covered: 02:10 – What are the top 3 reasons for the reliability of the gospels? 29:07 – Have you considered the work of Bart Ehrman and his problems with what Jesus really said? 35:56 – Is it safe to assume that St. Luke was one of the 72 that was originally sent out? 42:27 – How did they figure out which gospels were the actual eye witnesses and others weren’t like the gospel of Thomas? 46:49 – How would you go about balancing knowing the bible is the word of God and knowing humans had some influence on it? 50:44 – How would you compare the reliability of transmission of the NT compared to the Quran and the Hadiths?

“Did Constantine rig the Council of Nicea?” This question opens a discussion on early Church issues, including the specifics of the canon established at the Council of Florence and the complexities surrounding the organization of the early Church. Other topics include the role of Protestant pastors in critiquing Catholicism and the scriptural basis for attending Mass and confession. Join the Catholic Answers Live Club Newsletter Invite our apologists to speak at your parish! Visit Catholicanswersspeakers.com Questions Covered: 02:30 – Did Constantine rig the Council of Nicea? 07:51 – What is the specific canon of the council of Florence (1422) whereby the Catholics, Eastern Orthodox, and Coptics all agreed on the 73 book canon of scripture? 12:40 – How can we help stop this war in the Middle East? What can I do? 16:51 – How do I respond to a Protestant claim citing Eamon Duffy’s book, Saints and Sinners, that Clement never makes the claim to be a bishop, that his letter from the whole Roman community (not just him), and that the church at that time was organized under a group of bishops, not a single bishop. 21:32 – Why do Protestant pastors feel compelled to put down the Catholic faith? If they don’t believe it, why don’t they just leave us alone? 29:12 – Where is it in scripture that we need to attend Mass once a week and go to confession once a year? And are there any exceptions for people who can’t get there (like if they can’t drive). 34:09 – Why do all of the apostolic Churches like the Oriental Orthodox have different canons on scripture and different christologies? 41:08 – If my mother and father are in Purgatory, do they know each other in Purgatory? Can souls in Purgatory pray for each other? 46:28 – In the early church, how did they know how to consecrate the bread and wine at Mass? 49:10 – How does the Catholic Church view the development of the election of a pope changing from Roman clergy to the College of Cardinals? 51:48 – I’ve heard people say that Peter and Paul had different gospel messages, and that since I’m American, I’m a gentile, therefore I should follow Paul instead of Peter.

“Is it appropriate to pray the Rosary during Mass?” This question opens a discussion on the integration of personal devotion within communal worship. Other topics include why many Catholic parishes serve only bread during Communion, the historical context of the Holy Family’s journey to Egypt, and the process of seeking annulments while preparing for the sacraments. Join the Catholic Answers Live Club Newsletter Invite our apologists to speak at your parish! Visit Catholicanswersspeakers.com Questions Covered: 03:30 – Is it appropriate to pray the Rosary during Mass? 17:03 – I’m not Catholic. Why do many Catholic churches only give the bread and not the wine? It seems like if we’re following scripture it should be both. 29:15 – I heard that when the Holy Family went to Egypt they were robbed by two thieves, and these same thieves were crucified with Jesus. Is this true? 33:33 – My wife and I are going through OCIA. Both of us are seeking annulments for our previous marriages. The annulments will likely not be done by Easter. Can we still receive the sacrament of reconciliation? 43:11 – Could the new Mass of Paul VI be considered a new rite? Especially considering the new Eucharistic prayers, and the fact that the Roman Canon is not required? 45:21 – What are your thoughts on making noise in the church before Mass begins? Should it be silent preparation, or should we greet and talk to people? Or somewhere in between? 50:07 – Is Aquinas’ belief that Jesus did not have the theological virtue of Faith a doctrine of the Church? Or is it just Aquinas’ opinion?