#12318 How Has Catholic Answers Changed Lives? - Christopher Check

Summary

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Catholic Answers Live #12318 – How Has Catholic Answers Changed Lives?

Host: Cy Kellett
Guest(s): Chris Check (President, Catholic Answers), Emily Torres (Catholic Answers staff, CatholicConvert)
Date: August 8, 2025

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Episode Overview

In this inspiring episode marking the final hour of the quarterly pledge drive, Catholic Answers Live focuses on the real-world impact of its ministry. Host Cy Kellett and president Chris Check are joined by Emily Torres, a recent convert and staff member, to share moving testimonies from listeners and supporters whose lives have been changed by Catholic Answers. The dialogue illustrates how Catholic Answers helps Catholics and non-Catholics alike deepen their faith, find answers, and even discover their vocation—all thanks to donor support.

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Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Pledge Drive Momentum and Goals

• Final Hour Push: The show opens (00:00–04:00) with Cy and Chris discussing the urgency of the final pledge drive hour, highlighting the need to raise $33,000 more to reach their $145,000 quarterly goal.
  • Double and triple matching opportunities were available, especially for gifts over $500.
• Engaging Listeners: Cy repeatedly encourages listeners to call early, emphasizing how every donation is matched and directly enables the apostolate to continue its outreach.

2. Power of Catholic Answers Resources

• Book Offers & Resource Development:
  • Donors at various levels were rewarded with newly published Catholic books, including a brand-new book by Cy Kellett and Steve Dawson, How to Talk About Jesus with Anyone.
  • Cy elaborates on the book’s mission: "If there’s one thing people should want to learn how to do... how to talk with anyone about Jesus." (07:48, Cy Kellett)
  • Practical tips from street evangelist Steve Dawson show that even the reluctant can learn to sensitively share the faith.

3. Testimonies of Lives Changed

a. Emily Torres’ Conversion and Role

• Emily shares how Tim Staples’ video on Mary was pivotal to her own conversion:
  • "Tim Staples... was one of the pivotal moments for me where I realized, oh, Our Lady really matters... I googled any question about Catholicism, your articles were the first ones that came up." (11:58, Emily Torres)
• Now on staff, Emily manages the Society 315 monthly giving club and interacts with donors, collecting thousands of responses to how Catholic Answers has impacted their lives.

b. Listener and Donor Testimonials

Emily shares selected, impactful stories:

• Karen’s Return:
  • "I explored all sorts of faiths... One day I said out loud, 'I wonder if there's a Catholic answer to that.' A few blocks later, I saw a car with a Catholic Answers bumper sticker. I tuned in, returned to the church, and now I know I will never leave again." (18:59, as shared by Emily Torres)
• James Discerns Priesthood:
  • "Catholic Answers brought me to accept the truth of the Catholic faith... I was brought into the church in 2024 because of you and am now discerning a vocation to the priesthood." (24:19, as shared by Emily Torres)
• Family Transformation:
  • "Catholic Answers had big influence. All but one kid converted. One son is a Focus missionary. Our brother is a CFR priest. My wife opened a Catholic bookstore." (30:48, as shared by Emily Torres)
• Protestant Pastor's Appreciation:
  • "As a Presbyterian pastor, I've still found [Catholic Answers] remarkably helpful... Their willingness to engage challenging questions... with both depth and sensitivity has broadened my own view. It's a reminder that unity in Christ requires love and humility." (34:47, as shared by Emily Torres)
• Teens & Youth Ministry:
  • "When I worked in youth ministry, teens would always ask... questions. Thankfully... I was listening to Catholic Answers... When they would say, 'How do you know all of this?' I would reply with 'Catholic Answers Live.'" (41:36, as shared by Emily Torres)
• Conversion Through Archived Content:
  • "I am Catholic entirely... due to the work of Catholic Answers... I found those recordings of the radio show in my podcast app back in early high school... It has changed my entire life in all the best ways." (37:08, as shared by Emily Torres)
• Bringing Spouses Home:
  • "My wife and I became Catholic this year thanks to you. God be praised." (50:14, as shared by Emily Torres)
• Helping Understand a Loved One:
  • "My brother is Catholic and you help me understand his faith." (52:59, as shared by Emily Torres)

c. The Multiplying Effect of Giving

• Chris Check draws analogy from the Gospel to illustrate the ripple effect:
  • "The work that you do, my friends, is going to be multiplied by the Holy Spirit... what does our Lord do? He feeds the 5,000... So, my friends, we are asking you to come with your loaves and your fishes." (24:58, Chris Check)

4. Philosophy Behind Catholic Answers’ Approach

• Gentle Dialogue, Not Combat:
  • Cy and Chris emphasize that the apostolate’s mission is not to “bash” opponents but to offer conversation and clarity, especially to separated brethren (Protestants, etc.).
  • "We've always spoken with Protestants, but it's always like he said... We are not trying to bash you over the head and prove that you are wrong about everything. We're trying to say Jesus Christ gave the world seven sacraments... Come and get him." (32:52, Cy Kellett)

5. Hope for the Next Generation

• Emily on Young People:
  • "So many people in our generation... realized, oh, this isn't actually fulfilling us. Only Jesus Christ in the fullness of his Catholic church can fulfill us." (53:56, Emily Torres)
• Engaging Youth with Digital Media: Emily encourages young donors to give online or via text, reflecting her peer group’s preferences.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Chris, on impact:
  • "Steve [Dawson] doesn't come by this [evangelizing] naturally... The first thing he will say is 'I feel uncomfortable.' ... I think that describes many, maybe most of the people listening." (09:26)
• Cy, on matching gifts:
  • "If you give $100, it's $200 to Catholic Answers." (30:03)
• Emily, on being part of Catholic Answers:
  • "It's like a good fever dream. Like, oh my gosh, this is crazy. This is insane. Like I never in my wildest dreams would I have pictured at 22 years old I'd be working for you guys. It's really a dream come true." (12:44)

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• [00:00–04:00] – Pledge drive urgency, setting the context and stakes.
• [06:26–10:32] – Special donor book packages, unveiling of new resources like How to Talk About Jesus with Anyone.
• [11:52–13:41] – Emily shares her conversion thanks to Catholic Answers.
• [18:59–21:30] – Listener Karen’s testimony about returning to the Church.
• [24:19–24:58] – Testimony on vocation; Chris Check’s “loaves and fishes” analogy for giving.
• [30:48–32:52] – Powerful family conversion story and discussion on non-combative apologetics.
• [34:47–37:14] – Presbyterian pastor’s appreciation; youth ministry story.
• [50:14–51:13] – Spouses converting together thanks to Catholic Answers.
• [53:56–54:22] – Emily’s hopeful words for the future of young Catholics.

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Episode Takeaways

• Catholic Answers Live is more than a call-in show—it serves as a spiritual lifeline for Catholics, seekers, and even non-Catholics worldwide.
• Donations are essential; each contribution is directly connected to lives changed—people entering the Church, discovering vocations, or simply deepening their faith understanding.
• The ministry’s approach—dialogue over debate, multiple voices, rich content—makes it accessible, trustworthy, and deeply transformative.
• Final call: As the episode makes clear, Catholic Answers is sustained by its listeners—a “communal effort” where every donor plays a truly vital part.

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Listen if You Want To:

• Be uplifted by real testimonies of conversion and renewal.
• Learn how Catholic Answers’ approach to apologetics fosters gentle, fruitful dialogue.
• Discover creative ways to evangelize—even if you’re shy or reluctant.
• Find hope for the future of the Church among younger generations.

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For more information or to support the ministry:

Visit catholicanswersradio.com or call 888-291-8000.

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Transcript

[Cy Kellett]

Buying or selling your home. Real Estate for Life can connect you with a pro life real estate agent. When Real Estate for Life receives a referral fee, they donate 65% to Catholic Answers. Learn more at realestateforlife.org welcome back to Catholic Answers Live. I am Cy Kellett, your host. Fired up because we're coming into the last hour of our pledge drive and look for us, the number is 145,000. That's the one we know. We hit 145,000. We are solid for the next three months given the fact that we have lots of folks who have in recent years signed up to be monthly donors. And at the moment, right now, as we start the last hour, we're 37,000 away from that. Have we ever had a $37,000 hour before? Yes, we have. Is it hard to do? Yes, it is. But ready to come to you and you for your help and support this hour. Last hour, we met the match. So that's five hours in a row of me meeting the match. That is just as good a news as can be. This hour, the same match we have had for the last five hours. This final hour of the Catholic Answers pledge drive, there's a $20,000 match for anyone who gives in any amount at 888-291-8000. Right now, 12 lines open because there was a big rush there at the top of the hour, but they're open to call and we we're renewed in our match money. So if you want to make sure your money's getting matched, we're at the beginning of the hour. It's all getting matched up to $2000-088829-18000 also, we still have the match money for those who can give $500 or more. So we're gonna actually, if we're gonna make. Oh, wait, are we $33,000 away from the total goal, Darren? Okay, so we're within striking distance. But, but if we're gonna make that $30,000 goal this hour, we're going to need some folks who can give one, two or maybe even $5,000, as Ramona, God bless her, did last hour from Delaware. So could you pick up the phone and call right now? 11 lines open. Early in the hour is better than later because it allows other people to get in later in the hour. 888-291-8000 Chris Cech, president of Catholic Answers, here with me.

[Chris Chek]

Sigh. It is. We're getting on the end of the week here and the End of the day, and, you know, my mind starts to fail, so I'm trying to keep up with you. Okay, so $20,000 is going to match any gift that comes in the building.

[Cy Kellett]

That's it? Yes.

[Chris Chek]

Right. So 888-291-8000 from $5 to 5 million?

[Cy Kellett]

Well, no.

[Chris Chek]

Well, it won't be matched because it's up to $20,000.

[Cy Kellett]

Yes.

[Chris Chek]

Right. Okay, very good.

[Cy Kellett]

You sc.

[Chris Chek]

No.

[Cy Kellett]

If you want to give 5 million, the answer is yes. But I just don't want to mislead you.

[Chris Chek]

And by the way, if you're uncomfortable putting 5 million on your credit card, just let the person know.

[Cy Kellett]

Just venmo it over. Yeah, we'll find a way.

[Chris Chek]

We'll send an invoice. Okay, so 20,000 for any gift, and then. But you said something about 33,000, so I did some quick math in my head, even though I studied English. So that's $13,000.

[Cy Kellett]

Yeah. That goes beyond the max.

[Chris Chek]

The difference. Okay, so there's another $13,000 that's going to match again, gifts of over 500.

[Cy Kellett]

That's not exactly how it works, but.

[Chris Chek]

See, this is why I'm asking you.

[Cy Kellett]

Let me just see if I can explain it the way that I don't.

[Chris Chek]

Know what you do before you do. My friends, there are seven lines open. We have an hour left on our challenge. We have a long way to go. 888-291-8000. Okay.

[Cy Kellett]

882-91-8000. In order to be fully funded for the next three months, we need to raise $145,000. We are now $33,000 away from reaching that amount. That is the $33,000. We are now $33,000 away from being fully funded for the next three months. Our match money for this hour is $20,000.

[Chris Chek]

But there's some other match money that is going to double that again, and that's an undisclosed sum. That's.

[Cy Kellett]

They're just going to tell us when we're out of it. That's basically where we are.

[Chris Chek]

So that could be a million dollars.

[Cy Kellett]

I don't. I'm pretty sure it's not. Why do you keep saying that? It's not a million dollars?

[Chris Chek]

First time I said 5 million.

[Cy Kellett]

Yeah. Okay, so it's coming down to a more rational number.

[Chris Chek]

888-291-8000. My friends, there are 10 lines open. If you are able to make a $500 gift to Catholic Answers live, it is going to be tripled. Anything over $500 is tripled. So 500, 600, 1000, 6000. It will be tripled.

[Cy Kellett]

888-291-8000. I will tell you this, there are 10 lines open right now. I want to than for you to fill up those lines. I will say, look at the $50 level. If you could just. Let's say you have never made a gift to Catholic answers before. If you make a gift of $50, one of the things that we want to do is be your friend. And we don't mean that in a bad way. We want to have a relationship with people because this is a communal effort. So you're kind of reaching out to us if you make that gift. We'd like to respond to that $50 gift well, two ways. One, it's going to be matched, so it'll be $100 to us. And the other is we'll send you Andrew Peterin's book the Faith Unbox, a beautiful book about how the Catholic Church is just not going to fit into the boxes people want to fit it into. Fit the church into. And it's also a bit of a memoir from Andrew Pettiprin, who's a wonderful former Anglican priest, now Catholic, a fantastic person. Now, for some people, an introductory gift is $250. So if you can give $250, we'll give you the Faith Unboxing, but we'll also give you cancelled 12 Catholic heroes that history turned into villains, including Marie Antoinette, who was a better person than you know about because history lies about her. Pick up the phone and call and give your $250 gift and we'll give you both of those books at $50. The Faith Unboxed, 888-291-8000 or catholicanswersradio.com Sy.

[Chris Chek]

Can I just make an executive decision now? Do I have that authority?

[Cy Kellett]

You're the executive. I believe you do.

[Chris Chek]

Okay, so here's the other thing I'm going. If you will make a five hundred or more dollar gift, in addition to the two previous books that we will send you, we're gonna send you a third book. And no one even knows about this book yet because it just arrived today on my desk.

[Cy Kellett]

Oh, no way.

[Chris Chek]

You're gonna.

[Cy Kellett]

This is exciting.

[Chris Chek]

Wait, am I allowed to say this? Okay, wait, I asked permission?

[Cy Kellett]

Yeah, you could say it.

[Chris Chek]

Okay, so do you have it here? I don't.

[Cy Kellett]

It's in my desk.

[Chris Chek]

It's not even here.

[Cy Kellett]

I have it in my office.

[Chris Chek]

Okay, we'll get it in the break.

[Cy Kellett]

All right.

[Chris Chek]

Eight, eight, 829-18000.

[Cy Kellett]

Brand new book.

[Chris Chek]

It's a brand new book. It just came out today. And guess who wrote it, listeners. Just guess. Guess who wrote it.

[Cy Kellett]

Steve Dawson and Cy Kellett.

[Chris Chek]

Cy Kellett.

[Cy Kellett]

Yes.

[Chris Chek]

This is a magnificent book and you're gonna love it. It's called how to talk about Jesus with anyone.

[Cy Kellett]

Yep. You want to learn to talk about Jesus with anyone? This is the book for you.

[Chris Chek]

Actually, my friends, this is the one thing that you should want to. Yeah, no, I mean, you may want to learn how to build model airplanes or. What else would people want to learn? Si.

[Cy Kellett]

Play the guitar.

[Chris Chek]

Oh, I definitely want to learn.

[Cy Kellett]

Make your own cheese.

[Chris Chek]

Yes, that's right.

[Cy Kellett]

Do you want me to list all the hobbies?

[Chris Chek]

But if there's one thing that people should want to learn how to do.

[Cy Kellett]

How to talk with anyone about Jesus.

[Chris Chek]

About Jesus.

[Cy Kellett]

Yeah.

[Chris Chek]

888-291-8000. And if you are able to make a gift of $500 or more, which will be triple matched. 500 is $1,500. We're gonna send you that book. In addition to the other two really great books that Cy mentioned, which are really great. And more executive decision here. Cy Kellett will sign it.

[Cy Kellett]

Oh, my goodness. Yes, I will. I'd be happy to sign the other.

[Chris Chek]

Two books if you want.

[Cy Kellett]

291-8000. But let me. You know, I'll tell you a little something about that book because I say Steve Dawson. Because if you don't know Steve Dawson, Steve Dawson is the founder of St. Paul Street Evangelization. And so for years and years, Steve has been on the street talking with people about Jesus.

[Chris Chek]

Literally on the street.

[Cy Kellett]

Like, yeah, they do go on the street and do that. And Steve is not a street preacher. He is not a guy that you. I was just on vacation with my wife and there was a guy with a bullhorn standing on a box talking about Jesus. And he was doing it in a way that was extremely off putting. And that's not what Steve does. But what Steve has developed is a way of engaging with people so that the gospel message doesn't just become a guy yelling at you on a box, but it becomes a personal invitation.

[Chris Chek]

8882-9180-0088-8291, 8000. My friends, there are 10 lines open. Here's what I want to tell you about Steve. And this is why, my friends, you should want to get this book. Steve doesn't come by this naturally.

[Cy Kellett]

No.

[Chris Chek]

The first thing he will Say is I feel uncomfortable. Would that be the word that he would use? Probably, yeah. I'm reluctant to talk to people about Jesus.

[Cy Kellett]

Yeah.

[Chris Chek]

So I think that describes many, maybe most of the people listening. I could be wrong. 888291, 8009 lines open. All of us have felt this way at one time or another in our lives. So Steve has come up with, as you say, a system that even the reluctant. Or a method. What's a good word for it? Si. I mean, you were intimately involved in the creation of this.

[Cy Kellett]

Yeah, I would say. I mean, it's very flexible, so it's maybe. But system or method or process or way of engaging with another human being to do the thing that Paul VI talks about, one heart communicating with another. One soul speaks to heart. Soul speaking to another soul about the person of Jesus Christ. And you know what? It doesn't start with. It doesn't start with you talking. The system doesn't start.

[Chris Chek]

The process doesn't start with the system already. Actually, I don't really, because I love the sound of my own voice, but I get where you're going.

[Cy Kellett]

But I mean, he can help you talk to kids, your kids, your estranged relatives, the person you meet on the street. It's a wonderful, wonderful opportunity to learn an invaluable skill, which is how to talk about Jesus with anyone.

[Chris Chek]

My friends. There are seven lines open. 888-291-8000. Last hour of our drive. All gifts of $500 or more, which also means $42 a month, if you want to do it that way, will be tripled. All gifts will be matched, no matter how much you can give. We're grateful. We are really encouraging those gifts of $500 or more. And we're going to throw in this third book.

[Cy Kellett]

888-291-80008 lines open. We invited a special GU.

[Chris Chek]

Reluctance about talking about Jesus Christ.

[Cy Kellett]

I wonder if she would say no reluctance. She's one of those people that has a naturally charismatic personality. She does. So I don't. But I wonder if she would say no reluctance.

[Chris Chek]

We'll let her say.

[Cy Kellett]

Emily Torres is our guest. Welcome, Emily. Thanks for coming.

[Emily Torres]

Hi, Si. Hi, Chris. How are you?

[Cy Kellett]

Really good. Really good. Now that you're here to rescue us, you're a convert to the Catholic faith.

[Emily Torres]

That is correct. Yes.

[Cy Kellett]

And Catholic answers played a role in your conversion to the Catholic faith.

[Emily Torres]

Yeah, I actually Tim Staples, watching his video about Mary was one of the pivotal moments for me where I realized, oh, our lady really matters. And the Things that my church was teaching about Our lady was not nearly as. As the Bible and early Christians believed about her. Like Tim Staples represented in his video. So, yeah. And then when I was looking into the church, of course, whenever I googled any question that had to do with Catholicism, your guys articles are the first ones that come up. So you guys were a huge help in me researching the faith and then ultimately converting.

[Cy Kellett]

But why do you say you guys? Aren't you one of us?

[Emily Torres]

I mean, I know I keep saying that and it's so weird. It's like a fever dream that I'm part of the team now.

[Cy Kellett]

A fever dream.

[Emily Torres]

I still haven't. It's like a good fever dream. Like, oh my gosh, this is crazy. This is insane. Like I never in the most. In like my most wildest dreams would I have pictured at 22 years old I'd be working for you guys. It's really a dream come true.

[Chris Chek]

I just want to object to one thing that Emily says. She doesn't work for us. She is completely part of the team. Full time employee here at Catholic Cancer. She works with us. She works alongside us.

[Cy Kellett]

Well, she works for me though. She might work with you, but for me she works. That's not true, Emily. I'm sorry.

[Chris Chek]

As do Sy, all of the people who support our show.

[Cy Kellett]

Oh, yeah, right. We're all collaborators on this.

[Chris Chek]

Everyone here is a partner in the vineyard. And my friends, I'm so glad we have Emily on right now. Eight lines open. 888-291-8000. I'm so glad we have Emily on right now because Emily is an example of the kind of. I don't want to say talent, but I don't have a better word. Just a kind of human person.

[Cy Kellett]

Did you just use the word talent? So it's okay. I think it's okay.

[Chris Chek]

The kind of human heart. That's what I'm gonna say. Cause Emily has a giant heart. And a giant brain, but a giant heart too. I mean, you can have a giant.

[Cy Kellett]

Brain and a giant following on YouTube now.

[Chris Chek]

Yes, she does. Yes, she does. And actually she's kind of tall. 888-291-8008 lines open. But because of the generosity of our supporters, Emily is the kind of person we can bring onto the full time team here at Catholic Answers. She's an extraordinary young lady.

[Cy Kellett]

Yes. So we did want to talk about you, Emily. But you said you want to talk about other people. I invited you to come on and you said, I want to talk about other one of the things we have not done during the pledge drive, as well as we should in the past, is share what people say to us and why. Do you know what people say about Catholic Answers in, you know, in their. Why. Why would you be privy to that information?

[Emily Torres]

Yes. So I am leading the monthly giving club known as Society 315. So anybody who gives defenders donations. Yeah, yeah, there's. There's a little change happening soon. Spoiler alert. But so any donor who gives us 10 dol or more a month, I manage them, I send them monthly emails updating them on what they're giving is contributing to all the work and mission that they're part of. With Catholic Answers now and Thomas Graf and I, who is, you know, the behind the scenes on all of our social media pages, he. We collaborated and so he posted on our Facebook, our X account, our Instagram, our TikTok, and basically asked, how has Catholic Answers changed your life? And so we got thousands of responses from people all over.

[Chris Chek]

Did we really?

[Emily Torres]

Thousands, yeah. We got so much feedback from people. And so I kind of made a list of all the ones that were just super informative and super touching, to be honest. After I read them, I was moved by a lot of people's testimonies. And so I wanted to share them with you guys and just with our audience because, I mean, some people specifically called out the radio show how the radio show was transformative for them. And I mean, that's what we're funding for. So no better time before Emily does.

[Chris Chek]

Oh, there we go.

[Cy Kellett]

Tell you what, that's a tease. Emily's gonna share some of what we got back when we asked people what it meant to. What this apostolate meant to them. These are not words just for us. And we were really remiss in keeping them for ourselves because this is an apostolate shared by thousands of people. We cannot be in business three months from now if people stop giving. We can't we out of business. So I don't. And I want to say that because. Because that I think conveys the truth about the fact that the donor is part of the work. It cannot be done without the donor.

[Chris Chek]

Essential.

[Cy Kellett]

Essential to the work. We've got a $20,000 for match. Emily, if you can hang on just a quick sec. If you don't mind, I'm gonna let people know where we are and ask people to call. We've used up $4,000 of our $20,000 match. $16,000 left. Only one call on right now. And I know why. Because Everybody wants to hear what Emily has to say.

[Chris Chek]

I was thinking the exact same thing. I said we're not gonna have her back on again.

[Cy Kellett]

I know. Because they want to hear y.

[Chris Chek]

Stop. We're gonna get some boring people.

[Cy Kellett]

Yeah, we need to get really dull people on. Like an apologist. Oh, no. I'm sorry. That was. That was mean. 12 lines open right now. Ignore Emily for a minute, pick up the phone and call. We really want to use.

[Chris Chek]

You can dial and listen to Emily at the same time.

[Cy Kellett]

888-291-8000. Or go safe and secure online to catholicanswersradio.com Please don't let the phones just die right now. Can you come in at that $50 a month level and we'll send you the faith unboxed. Could you come. Excuse me. Not at the $50 a month level. At $50. Could you give $50 right now? It'll be doubled and we'll give you the faith unboxed. Could you give $250 right now? It'll be doubled and we'll give you the faith unboxed. And cancelled. The book about 12 great historical figures who got canceled. But the truth is, they were good Catholics. And we'd love to send you that book. It'll inspire you when you ever feel like, oh, I might get canceled for my beliefs. 888-2891. 8000.

[Chris Chek]

A bonus.

[Cy Kellett]

And then a bonus gift. If you give 500 or more. You get the new book from Steve Dawson, the founder of St. Paul with his co author Sy Kellett.

[Chris Chek]

It's a Syke Ellet book too.

[Cy Kellett]

Okay, 100%, that's fine.

[Chris Chek]

Also a psych ellipt.

[Cy Kellett]

But $500 or more, we're gonna throw that book in as well. And everyone giving $500 or more. You're really helping us now because signed copy, we're almost $30,000 away from being fully funded. So a gift of a thousand dollars is huge to us right now. It'll be triple two and you'll get all those books. 888-291-8010 lines open. Emily Torres. How do people know you on the Internet? What's the name they know you by?

[Emily Torres]

Catholic converts. And I'm mostly on TikTok. I'm also on Instagram. I'm also on YouTube. My biggest presence is currently on TikTok. I'm hoping to change that, though.

[Cy Kellett]

Yep. Well, that's fine. But you're also a member of the family here at Catholic Answers. And now you're going to Share with us some of the things people said recently about what this apostolate means to them. And I hope that this will encourage more people to pick up the phone and call, because you are participating in something that is changing lives every time you give Emily Torres. Give us one. Give us one. Give us one.

[Emily Torres]

You liked? Yes. Okay, so this is Karen. Her story was amazing. So she said, I was away from the church. I explored all sorts of faiths and philosophies before returning to Christianity, but still did not return to the Catholic Church. I was listening to a lot of Moody Bible Institute. I enjoyed the talks, but it felt like something was missing. One day I was driving down the street listening to them, and I said out loud, I wonder if there's a Catholic answer to that. A few blocks later, I noticed a car with the Catholic Answers bumper sticker.

[Chris Chek]

Oh, no way.

[Emily Torres]

I tuned in, returned to the church, and now that I understand my faith, I know I will never leave again. Thank you, Catholic Answers.

[Chris Chek]

So, Sy, people are going to say, we're making this up. We're not. We are not. And anyone who believes in the work of the action of the Holy Spirit is going to say, that's exactly what happened, right?

[Cy Kellett]

Yeah. Oh, yeah. That's how. That's because we've all those of us who are Catholic. Look, it had to become personal for you at some point. And we all know how the Holy Spirit works. And that is beautiful. Holy Spirit work right there. That is such a cool story.

[Chris Chek]

The other thing I want to say here, Sy, and it's been part directly related to this latest testimony that Emily shared with us. It has been essential and part of the work of Catholic Answers from the very beginning, with Carl Keating founding the apostolate back in 1970, 1979, and then with the start of Catholic Answers Live 27 years ago. And it has been conversation with Protestants, it has been conversation with our separated brethren, and of course, it's expanded dramatically to atheists, relativists, non believers, people who just don't care, people absolutely hostile to the faith. And yes, we want to engage all those people as well. But at the very beginning of our work was this conversation with Protestants. And so many of them have been brought into the fullness of the truth, which is what we want for them. We want the fullness of the truth. We want them to have the fullness of the grace of the sacraments. We want them to have the absolution that they can get in sacramental confession. Of course, most of all, we want to bring them to Body, blood, soul and divinity of the real presence of Jesus Christ. I am always with you in the Eucharist. So, my friends. 888-291-8000. Can I say this? I kind of feel like the Protestants for us are the low hanging fruit. They're there.

[Cy Kellett]

We're so close.

[Chris Chek]

Yes. Is it okay that I said that?

[Cy Kellett]

Yeah, yeah.

[Chris Chek]

I just. They're so close, so. And we're at a moment in history, Sy, I think, where I feel very strongly where the Protestant churches are just, they're kind of collapsing or dissipating. Dissipating is almost a better word. Their numbers are fewer and fewer every year. And the real believers among them are saying, okay, obviously this is not, this is not the fullness as Emily described. I was listening to Moody Bible, but I wasn't getting it all. 8882-9188-8291-8000. 11 lines open, my friend. So, my friends, when you support the show, you are helping, of course, all the work we do, all the people we reach, but let's bring in our separated brethren because when we do, my friends, they're the combat multipliers. They're going to be. They're going to, as Emily was, and now working full time for Catholic answers. Glory to God. 888-291-8000.

[Cy Kellett]

Eleven lines open. That's a lot of lines open. Can we fill those up? Could you come in and make a gift now? Maybe you've never given to Catholic Answers before. Maybe you could come in at the $10 a month level. It's all matched dollar for dollar. That means what would be $120 over the course of the year is $240 to us. 888-291-8000. I know why people are not calling at the moment. They want to hear more from Emily. 888-291-8000 is the number to call. Please pick up that phone and call 882-91-8000. I want to thank a few people, Emily. And the reason I'm doing this is this. Will you give, give people a chance to call. But also I can, you know, share some of the nice gifts that people have been giving very, very graciously to help us. Ryan gave. Oh, we talked about Ryan already, but Ryan, thank you. Ryan's in Ocia and he already was giving $50 and he gave 50 more. So Ryan coming into the church and giving more. Vin from Virginia just gave $500. Also, Mary from Cairo, Nebraska, sending a check for $500. Thank you both. Those will be trip. Thank you so, so much for that. Jaden in Kansas just gave 100 and he's getting confirmed next month. Jaden, congratulations. Praise God for that. Michelle from Louisiana, $100, one time donation and is very thankful for all that Catholic Answers does. Michelle, we're very grateful for you sharing that $100 with us. Let's fill up those lines. There's nine lines open right now. Eight, eight eight, two nine, one, eight thousand. We've still got $15,000 to use up on the match this hour.

[Chris Chek]

Eight, eight, eight.

[Cy Kellett]

Emily, give us another one. Emily Torres, stay with us.

[Emily Torres]

Our apostolate is not just transforming like individual lives, but it's having a ripple effect like you kind of mentioned, Sy. So this one, actually this person reached out to me over email. So I thought that was nice. I got to have a conversation with him. His name is James and he said Catholic Answers brought me to accept the truth of the Catholic faith. And I was brought into the church in 2024 because of you and am now discerning a vocation to the priesthood. So it's just amazing to think if this man enters the church and becomes a priest, like he's not just serving us, but he's going to be serving an entire parish, community or, you know, beyond.

[Cy Kellett]

So praise God.

[Emily Torres]

Very exciting.

[Chris Chek]

Sy. Here's another thing about these testimonies. Emily is giving. The work that you do, my friends, is going to be multiplied by the Holy Spirit. And of course, the classic example of this is the beautiful story of the boy in the gospel who says, I've got this much bread, I've got this much fish, you know, do with it what you can. And then of course, what does our Lord do? He feeds the 5,000 and there's a lot left over. So, my friends, we are asking you to come with your loaves and your fishes. And maybe it's a few loaves and a few fishes or maybe you have the means to, you know, give us a truckload of fish. But whatever it is that you're able to do, it's going to be multiplied as a consequence of your generosity, more and more people are going to know about the love and mercy of Jesus Christ. Five lines open. 888-291-8000. Eight, 882-918000. All gifts of $5 or more, triple.

[Cy Kellett]

14,000 to go. And just a half hour left in this pledge drive. More testimonies from Emily Torres right after this on Catholic Answers Live.

[Announcer]

Will you do us a favor right now, clear your mind of all other thoughts and reflect for just a moment on how Catholic Answers Live has made a difference in your life. Has our broadcast made your afternoon commute more meaningful? Perhaps you've learned how to explain the faith to family or friends in a more vibrant, convincing way. Something you heard here may have been just the thing you needed to look into joining or returning to the Catholic faith. All of these are serious reasons to be thankful, first and foremost to God, but also to all who have financially made it possible for us to air the show each day. Believe me, our gratitude could not be deeper. And we're coming to you today during our quarterly membership drive, asking you to join the ranks of the great people whose gifts and sacrifices have helped to turn around countless lives over the years and very possibly helped make an eternal difference for many of them. Think about that for a moment. That's what your prayers and donations to Catholic Answers Live are doing. What a tremendous opportunity is being presented to you right now. Please don't let it pass you by. Call 888-291-8000 or visit catholicanswersradio.com and let one of our fast, friendly customer service team members take your place. Large or small, it doesn't matter. What matters is that you call right now. Again, it's 888-291-8000 or catholicanswersradio.com we're offering some great appreciation gifts that are sure to deepen your faith life even more. But what's best is you'll have the confidence that when you turn your radio on tomorrow or next week or 12 days from now, we'll be here boldly and charitably presenting the truth to a world that's searching for precisely that. Your pledge is vital to keeping Catholic Answers live on the air. Will you make the call today to 882-91-8000 or donate securely online at catholicanswersradio.com thank you so much in advance. Give now at catholicanswersradio dot com or 888-29-1800.

[Cy Kellett]

Welcome back to Catholic Answers Live. I am Cy Kellett, your host. We are in the midst of our quarterly pledge drive. As a matter of fact, we're in the last half hour of the quarterly pledge drive, and I'm going to tell you what we need, and that has always worked for us before because we have very, very generous listeners. We need $14,500 to use the matchup. We need $27,989 to be fully funded. I have a strong feeling that if we are, this is just a feeling, but like I said, I like to just tell the truth and let people figure out what they're going to do. Okay, now we need $13,454 to meet the match. This is the feeling I have. If we meet the match, then we're going to reach our overall goal because there will be people who will call tonight overnight or people who will just be extra generous to us one way or another. And so I feel like, let's just meet this match. $13,400 to go, and we're going to be in great shape. There's six lines open. 888-291-8000. The match means this. When I say use up the match. If you call and pledge, if you give us a hundred dollars, then the ma. The pla. The. The match money goes down by $100 because you got matched for $100. If you give us $500, that takes 500 off. So we have $13,454 available right now. So maybe you want to call and just give $454. Maybe you want to call and give $13,000. Okay, I'm being a little bit aspirational there, but eight, eight, eight. Four lines open. Eight calls on right now, So a lot to be grateful for. Thank you.

[Chris Chek]

May I express that a little more simply? If you give $100, it's $200 to Catholic Answers.

[Cy Kellett]

That's it.

[Chris Chek]

Yeah. How about that?

[Cy Kellett]

There you go.

[Chris Chek]

So if you give $100,000, it's 200,000 to Catholic Answers.

[Cy Kellett]

888-291-8000. Emily Torres. That's Chris Cech, our president here at Catholic answers. Emily Torres.

[Chris Chek]

Two lines open, my friends. 888-291-8000.

[Cy Kellett]

This is my favorite thing I'm gonna say about Emily Torres. I've just realized this is my favorite thing about doing the show with her, because I've interviewed her. No, every time you go, emily Torres, blush, full blush comes over her.

[Chris Chek]

That's not the lighting. No.

[Cy Kellett]

It's like she changes a complete color scheme. I go, okay, I'm just talking, and Emily's fine. Everything's fine. I go, okay, we're gonna go to Emily Torres. Full red, 100% red. All right, Emily. Well, go ahead. Go ahead.

[Emily Torres]

Okay. So. All right. Another testimony here. Here. This goes to show how Catholic Answers, again, doesn't just transform the individual, but an entire family. So this person, Newell Wrote Catholic Answers had big influence. All but one kid converted. One son is a Focus missionary. Our brother is a CFR priest. My wife opened a Catholic bookstore. So it's just. Again, that doesn't even seem real.

[Cy Kellett]

That doesn't seem real.

[Chris Chek]

Read that one again. Say that again. Read that one again.

[Emily Torres]

Okay, okay. All but one kid converted. One son is a Focus missionary. Our brother is a CFR priest. So CFR opened a Catholic bookstore.

[Cy Kellett]

Wow.

[Chris Chek]

CFR are the Franciscans of the Renewal. Right.

[Cy Kellett]

So that's Father Greshel.

[Chris Chek]

Yeah. Father Benedict Groeschel.

[Cy Kellett]

Benedict Groeschel, 888291, 8005 lines open right now. But this is one thing, Emily. What you illustrate with that is something I know that most of our older listeners get is we're people my age. We are concerned about our kids and our grandkids. Look what they're getting. And so one of the things that we do is try to be there for your kids and your grandkids. Speak in a way that they're willing to listen to. I mean, I do think that we're not. The fact that we're not combative, but that we're informational, I think means a lot, actually. I think it means a lot. Like, Chris talked a lot about the Protestants and where we are in our relationship with Protestants. We've always spoken with Protestants, but it's always like he said. He used the word conversation. We are not trying to bash you over the head and prove that you are wrong about everything. We're trying to say Jesus Christ gave the world seven sacraments. You can get those seven sacraments in the church, and they will save your soul. And I know people that are going to think, well, he thinks that we're not saved. I'm not saying that you're not saved. I'm saying that you want that salvation to be complete, full, final. I mean, the fullness of life. He gives himself to you in the sacraments. Come and get him. That's what we're saying.

[Chris Chek]

May I say Si. And because I don't mean to diminish the importance of saving souls, the other thing that those sacraments will do is they will give you a fuller life on this side of the veil.

[Cy Kellett]

Absolutely.

[Chris Chek]

They will give you a closer relationship. How much closer of a relationship, my friends, can a human person have with our Lord then to receive him every day? If he's a daily Mass goer in the holy sacrament of the altar, the Eucharist, how much closer can you get?

[Cy Kellett]

Well, you can't.

[Chris Chek]

No, you cannot. You cannot. So to all of my separate brethren who are listening to the show right now, who desire a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, and I desire that for you. But actually, come and get it. Yeah, come and get it.

[Cy Kellett]

It's being served, like, literally, come and get it.

[Chris Chek]

888-2. Come and get him. Yeah. Yeah. 888-291-8000. My friends, there are eight lines open, and we have a ways to go.

[Cy Kellett]

It's it. If it's a personal relationship. You said they want a personal relationship. I said come and get it. You see what I'm saying? I just want to clarify that I was not making a grammatical error.

[Chris Chek]

You can do both.

[Cy Kellett]

It's very important to me.

[Chris Chek]

888-291-8008. Eight lines open.

[Cy Kellett]

Nine lines open. Come. $11,500 to go. We are 11. We're $11,500 away from using up the match. Our guest is Emily Torres. Watch, watch. See, she didn't do it. She was like, slow breathing or something that time.

[Chris Chek]

Million.

[Emily Torres]

If any. Oh.

[Cy Kellett]

888-291-8000.

[Emily Torres]

Okay, I was gonna say, guys, if you're young like me, I hate picking up the phone and calling people. Okay, so go to give.catholic.com to. To just do it over the phone so that way you don't have to face anybody over the phone if you feel awkward about that. But you guys, young people, we can give. We can get. We have $10 to spare. We have $20 to spare.

[Cy Kellett]

Oh, God bless you.

[Emily Torres]

I know you guys can do it, so just give us a chance. And on another testimonial note, okay, we're talking about how, you know, we want to talk to Protestants, and this person is a Protestant. They wrote to us. They said. As a Presbyterian pastor, I've still found it to be remarkably helpful in giving me a grasp on how others approach f with clarity and conviction. Catholic Answer's willingness to engage challenging questions with both depth and sensitivity has broadened my own view. I appreciate its commitment to reason, dialogue, rooted in a reverence for scripture and tradition. It's a reminder that unity in Christ requires love and humility.

[Chris Chek]

Sigh. Emily. That man is gonna die a Catholic. That man is gonna die a Catholic.

[Cy Kellett]

Yeah. But any. And what a gracious person.

[Chris Chek]

Yes, indeed. What a gracious. The door is open. His heart is open. Open.

[Cy Kellett]

Yeah.

[Chris Chek]

And his art is open because of, as he observes, the joy and the generosity and the charity and can I say, the good humor with which the show.

[Cy Kellett]

We hope some bad humor.

[Chris Chek]

Bad humor can be Good humor.

[Cy Kellett]

Some attempted humor.

[Chris Chek]

We might call my friends. There are nine lines open. I want to underscore what Emily said about young people not wanting to pick up the phone. And I get it. That's fine. Catholic answersradio.com. but here, wait. I can even one up. You, Emily, text. Right? That's what you young people do. Text.

[Emily Torres]

True.

[Cy Kellett]

Yes.

[Chris Chek]

Text Catholic. I'll spell that. C, A, T, H, O, L, I, C. Text Catholic to 24,365. What? 24. 365. Get it?

[Cy Kellett]

Because when do we love Jesus, Emily? When do we love Jesus?

[Emily Torres]

24. 7, 365 days.

[Cy Kellett]

That's exactly it.

[Announcer]

No cap.

[Cy Kellett]

No cap.

[Chris Chek]

Right, Emily?

[Emily Torres]

No Cap.

[Cy Kellett]

We think. We think we are so awesome that we know that phrase.

[Chris Chek]

Yo, no Cap. I don't even know what that means. I think it's good.

[Cy Kellett]

Not a lie. That means it's not a lie.

[Chris Chek]

Yeah. Oh, okay. All right.

[Cy Kellett]

I got to just say one thing, Emily, then I want you to give us more because I'm loving hearing the testimonies. 10 lines open. $10,000 to go. 23 minutes left in the program. $10,000 to go. 10 lines open, 23 minutes. Pick up the phone and call. Everybody's getting mad. 888-291-8000. Emily, you went through thousands of these. Give us some more testimonies.

[Emily Torres]

Alrighty. So this is from Luke. He said, I am Catholic entirely aside from the action of the Holy Spirit due to the work of Catholic Answers and Mark Barnes. Old blog, bad Catholic. I love Mark Barnes. That is not a hyperbole. I cannot express how grateful I am that I found those recordings of the radio show in my podcast app back in early high school. And then I stuck with it till I was received and confirmed by junior year. It has changed my entire life in all the best ways.

[Cy Kellett]

Oh, that is what Jesus does. He changes our life in all the best ways. Isn't that cool, though? This is just archived stuff. He found the archived stuff.

[Emily Torres]

Yeah. Or this was years ago.

[Cy Kellett]

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Emily Torres]

Yep.

[Cy Kellett]

Emily, God bless you. Thanks. Okay, so we got more of those. I don't think I have to take a break. I think I can just keep going.

[Chris Chek]

I love that he mentioned Mark Barnes, whom I love dearly. He's a personal friend at New Polity.

[Cy Kellett]

At New Polity. Okay. I knew. I knew Mark Barnes. I've interviewed Mark Barnes.

[Chris Chek]

Best magazine in the whole wide world. 8882-918000-88891, 8000.

[Cy Kellett]

Eight lines open.

[Chris Chek]

Eight lines open. But this is what I really love about that testimony. This is how God brings different means, actions. What would Carlo call them? Secondary causes. Causes different secondary causes into action. And this is what Catholic answers is all about. It's about cooperating. So we have a friendship with New Polity. We have a friendship with Mark Barnes. But actually God knew about this friendship even before. Even before I knew who Mark Barnes was. And he arranged all of this. And this is what he does so beautifully. So a little Catholic answers here, a little bad Catholic there. You throw in some Scott Hahn and now Luke's a Catholic.

[Cy Kellett]

That's right.

[Chris Chek]

You know, it's beautiful.

[Cy Kellett]

Yeah. You know, you know, there was. That's why I think even like are guys debating, they go out and do a debate and. Okay, so you don't always win a debate and I do. And I don't even think actually like at heart, Joe or Tim. Certainly not Tim. Tim couldn't care less whether. Couldn't care less whether or not he wins a debate. He goes there to present the fullness of the Catholic faith. And if everyone's like, Tim got owned, but one person got the Catholic faith, Tim's like, okay, that's fine with me. You know, and I think even these, like some, you know, it was awful going through the new atheist movement for all those years. It was awful because there were just lies and meanness all over the place. But in the end, Jesus is there giving people the answer through things like EWTN or Catholic answers live or New Polity. And so we can see these things as opportunities. Really. They're opportunities.

[Chris Chek]

Amen. 8882-9180-0088-8291-8000. There are eight lines open. If you call my friends, you're going to talk to a full time employee of Catholic answers, not Emily Torres, because she's on the show right now, but any one of the. Any other number of the staff, let them know what brought you to or how Catholic Answers has changed your life. All gifts of $500 or more are being tripled. $500 is 1500 to us. And that gets. Gets us very close to.

[Cy Kellett]

I'll give the update. Emily, before you give another one, I'll give the update. All right. We need $9,287 by the top of this hour to meet our match. That is so exciting. That makes me think we can do this. We need $22,707 to be fully funded. I think we're gonna hit both of those numbers. There's eight lines open right now. 888291 8000. Use up that match. 9287, 291 8000.

[Chris Chek]

My friends, if $500 sounds like a heavy lift to you, $42 a month is the same as $500 and that will be tripled as well. You'll get the two books plus the special brand new book from Cy Kellett. How to talk to anyone about Jesus or How to talk about Jesus to anyone.

[Cy Kellett]

Yeah, but seven lines open. Emily Torres, a convert to the Catholic faith, a wonderful presenter of the Catholic faith using social media, and now a colleague here at Catholic Answers. Share with us some more testimonies that you have found about Catholic Answers.

[Emily Torres]

Yes. Okay, this one I thought was kind of, kind of funny. So if any of you guys are parents to teenagers or you have nieces or nephews that are teenagers or maybe you're a grandparent to them, you know, sometimes they like to ask a bunch of random questions. So this person said, when I worked in youth ministry, teens would always ask me a bunch of questions. Thankfully, on my two hour commute, I was listening to Catholic Answers the majority of the time. When they would say, how do you know all of this? I would reply with Catholic Answers live.

[Cy Kellett]

Oh, isn't that great? That is beautiful.

[Chris Chek]

Praise God.

[Cy Kellett]

Yeah. And that's what you're talking about.

[Chris Chek]

About.

[Cy Kellett]

It's a force multiplier.

[Chris Chek]

It is.

[Cy Kellett]

I mean, there's the caller getting their question answered, but there's also all of us who are listening. And I listened for years. I don't know. I may not have told you this because I don't know, but Emily, I never you told, told you this. When I used to listen to Catholic Answers live in my car, I would hear the question and then I would try to answer it real quick in my mind and I'd be like, and I want to see if I can do as good as this apologist.

[Chris Chek]

And the answer was never.

[Cy Kellett]

That's me too. I'd be like, oh, man, I wasn't even close on that.

[Chris Chek]

888-291-8000 SAI this is how our Lord set it up. He didn't appear to everyone all at once and say, I'm the way, the truth and the life, and give them all just a happy feeling inside. He started with 12 dudes and not especially educated guys either. St. John, he was educated. Right. But the rest of them were, you know, fishermen in the main. Well, there was a tax collector in there, so he knew how to count.

[Cy Kellett]

There's some kind of Negative stuff in there about John's education too. I don't know. I mean, he may have been able to. Let's not exaggerate.

[Chris Chek]

Wasn't that good?

[Cy Kellett]

No, no. This is just descriptions of him that suggest that he was unlettered.

[Chris Chek]

He was, but he clearly was something of a mystic.

[Cy Kellett]

Oh yeah, yeah. Certainly the writer of John's gospel. But that could be John the presbyter or it could be the apostle John.

[Chris Chek]

Hang on.

[Cy Kellett]

We're gonna have a fight right now, Emily. Stand back, Emily. There's gonna be a fight right now.

[Chris Chek]

Emily might want to weigh in. My point is Jesus started with 12. Can I say ordinary guys?

[Cy Kellett]

Yes. With very, very ordinary.

[Chris Chek]

Ordinary guys. He didn't just appear everywhere and say, it's done. Salvation. Here it is.

[Cy Kellett]

I'm sorry if I interrupted your point. I apologize.

[Chris Chek]

It's fine. I'm glad you did.

[Cy Kellett]

I just didn. That John was quite as educated as.

[Chris Chek]

You portrayed him, I think. Yeah. Okay. Very well. You take it up with him when you meet him. 888-291-80007 lines open. My friends. The point of course is Jesus started with 12. They didn't even have the Internet. They didn't have the wonders of technology that we take Advantage. Where we're Catholic.com, our website reaches millions a month, right? But there are a handful of really first rate apologists in the English speaking world. I mean, we can count them off. And most of them work for Catholic answers. But every single one of us, in fact, we're commanded to because of our baptism and our confirmation, we're commanded to evangelize. So we're all force multipliers. We're here to help, my friends. 888-291-8000. Let's get this show funded for the next quarter.

[Cy Kellett]

Nine lines open. $8,664 to go. And we've got 15 minutes to do it. $8,664 to Go. Can you make a thousand dollar gift right now and get us near that? We're $22,000 away from being fully funded. $22,000 away from fully funded. But that $8,000 number I just gave you, that gets us to fully use up the match this hour. Maybe you could do $1,000. You know what, Emily? There was a lady named Ramona first hour called from Delaware, gave $5,000. So that makes a huge difference with all the other giving people are doing when somebody steps up and does the. All right, nine lines open. I'm going to let Emily go back to her work by sharing some of the. Of these testimonies of what the. Of what Catholic Answers has meant to people. Nine lines open. The numbers. 888291, 8000.

[Emily Torres]

Alrighty. So Kenny wrote, 28 years ago, when I was newly into my faith, you helped me feel confident that the church is the church of Jesus and has the truth. I've never lost that confidence. And now, as a religion teacher, try to help my students have that same confidence.

[Cy Kellett]

He's a religion teacher. I mean. Yeah, Isn't that. I love it, too. I love it, too.

[Chris Chek]

888291 at,010 lines open and about 15 minutes left in the hour.

[Cy Kellett]

I'm waiting for you to read one that goes like this, like. I grew up on the south side of Chicago, and I was just kind of bumming around, and then I heard Catholic Answers Live and I became a bishop in Peru, and now I'm the Pope of the church. Thank you. Catholic Answers live. Leo the 14th, just tell me now, is there one like that in there?

[Chris Chek]

Are you.

[Cy Kellett]

Are we working our way towards that one?

[Emily Torres]

Unfortunately not. But if you give to 888-291-8000, we could get a story like that, right? So let's keep the hope.

[Chris Chek]

That's right.

[Cy Kellett]

Keep that hope alive. Eight lines open. Eight, eight.

[Chris Chek]

The future pope could be listening right now to Catholic Answers Live.

[Announcer]

Whoa.

[Cy Kellett]

That is weird. Don't look at me.

[Chris Chek]

That's not weird.

[Cy Kellett]

It's not me.

[Chris Chek]

No. Okay.

[Announcer]

Okay.

[Cy Kellett]

I thought you were.

[Chris Chek]

No, I said listen.

[Cy Kellett]

I thought you were saying something.

[Chris Chek]

I thought.

[Cy Kellett]

Listen, while we're doing the show.

[Chris Chek]

888-291-8000. My friends, let's get the future pope informed about the fullness of the faith.

[Cy Kellett]

Seven lines open. Can we fill all those up right now? I'll tell you what, we'll just keep having fun with Emily Torres sharing the good news with. With us. Emily herself is the good news. She's a convert to the Catholic faith who stepped out on her own and did all kinds of beautiful social ministries.

[Chris Chek]

I don't want to embarrass Emily, but she's 22.

[Cy Kellett]

I don't know how old.

[Emily Torres]

Yes.

[Chris Chek]

Is that what you said?

[Cy Kellett]

22?

[Chris Chek]

Yes. I would never have had. And I was in the Marines. I never would have had the courage to be so at ease behind a microphone like this.

[Cy Kellett]

I know. That freaks me out a little bit, too. That freaks me out a little bit.

[Chris Chek]

It's stunning to me.

[Cy Kellett]

Do you think the future host of Catholic Answers Live might be listening Today. Oh, do you think we might have that?

[Chris Chek]

Could be. Maybe the future host of Catholic Answers Live will be the pope. 888-291-8000.

[Cy Kellett]

He's like, I'm resigning. I found a better job. I'm resigning.

[Chris Chek]

Eight lines open, my friends. We've got to get what, about eight.

[Cy Kellett]

Grand left here we have eight. It says 8354. Is that correct?

[Chris Chek]

Open.

[Cy Kellett]

Look, it's 12 minutes now, and we've got to raise $8,000. We do need your help. I am going to make an appeal one more time before I go back to Emily, who's clearly. And either Chris or I, I do want to make an appeal to those who can make those larger gifts. Cause I think to be fully funded now, under $22,000 needed to be fully funded for the next three months. And look, when I say fully funded, what are you funding? You're funding us making this show and giving it away to hundreds of radio stations, to. I don't even know. I couldn't even tell you how many apps, how many websites, how many services around the world. You hear the calls. They come in from Africa, from. From Europe, from Australia, from South America, from North America. That's because we give the show away free. That's the magic of this. We have the best apologists that money can buy, and then we put them on the air for free around the world. We need you to pick up the phone and call now. 888-291-8000.

[Chris Chek]

It's free. Psy. But it's also trusted. If someone wants to know what the Catholic Church teaches and why, she teaches it unvarnished, of course, but with joy and with charity, but not with cant. Is that the word? Or opinion. Grumpiness or snarl, which is a lot of what's out there.

[Cy Kellett]

I think now they have a general modifier for all that attitude. It's called Twitter. So you just say without Twitter.

[Chris Chek]

And I see a lot of these people and many of them are doctrinal. You know, in the main, they're sound.

[Cy Kellett]

They're fine.

[Chris Chek]

Yeah, yeah. In the main they're sound. But I think to myself, are you trying to draw attention to yourself? Are you trying to bring people to Jesus Christ? Which is. Is evident to anyone who listens to this show that we do not want to draw attention to ourselves. 8 8, 8, 2.

[Cy Kellett]

Emily does it. She blushes every time you draw attention to her.

[Chris Chek]

8, 8, 2. We're terrible at that. 888-291-80005. Lines open. We we want to introduce everyone to the love and mercy of Jesus Christ.

[Cy Kellett]

Four lines open.

[Chris Chek]

Now, the graces of his sacraments, the fullness of his truth. Five lines open. 888-291-8000.

[Cy Kellett]

Emily, give us another one. What do you got?

[Emily Torres]

Alrighty. So, speaking of how we have some great apologists. This person said Catholic answers, converted me. Trent got some things out of the way for me. Joe really opened up my eyes to the beauty of Catholic theology. Jimmy Akin gave me an appreciation for church fathers and clear thinking. Thinking my wife and I became Catholic this year thanks to you. God be praised.

[Chris Chek]

I love this. I love it when a husband and wife come in together.

[Cy Kellett]

Yeah, but that's the way it works, too, because I do think there's people who will come into the Catholic Church because they listen to Tim Staples, but they won't come in because of Jimmy Akin. Or there's somebody that'll come in because they heard Trent Horne, but they're not coming in because of Joe Heschmeyer. And you could reverse all of those. The fact is, I mean, Jesus gave us four gospels. Clearly, we need a plurality of voices sharing the good news. And one person is going to catch somebody in the net that another person can't catch in the net.

[Chris Chek]

My friends, there are four lines open. 888-291. 8888, 291, 8004 lines open. Sy, Emily. Emily, this last testimony that she has just given, I want to ask all the callers if you could write a check and a husband and wife, as a consequence of your generosity, would come into the Catholic Church, how large of a check would that be? Would you say, if I write a check for $500, I know that a husband and wife are going to come into the Catholic Church? Well, the fact is, if you wrote a check for a million dollars, that would be a bargain, Right? But of course, none of us could do that, right? Well, there probably is someone listening who can. But any amount that you give and the more that you can give so that we can continue to reach more and more people. Because, Sy, the more money we have that comes into this building, the more money we can spend on marketing and spreading the word about the work that our apologists do and that draw more people to catholic.com, 888-291-8000 four lines open. So. So how large of a check would I write to bring a married couple into the Catholic Church? Would it be $500? Would it be 42 bucks a month? I think it would be, I think it would be. Especially if you knew that that gift is going to be tripled.

[Cy Kellett]

And this is why we've been remiss in not sharing the thousands and thousands of testimonies about how just sharing, answering questions about the Catholic faith is an incredibly powerful mission ministry bringing people into the Catholic church. Look, the six lines open. We got $7,000 to raise. We got six and a half minutes till the top of the hour. So roughly $1,000aminute. We are going to need some of those thousand dollar donors. Can you step up right now and help us? 888-291-8000 give us another one, Emily. I don't want to waste any. Give us some more.

[Emily Torres]

Yep. Okay. This one I thought was really sweet. It said my brother is Catholic and you help me understand his faith. It's very short and sweet, but I just thought that's so nice. He wants to learn more about his brother's faith and so he comes to us to do that.

[Chris Chek]

That's out of the door is open.

[Cy Kellett]

Yeah, that's right. That email or comment, however it got to us will be different five or ten years from now.

[Chris Chek]

Yeah, or five months.

[Cy Kellett]

Yeah, right.

[Chris Chek]

888-291-8000. About $7000 to go. Seven lines open.

[Cy Kellett]

Emily, you give us hope for the future. We have had wonderful relationships with young people via social media in recent years. We've met all these great people, you know, a lot of them. You saw a lot of them recently at the Catholic Creators Conference in Pennsylvania. Just give me a word. Is there hope for the younger generation in accepting the faith and living the beautiful life that Christ has called us to?

[Emily Torres]

Oh yes there is, Sai. I mean I think so many people in our generation, we grew up on technology. We grew up on having any sort of entertainment, anything we want, want at the tip of our fingers. And we're tired like we we were promised. Oh, this is what's going to fulfill us. This is what's going to make us happy. And after years and years and years of experiencing this, we've realized, oh, this isn't actually fulfilling us. Only Jesus Christ in the fullness of his Catholic church can fulfill us.

[Cy Kellett]

So God bless you, Emily. 22 years old, our colleague here and a wonderful person. Thanks for agreeing to come on here with us.

[Emily Torres]

Thank you for having me.

[Cy Kellett]

Hey, I got a couple close this strong. It's going to take five grand, $5,000 now for us to reach our goal this hour. That's a long way to go, but we will continue to answer the phones as long as people will call 888-291-80006, lines open. There's somebody out there that can pick up the phone and just make that $5,000 gift. But maybe it's going to be lots of people making a $50 gift.

[Chris Chek]

Sales of over $500 are tripled or tripled.

[Cy Kellett]

But we need your help right, right now. Thank you so much. No more fundraising for this quarter, but we do need your help in the next few minutes. 888-291-8000 or safe and secure online at catholicanswersradio.com.