Called to Communion
Are you "Called to Communion?" In this LIVE call-in show, Dr. David Anders talks clearly with non-Catholics about the faith. We ask the question "What's stopping YOU from becoming a Catholic?"
Question On St. Athanasius Quote
5/2/2024
Dr. Anders addresses Carol's question about a St. Athanasius quote. Can man become God?
Why Do Catholic Pray Prefab Prayers?
5/1/2024
Why do Catholics pray prefab prayers?, immersion Baptism, Deutorcanonical books from the Old Testament and more.
How can the greater good come from God's permissive will?
4/30/2024
Valid Or Invalid Baptism?
4/29/2024
Valid or invalid baptism and differences in views of our sinful condition.
Are All Pope's Saints?
4/26/2024
Are all pope's saints?, who was Melchizedek?, clergy sexual abuse, and if one is excommunicated can they be brought back?
Why Call Priest's Father?
4/25/2024
Why call Priest's "father"?
Married Without Bishop Approval
4/24/2024
Can a Catholic and Protestant be married without bishop approval?, Catholics and the Sabbath, and consecrated hands.
The Difference Between Repentance And Confession
4/23/2024
The difference between repentance and Confession, when was Saul, Paul, and a Sola Scriptura question.
Deciding What Is True?
4/22/2024
How do I explain prayer to the dead?, what does the Catholic do to decide what is true, Orthodox Church start date, and why are my commandments different from yours?
Catholic Tradition And The Bible
4/19/2024
On today's show, Dr. Anders discusses Catholic Tradition and the Bible, the purpose of monastic life and who was Mary wife of Clopas? Plus, more questions and callers.
Marriage Questions And More
4/18/2024
Dr. Anders answers questions about marriage, validity and more.
If You Play Chess With A Catholic Philosopher
4/17/2024
If you play chess with a Catholic philosopher, you just might become Catholic after.
Can Saints Hear All Prayers Simultaneously?
4/16/2024
Can Saints Hear All Prayers Simultaneously? and how are they efficacious?
Are Tradition And The Magisterium Reliable?
4/15/2024
Your e-mails are answered on a special mailbag episode of Called to Communion with Dr. David Anders. Dr. Anders answers a question about Tradition and the Magisterium.
Why Does Jesus Still Have Wounds?
4/12/2024
(MB) Why does Jesus still have wounds after His resurrection?, is it possible for God to command us to do evil?, and during the Transfiguration, how did the disciples know who Jesus was talking to?
Do We Need To Meet In A Church Building?
4/11/2024
Do we need to meet in a Church building, what is the difference between mortal and venial sin, and is abortion ok for babies with Trisomy 13 and Trisomy 18?
Zen, Virtues & Trinity Coeternal
4/10/2024
Today Dr. Anders shares his insights into Zen, Souls in purgatory after Christ return, theological & cardinal virtues as well as answering a little girls question where did God come from?
Purgatory & Penance
4/9/2024
Today Dr. Ander answers your questions about the Catholic faith including: Was John the 1st martyr?, what did Jesus do on Holy Saturday?, how do we minimize our time in purgatory?, and what's the best Catholic Bible and the origins of penance?
Jesus's Ascension Into Heaven
4/8/2024
A question about Jesus's ascension into heaven.
Don't Need Religion To Love Others
4/5/2024
How do you respond when someone says they don't need religion to love others.
Questions About Mary.
4/4/2024
Why Have Holy Days Of Obligation?
4/3/2024
Why do we have holy days of obligation?, would there have been a resurrection of the body without the Fall, and if I become Catholic, how far back do I have to go to confess my sins?
Understanding Faith, Facts, And Feelings
4/2/2024
As a new Catholic I'm having a real problem in my understanding of faith, facts and feelings, and is Easter a pagan holiday?
Holy Easter Monday
4/1/2024
On Today's Called to Communion, Dr. David Anders discusses the answer to all liturgical questions, talking about repetitive sin, prayer variations, does a good Catholic have to agree with the Pope's decisions?
The Answer To All Liturgical Questions
3/28/2024
On Today's Called to Communion, Dr. David Anders discusses the answer to all liturgical questions (especially during Holy Week And the Sacred Triduum).
What is Spy Wednesday?
3/27/2024
Jesus The Suffering Servant
3/26/2024
Why at the end of His suffering on the Cross did Jesus say, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?"
Did Jesus Eat His Own Body?
3/25/2024
Did Jesus eat His own Body?, fewness of the saved vs. habitual sin, what does one do if a doctor tells you to get an abortion for medical reasons?, and Immaculate Conception question.
Called to Communion - Friday
3/22/2024
Today on Called to Communion, Dr David Anders hears from a caller with concerns over his cousin's conversion to Islam, a listener who questions culpability if you "feel you're doing the right thing", a question on the Seventh Day Adventist, and much more!
Vocation & Deciding Between Two Goods
3/21/2024
Vocation: how do you decide between two goods?, God is not an accountant, and I was wondering why you call priests "Father.
How Do I Explain Redemptive Suffering?
3/20/2024
How do I explain redemptive suffering?, and is there anything in the Bible that will better help me to understand the True Presence?
Becoming Like gods?
3/19/2024
Why does Catechism 460 say we become gods?, my son thinks I'm judging him for marrying outside the Church and General Absolution question.
God's Will And Suffering
3/18/2024
God's will and suffering.
Purpose Of Incense Burners At Mass
3/15/2024
(MB) Dr. Anders reaches into the mailbag to to answer listener questions and discusses the purpose of incense burners at mass.
Is Belief Alone The Answer?
3/14/2024
Is belief alone the answer?, and does God still listen to our prayers if we are not in a state of grace?
How Do I Imitate Christ In A Chat Room?
3/13/2024
How do I Imitate Christ in a chat room?, forgiveness vs reconciliation, and how does sin entering the world bring out a greater good?
Explaining The Real Presence
3/12/2024
Explaining the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist and more.
Why Emphasize Christ's Suffering?
3/11/2024
Why emphasize Christ's suffering?
Inescapable Reality Of Religion In Civilization
3/8/2024
The inescapable reality of religion in civilization, is spiritual discernment the same for Catholics and protestants?, and if Jesus experienced the Beatific Vision at every moment, how did He suffer?
God Did Not Punish Jesus For Our Sins
3/7/2024
God did not punish Jesus for our sins.
How Can We Lift A Squatter's Curse?
3/6/2024
How can we lift a squatter's curse?, what is the difference between being Lutheran and Catholic, and are we all Catholic?
What Is The Holy Spirit?
3/5/2024
What is the Holy Spirit?, book recommendations for an aspiring lay Theologian, and can you comment on the Bible and the Pope's allowance for gay blessings?
Seeking Truth
3/4/2024
Seeking the Truth, the Seventh Commandment and how that relates to tax evasion, and why can't a religious brother celebrate Mass?
When Did The Real Presence Become Disputed?
3/1/2024
When did the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist become disputed?, how do you promote social justice?, and do women have a different relationship with Jesus than men do?
Responsibility For Other's Lenten Sacrifices?
2/29/2024
Do we have responsibility for other people's Lenten sacrifices?, and I have family members who are oneness Pentecostals. They believe the body of Christ was only human and only Christ’s spirit is divine. So, explaining the Eucharist is tough! Any tips?
Is Spiritual Communion A Sacrament?
2/28/2024
Is Spiritual Communion a Sacrament?, marriage convalidation, and what is your Catholic opinion on men being friends with women?
The Priest's Blessing
2/27/2024
The priest's blessing, does the wording Jesus "paid the price for our sins" go against Catholic teaching on the Atonement?, and why were so many people willing to follow the Protestant Reformers and leave the Church?
Is Morality About Human Flourishing Or Just What God Commands?
2/26/2024
Is Morality about human flourishing or just what God commands?, and does reception in the hand invalidate consecration?, and do Catholics worship Mary?
Catholic View of the Rapture
2/23/2024
Was James Jesus' brother? Why was Cain's offering rejected by God? Should we respect the devil? How should we explain the Catholic view on the Rapture? and more on today's Called to Communion with Dr. David Anders.
Churchgoing Atheist Since Childhood
2/22/2024
How do I explain the existence of God to my son who identifies as a "cultural catholic" yet he does not believe in God. He's been a churchgoing atheist since childhood.
No Such Thing As Biblical Worldview
2/21/2024
There is no such thing as a Biblical Worldview, and what is the Catholic view of predestination and Molinism vs. Thomism?
Reconcile Creation With Evolution
2/20/2024
Reconcile creation with evolution and how do Catholics relate emotions, desires, and sin?
What Is Personal Prayer?
2/19/2024
A caller is having a difficult time understanding what a personal prayer of petition is. Dr. Anders helps explain this plus how Catholic mystics connect with stoicism. In addition, what does it mean to be born again and is this something that Catholics believe in?
Mental Prayer
2/16/2024
(MB) Please help me with mental prayer, looking for a commentary on the Book of Wisdom, why do we need a priesthood?, and why is our eternity determined by such a short time?
How is the Church Christ's Body & Our Mother?
2/15/2024
How is the Church Christ's body and our Mother?, Catholic man trying to marry a nondenominational woman, and Psalm 51.
Can You Explain Contemplative Prayer?
2/14/2024
Can you explain contemplative prayer?, and a question about the placement of an altar.
Please Explain The Beatific Vision
2/13/2024
Please explain the beatific vision, why does the Catholic faith have dogmas pertaining to Mary?, and why does the Catholic Church place so much importance on St. Thomas Aquinas?
How Can Saints Hear You In Heaven?
2/12/2024
How can Saints hear your prayers in heaven?, and does my Lenten sacrifice count if I put a structure in place to help make the sacrifice easier?
What Do The 7 Sacraments Signify?
2/9/2024
What do each of the 7 Sacraments signify?, is Jesus God?, and can a Catholic priest hear a Protestant's Confession?
Set Me Straight On Free Will
2/8/2024
Set me straight on free will, put it in the trash, does God curse us like in the Book of Deuteronomy, and Vatican ruling over same-sex blessings.
Why Do Bad Things Happen To People?
2/7/2024
Why do bad things happen to people in the state of grace.
The Bible A Product Of Catholic Tradition
2/6/2024
The Bible is a product of Catholic tradition, God of the Old Testament, and why do we see tradition way the way we do?
Struggling With Catholicism
2/5/2024
Struggling with Catholicism, what do clerical garbs mean?, perception of time in purgatory?, and how do people come to conclude they have assurance of salvation?
What Is The Wrath Of God?
2/2/2024
What is the wrath of God, and a question about God not having emotions.
Sex Scandal And Catholic Hierarchy
2/1/2024
Apprehensive about joining the Catholic Church because of sex scandals and how certain Catholic hierarchy dealt with them, why don't we stand for all readings during mass?, and God does not regret things.
What Is The Catholic Stance On Tithing?
1/31/2024
What is the Catholic stance on tithing?, are charitable donations part of tithing?, and attachment to sin.
Why Go Through Canonization?
1/30/2024
Why does the Church go through the trouble of canonization?, and how did the early Church think of Communion?
Why Would God Create...?
1/29/2024
Why would God create someone that he knew would reject Him?, Jesus fully God, fully man, and Teilhard de Chardin
Who In The Bible Was Real?
1/26/2024
How do we know who in the Bible was real vs. who wasn't?, and a caller wants to know why she can't receive Communion as a nonCatholic?
Mailbag
1/25/2024
Your e-mails are answered on a special mailbag episode of Called to Communion with Dr. David Anders.
What Is Theology?
1/24/2024
What is theology?, can you please explain the Rapture?, and a question about Christ's presence?
Celibacy Goes Back To Jesus
1/23/2024
A preference for celibacy goes back to Jesus, if Jesus paid for our sins, why go to a priest?, and who decides which Creed to say at Mass?
Why Do We Need A New Heaven?
1/22/2024
Why do we need a new heaven?, and the Apostles and Divine Revelation.
Expectations Of The Messiah
1/18/2024
Dr. Anders answers a question about expectations of the Messiah in the 1st Century A.D., where did the legend of St. Veronica come from?, and if Jesus healed so many people why weren't more of them recorded?
Differences Between Catholicism & Greek Orthodox
1/17/2024
Differences between Catholicism and Greek Orthodoxy, Waldensians, cultural Catholicism, plus another question for the podcast man.
The Bible Alone
1/16/2024
How using the Bible Alone as a rule of faith is a category mistake.
Best Advice On Developing Trust In God
1/15/2024
(MB) Happy MLK Day. On today's Called to Communion, Dr. David Anders reaches into the mailbag to answer listeners' questions like this one: what is your best advice on developing trust in God?
Does God Choose Some People To Be Catholic?
1/13/2024
Does God choose some people to be Catholic?, what is the difference between Purgatory, Hades, And Limbo, and other questions.
I Object To Belief In The Eucharist
1/11/2024
Joseph objects to Catholic belief in the Eucharist, to what degree is palliative care allowed in the Church?, and did Jesus ever sin?
What Do You Receive At Confirmation?
1/10/2024
What do you receive at confirmation?, why would God allow a false religion to prosper?, do Catholics defer to the council of Chalcedon for understanding of the Incarnation, and do we need priests at all today?
Not Catholic Because Of Church Leadership
1/9/2024
Not Catholic because of Church leadership, and if Jesus didn't sin, why was He baptized by John?
Apocalyptic Fear Mongering
1/8/2024
Apocalyptic fearmongering, why do we ask anybody to pray for us?, are the prayers of the Church enchantments or magic?
Morality And Virtue Without God
1/5/2024
#Morality and #virtue without #God, how do I approach Satanists?, and does it matter what we call #Jesus?
What Are Catholic Devotions?
1/4/2024
What are Catholic devotions and what is their purpose?, my family goes to a Lutheran Church named St. Paul, wasn't he a Catholic?, and why the name Catholic?
Memory And Confession Of Sins
1/3/2024
#Memory and #Confession of sins, how do you reconcile Adam & Eve's existence with #evolution?, and is this good enough to be #Catholic? #faith
Do I Have To Be Rational?
1/2/2024
Do I have to be rational?, who is crushing the head of satan in the Book Of Revelation?, why doesn't God reveal himself to us physically?, and Catholicism and Science.
Devoting Yourself To Wisdom In The New Year
1/1/2024
(MB) Tanner asks about how to find a devotion to #wisdom for the New Year, #Catholics can experience the #HolySpirit too, and what are the role of the cardinal virtues in moral judgement, and correcting our perceptions of the #Bible.
Be Like Christ
12/29/2023
Is it imperative that as Catholics we try to persuade our Christian friends to become Catholic? Why do Catholics believe that Mary is Co-Redemptrix? Are we allowed to disagree on Purgatory? and more on today's Called to Communion with Dr. David Anders.
Does God Chastise People?
12/28/2023
Is the Eucharist a means to forgive sins or must your sins be forgiven before approaching the sacrament? Is it impossible to avoid purgatory? How should we address the priestly scandals of the past? and more on today's Called to Communion with Dr. David Anders.
Covenantal Sacrifices
12/27/2023
When God made a covenant with Abraham didn’t he have Abraham sacrifice some animals? If so, why? What constitutes a valid Baptism? Why does God want us to have faith and to believe in him without seeing him? and more on today's Called to Communion with Dr. David Anders.
How Can I Be Certain God Exists?
12/26/2023
Merry Christmas from the CTC team. Dr. Anders and Thom address some questions about Christmas, how can I be certain about God's existence, sharing the Gospel with nominally Catholic friends, Confession question and about St. Paul.
Morality in the Old Testament
12/22/2023
Was polygamy and keeping concubines permissible under the Old Testament? When the Catechism speaks of us participating in the Lord's sacrifice on the cross via the Eucharist, exactly what does this mean? and more on today's Called to Communion with Dr. David Anders.
Blessings and Prayers
12/21/2023
Is Purgatory a place of punishment or healing? How would someone know if they have the Holy Spirit? What is the difference between a blessing and a prayer? and more on today's Called to Communion with Dr. David Anders.
Priest, Prophet, and King
12/20/2023
Does Mathew 1:18-25 leave room for the possibility that Mary was not a virgin in perpetuity? In reading the Divine Office, the Antiphon was "Offer to God the sacrifice of praise". What does that mean? and more on today's Called to Communion with Dr. David Anders.
Defending Maccabees
12/19/2023
Why do you use Maccabees, which isn't in the Bible, to defend the doctrine of Purgatory? I am born-again. Why would I want to be Catholic? Should I become a Catholic if aliens are real? and more on today's Called to Communion with Dr. David Anders.
Dark Night of the Soul
12/18/2023
When does a twin's soul develop? Why do we have to go to Mass on a Sunday? How should I understand the Vatican's statement on blessing for same-sex couples? What is the dark night of the soul? and more on today's Called to Communion with Dr. David Anders.
Hard Time Believing In A God Who Allows...
12/15/2023
Having a hard time believing in a God who allows bad things to happen, Christian involvement in the Crusades, and please tell me about atonement and plenary indulgences.
Did Jesus Have A Guardian Angel?
12/14/2023
Did Jesus have a guardian angel?, can a nonCatholic be canonized? and Modalism, Modalism, Modalism.
Romans 2
12/13/2023
Romans 2, what do the Catholics teach when it comes to once saved, always saved?, and can we ask for intercession from souls in purgatory?
The Catholic Church On Tithing
12/12/2023
The Catholic Church on tithing, question on the Church's stand on modern-day Israel, explain the Catholic view of Salvation vs Protestant view, and if we say a prayer in our minds, does Mary hear it?