The Unbroken Chain of Apostolic Succession; Bible Software Update

In this episode of the program I answer two questions regarding apostolic succession and whether, in fact, we have an unbroken chain going back to the apostles.

The first question comes from Marci in Mexico, who wonders about the effect that various practices have on the liceity (lawfulness) and validity of episcopal consecrations.

The second question comes from a gentleman who asks about a particular figure from the 1500s–Cardinal Scipione Rebiba–who has a very unusual property: 91% of all modern Catholic bishops trace their episcopal lineage back to him, and we’re not entirely sure who consecrated Rebiba.

What are the implications of that for apostolic succession?

In the process of answering this, I invite Dr. Andrew Jones of Logos Bible Software on the show. Dr. Jones has a doctorate in medieval history, so this is right up his alley.

In the second half of the show I keep Dr. Jones on the line to update us about current Logos Bible Software projects, including the newly-released Catechism of the Catholic Church set (which you may already have–free of charge) and their forthcoming translations of certain key works by St. Thomas Aquinas that have never been translated into English before. (I’m excited about getting my hands on those!)

To read the transcript, just click the big, friendly red button.

Or click the “Play” icon to listen to the show!

God’s Infinite Mercy

At some point in their lives, virtually everyone has wondered whether they can be forgiven for what they’ve done. The good news is, they can!

But sometimes the doubts linger, particularly for people with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, and particularly in connection with certain passages in the Bible, such as some in the book of Hebrews that deal with the subject of apostasy–the complete rejection of the Christian faith.

Passages like these:

Hebrews 6:4-6

It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, who have shared in the Holy Spirit, who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the coming age and who have fallen away, to be brought back to repentance. To their loss they are crucifying the Son of God all over again and subjecting him to public disgrace.

Hebrews 10:26

If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left.

Can an apostate be forgiven? If you’ve knowingly and deliberately rejected Christ, will he take you back? And what is the real meaning of those passages in Hebrews?

In this episode I respond to a gentleman who is struggling with these very issues.

I demonstrate that the Hebrews passages do not mean what the gentleman fears and reveal, instead, the infinite mercy of God.

The good news is: No matter what you’ve done, if you are willing to come back to God, God is eager to take you back. He loves you, and your sins are not greater than his love.

I’m also preparing a special mailing for the Secret Information Club where I “interview” Blessed John Paul II on heaven.

If you’d like to read what John Paul II says about heaven and how we can get there by God’s mercy, you should sign up for the Secret Information Club by Friday, June 8th, and you’ll have it in your email inbox Saturday morning.

You should sign up here (and if you have any trouble, just email me at jimmy@secretinfoclub.com):

Now here’s the show! Just click “Play” to listen!

Does God *HATE* Sinners? How Can You Use the Internet to Serve God Without Violating Canon Law?

Just wanted to let folks know that the transcript of show 032 is now available.

It deals with whether God hates sinners and how to use the Internet without violating canon law (specifically: in terms of imprimaturs).

To read the transcript, just click the big, friendly red button.

Or, if you’d like to you listen to the show, JUST CLICK HERE.

Enjoy!

Sisters in Crisis Special

This week the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith in Rome mandated a thoroughgoing reform of the largest leadership conference for women religious in the United States.

In an exclusive interview, Ann Carey joins Jimmy Akin to go in-depth on this dramatic announcement, why it happened, what it means, and what may happen next.

Ann Carey is a journalist who has been covering the subject of women religious for many years. She is the author of the book Sisters in Crisis: The Tragic Unraveling of Women’s Religious Communities.

According to the Vatican report, there are serious doctrinal problems associated with the activities and publications of the Leadership Conference of Women Religious–some which challenge the core of the Christian faith itself.

The leadership of the LCWR has also flouted the authority of the bishops, as when they publicly sought to neutralize the U.S. bishops’ leadership during the 2010 health care debate in Congress and when they later honored Sr. Carol Keehan, CEO of the Catholic Healthcare Association, which also broke with and defied the bishops over the issue of health care.

You can read more about this subject in an article Jimmy authored, which you can read online here.

How the LCWR will respond to the mandated reform is unknown, but in this interview Ann and Jimmy preview the dramatic developments that may lie ahead of us.

Thank you for letting others know about this program and sharing with friends!

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JIMMY AKIN PODCAST EPISODE 035 (04/21/12)

Today’s Music: Joy Trip (JewelBeat.Com)

WHAT’S YOUR QUESTION? WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO ASK?
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Copyright © 2012 by Jimmy Akin

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Our Resurrection & the Fate of the World

Did Elijah go to heaven before the gates of heaven were officially open?

If Jesus and Mary have their bodies in heaven, do all the saints have bodies in heaven–right now?

Does time exist for human souls in the afterlife?

When will the resurrection of the dead occur? At the moment of death or the end of the world–or is there a difference between the two?

What does the Magisterium of the Church say about all this?

When God creates the new heaven and the new earth, will he renew and renovate the current world or will he create an entirely new one from nothing (ex nihilo)?

These are just some of the questions we address on this week’s episode of the Jimmy Akin Podcast!

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AND NOW YOU CAN . . .

SHOW NOTES:

JIMMY AKIN PODCAST EPISODE 034 (03/31/12)

ERIC ASKS ABOUT THE RESURRECTION OF THE DEAD AND THE NEW HEAVENS AND THE NEW EARTH

2 Kings 2:1

Letter on Certain Questions Concerning Eschatology

http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/cfaith/documents/rc_con_cfaith_doc_19790517_escatologia_en.html

Some Current Questions in Eschatology (1992)

http://www.nd.edu/~afreddos/courses/43801/International%20Theological%20Commission%20Eschatology.pdf

1 Thessalonians 4:14-18

2 Peter 3:3-14

Revelation 6:12-17

Revelation 20:11-21:5

Catechism of the Catholic Church 1042-1047, 1060

Today’s Music: Calm, Easy Confidence (JewelBeat.Com)

WHAT’S YOUR QUESTION? WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO ASK?
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Copyright © 2012 by Jimmy Akin

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The Gates of Heaven & Hell; Evangelizing Muslims

Where did we get the phrase “pearly gates”? Why are heaven and hell depicted as if they have “gates.” What role did gates play in the ancient world? Where do battering rams come from?

What did Jesus mean when he said that the gates of hell will not prevail against the Church?

If the gates of heaven were opened on Easter Sunday (or thereabouts) then when were the gates of hell opened?

What resources could you offer a Muslim to show him the truth of the Catholic faith?

These are just some of the questions we address on this week’s episode of the Jimmy Akin Podcast!

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SHOW NOTES:

JIMMY AKIN PODCAST EPISODE 033 (03/24/12)

In the opening segment Jimmy has three pieces of news:

(1) The funds to make transcripts of the next 52 episodes have now been raised!

(2) Jimmy is producing the show a week ahead of time now so that the transcripts can be made available the same day that the podcast is released!

(3) Enough funds have been raised to transcribe all the previous episodes of the show!

1) TOM FROM WISCONSIN ASKS, IF THE GATES OF HEAVEN WERE OPENED ON EASTER SUNDAY (OR THEREABOUTS), WHEN WERE THE GATES OF *HELL* OPENED?

2) SUE FROM BUFFALO ASKS WHAT RESOURCES SHE COULD SHARE WITH HER DAUGHTER’S MUSLIM BOYFRIEND TO HELP SHOW HIM THE TRUTH OF THE CATHOLIC FAITH.

Today’s Music: Joy Trip (JewelBeat.Com)

WHAT’S YOUR QUESTION? WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO ASK?
Call me at 512-222-3389!
jimmyakinpodcast@gmail.com
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Copyright © 2012 by Jimmy Akin

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Does God *HATE* Sinners? How Can You Use the Internet to Serve God Without Violating Canon Law?

Does God *HATE* sinners? If not, why does the Bible seem to say he does? Why do other passages say he loves sinners? How are we to reconcile these statements? Just how biblical is the saying “Love the sinner but hate the sin”? Who said that? And what were they talking about? Does God “hate” anything at all? What does Catholic theology say about this?

How can you use the Internet to serve God without tripping on canon law? Do you need an imprimatur from your bishop to have a blog or a web site? How about a Facebook page? What if you talk about subjects like Scripture, the liturgy, catechesis, theology, devotions, or other religious subjects? Is the Internet the new Wild West, where anything goes, or is it subject to the Church’s law?

These are just some of the questions we address on this week’s episode of the Jimmy Akin Podcast!

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SHOW NOTES:

JIMMY AKIN PODCAST EPISODE 032 (03/10/12)

We’re *almost* at our initial goal of $3000 to make transcripts of the next 52 episodes of the show. If we can make $4000 then we can also do transcripts of all the past episodes. Our drive for this project is almost over, so now is the time to donate!

Visit JimmyAkin.com and click the “Donate” button to make your donation by credit card or PayPal–or mail a check. Thank you, and God bless you for your generosity!

JACK FROM ARDMORE ASKS IF GOD HATES SINNERS AS WELL AS SINS.

Sources we quoted:

Augustine’s Letter 211:11
Psalm 5:5-6
Wisdom 11:23-26
Romans 5:6-11
John 3:16
1 John 4:7-10
Thomas Aquinas, Summa Contra Gentiles 1:89

TONY FROM MONCTON, CANADA ASKS IF HE NEEDS TO DO ANYTHING FOR HIS FAITH-RELATED FACEBOOK PAGE TO BE OKAY UNDER CANON LAW.

See the section from the Code of Canon Law on the publication of books, online here:
http://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG1104/__P2Q.HTM

Today’s Music: Holiday Cheers (JewelBeat.Com)

WHAT’S YOUR QUESTION? WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO ASK?
Call me at 512-222-3389!
jimmyakinpodcast@gmail.com
www.JimmyAkinPodcast.com



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Copyright © 2012 by Jimmy Akin

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How You Can Help Jimmy: A Special Request & An Announcement

Jimmy is raising funds to help transcribe a year’s worth of the episodes of the show so that they can be available in written form for everyone to benefit from–making it easier for people to learn from the information provided on the show.

Click Play to listen . . .

 

In this special mini-episode, Jimmy gives an update on where the project is right now and also announces a special extension of the project: making *all* of the past episodes of the show available in written form as well.

This will include things like:

1. Has the Consecration requested by Our Lady of Fatima been done?

2. Autistic children and first Communion

3. Watching TV shows with bad theology

4. Dungeons and Dragons

5. Taxes and abortion

6. 2 part special apologetics of Christmas

7. Sunday rest special

8. Can a priest force you to confess to the police

9. Medjugorje special

10. Is women’s ordination a heresy

11. Can priests report murderers who confess

12. Capital punishment for heresy

13. What did the early Christians believe about the Millennium

14. Jimmy vs. the Flying Spaghetti Monster

15. Relationship between God and Time

16. Whether God is a Monster & Predestination

17. Artificial Intelligence

18. Pirating Software

19. Sedevacantism

20. Colonizing Space & the Religious Questions It Raises

Everything depends on your generosity, though, so use the Donate button below, and make your donation today.

You can donate by Credit Card (Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover), by PayPal, or by check.

To donate by Credit Card or by Pay Pal, here’s all you need to do:

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Thanks again, and God bless you for your generosity!

Note: In the interests of full disclosure, I should point out that I am not a 501(c)3 organization, and so I’m afraid that I can’t offer you a tax deduction. You will, however, be helping to spread God’s word to people all over the world, and that should count toward having treasure in heaven.

Why Don’t Bishops Excommunicate Bad Politicians? Autistic Children at Mass, Female Pope, Planned Parenthood, and More!

On Catholic Answers Live (2/16/12), Jimmy Akin answers:

  • Have you heard about a female pope?
  • In regard to the HHS mandate, why don’t the bishops resort to excommunication of politicians?
  • I’m thinking about becoming a Catholic, but I’ve been divorced and remarried – what steps should I take?
  • What do the Masons believe?
  • Where do Protestants get the notion that they can attend or belong to any type church, whereas we believe that Jesus founded the one true Catholic Church?
  • Is it a sin to not take my autistic child to Mass on Sunday because she may misbehave?
  • Are those who commit mortal sins without knowing it at risk of not being saved?
  • Is there a difference between how Protestants and Catholics view missionary work?
  • How powerful is Planned Parenthood within the government given the danger of contraception and the fight that is currently going on for our religious liberty?

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Why Did Jesus Descend into HELL? Does the Bible Say Not to Wear Mixed Fiber Clothing?

Why does the Apostles Creed say that Jesus descended into Hell? Why would he do this? Wasn’t the Crucifixion enough? Did he have to suffer even more?

What did he do while he was “down there”? Did he preach to the dead? Which dead? Why? Do we have a second chance at salvation after death? What did the Church Fathers say about this? How about the teaching of the Church today?

Why does the Law of Moses say not to wear clothes made from two kinds of fibers? Can we wear cotton/polyesther blends? What’s the reason for this commandment? Who was bound by it? Does the commandment really forbid mixing any two types of fiber? Should we take this literally?

These are just some of the questions we answer in this week’s episode of the Jimmy Akin Podcast!

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SHOW NOTES:

JIMMY AKIN PODCAST EPISODE 031 (02/26/12)

1) JIMMY MAKES AN ANNOUNCEMENT ABOUT THE PODCAST

He needs your help raising funds to enable the podcast to help even more people, in more ways, by making transcripts of it available. If he can raise $3000 then he can keep the podcast going and provide *a year’s worth* of transcripts (52 episodes) at the same time!

Please visit www.JimmyAkin.com to learn more about this project and how you can help!

God bless you, and thank you for your generosity!

 

2) LUCIA ASKS WHY THE APOSTLES CREED SAYS THAT JESUS “DESCENDED INTO HELL.” WHAT DOES THIS MEAN, AND WHY DID HE DO IT?

 

3) LUCIA ASKS ABOUT THE LAW IN THE OLD TESTAMENT THAT SAYS NOT TO WEAR CLOTHING WITH TWO KINDS OF FABRIC. ARE WE TO TAKE THIS LITERALLY?

 

ONLINE INFORMATION ABOUT THE LAW OF SHA`ATNEZ

Shatnez

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shatnez

Ask Rabbi Simmons: Clothing Worn by Jews

http://judaism.about.com/library/3_askrabbi_o/bl_simmons_clothing.htm

The Mysteries of Shaatnez

http://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/381831/jewish/The-Mysteries-of-Shaatnez.htm

Clothing Mixtures: The Commandment of Shatnez

http://www.beingjewish.com/mitzvos/shatnez.html

 

THOMAS AQUINAS ON LAW

Summa Theologiae I-II (see questions 98-103)

http://newadvent.org/summa/2.htm

 

Today’s Music: Fresh Country Air (JewelBeat.Com)

 

WHAT’S YOUR QUESTION? WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO ASK?
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Copyright © 2012 by Jimmy Akin

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