Comments About Catholic Answers Live

Jerry Usher · #1 May 31, '05, 2:40 pm

Hello!

We're looking for some feedback about Catholic Answers Live. If the program has helped you know and live your faith better, cleared up any misconceptions you had about Catholicism, or even assisted in bringing you or someone you know into or back to the Church, do tell!

Comments of any sort are most welcome. They needn't be just pats on the back. Sure, we love positive feedback

But we're not averse to being told we could do a better job on the air

Be advised that your comments may be used in various ways to inform people of or promote Catholic Answers Live.

Thanks so much and God bless!

Jerry

DeFide · #2 May 31, '05, 2:52 pm

I know I've learned a great deal from the shows. My personal favorites are the question and answer shows, including the occassional one where Catholic Answers asks contestants questions.

Keep up the great work!

thessalonian · #3 May 31, '05, 2:58 pm

I had an hour long drive about 5 years ago home from work. I got off at five and CA started at 5. I learned SOOOOO MUCH! And it built my faith SOOOOO MUCH! I don't get to listen as much anymore due to a different schedule but I praise God for you guys.

Elzee · #4 May 31, '05, 4:03 pm

We don't have Catholic radio in my area, so I listen to your archived shows several times a week - THANK YOU for this service and please keep providing it.

My only suggestion would be to somehow help promote Catholic Radio in general more across the nation. I have no idea how that can be done, but as I see the vast popularity of the (Protestant) Christian radio stations in my area, I just keep thinking that we Catholics are missing out on a huge evangelization tool through radio with Catholic/Christian music in addition to shows like Catholic Answers Live, etc.

Cairisti · #5 May 31, '05, 5:08 pm

Hi Jerry!

I love listening to CAL here in Houston. (Just wish the local station had a better signal.

) Started listening to it in January 2004 and it definately made me want to learn more about the Catholic Faith. Coming from a Baptist background, I had alot of questions that were answered. And thanks to CA and others, I hopefully will enter the Catholic Church at Easter 2006. (And an early welcome to Houston next week for the Radioathon!

)

Tim in MI · #6 May 31, '05, 8:00 pm

Jerry,

I've been listening here in the Detroit area since 1998. I saw a bumper sticker for the local Catholic radio station on my drive into work one day, tuned in, and haven't tuned out since.

I have learned an immense amount of information over the last several years. I like the format of open Q&A mixed with shows on dedicated topics, or with dedicated guests with a special cause or topic.

My only (small) beef is that the show isn't long enough! A second hour would be awesome - I think the show goes a long way to bringing people to the Faith, and would like to see it maximized. I know that's nearly impossible. I've often wondered why it wraps up at :53 after the hour - no other show on the local Catholic radio station seems to do that. You guys could field 2-3 more questions in that last few minutes!

God Bless You, and Catholic Answers!

JCPhoenix · #7 May 31, '05, 8:23 pm

I LOVE CA LIVE!

I started listening something like a year ago, and haven't been able to turn it off.

I am somewhat of a revert (not entirely--I never really left, just stopped going to mass, had questions and struggles...etc.), and I think that CA helped to seal the deal and light me on fire like I've never been. There were so many things that I knew I believed, but I couldn't articulate no matter where I looked. It's great to turn on the radio and hear a question similar to my own, or struggle with sharing my faith with a friend only to hear exactly that topic come up on the show.

I've also run across other Catholics, very devout, and have been able to pass on little nuggets of infomation I've gained from the show.

What you do is so important and there is no way to measure the true impact. I know that my own faith journey which was at a snail's pace before would be pretty much the same without my own exposure to CA...so imagine what it is doing for people who are already devout, or for people who are just searching for that home we have found?

Thank YOU for bringing so many people home.

My only complaint...like the previous poster..it's too short! But then again, that leads into my own complain which you likely can't control. Here in the twin cities, we have 1330 AM...which is staticky in areas around power sources, cannot be accessed on a non-digital radio I have in my bedroom and is not accessable at my work...nothing will come in. I also recently purchased a portable CD player only to learn too lat that it DOESN'T HAVE AM! So my complaint is that Relevant Radio (in my area) doesn't have an FM station which I could listen to EVERYWHERE other than on my main stereo and in my car.

Fox News Channel (.com) just doesn't cut it when I want Catholic commentary on important Catholic events, or to finish listening to CA when I boot up my computer at work in the morning. I realze this is more of a general comment than something CA can do, so...yeah..make it longer!

God Bless!

Gusto · #8 May 31, '05, 10:14 pm

Hi Jerry,
I stumbled accross CA when challenged by a Christadelphian friend.
My current hobby now is to download a show (because here in Perth, Australia your radio reception would be a little hard, not to mention in the middle of the night) and burn it to CD so I can listen to you guys in the car (when it's most convenient). I don't like being bound to my home pc, especially looking after my wife and 8 month old son.

There is a plugin for my CD burning software which makes it easy to convert Real Audio to CD format.

Anyway, I am addicted and love it. I have told 3 (so far) workmates about your show and have let them listen to a show or two. I find it about one of the easiest and subtle ways to evangelise. Keep up the good work.

Depending how it goes, I think it reasonable to fund raise for you in the future. Again, depending how it goes.

Here's a pat on the back from down under. You're doin a bonza (great) job.
Cheers,
Gary

ElizabethJoy · #9 May 31, '05, 11:47 pm

Catholic Answers Live is one of my favorite programs on the EWTN line-up and I try to catch it as often as possible. I am so new to Catholicism that I learn something several times during each show.

During this conversion, I've been amazed that no sooner has a question or doubt come up, it has been answered - This Rock magazine, the Catechism, the apologists' books and articles and the online Catholic shows, including yours.

I often hear discussions on your show which explain a concept in a different way than I've heard or read it before and the light bulb comes on and I understand the concept as I did not from first exposure.

I agree with another poster who would like to see the show expanded, but I do understand that such intense shows can be overly draining on the host (mentally and emotionally) and a lot more expensive, too.

It just seems that sometimes there is much more that could be said in answer to a particular question, if only there were time. I'm sure you must feel the time constriction, too.

I like the wide variety of guests - my favorite guests are probably always going to be Father Groeschel, Karl Keating and Father Pacwa. And I would always welcome more from priestsforlife.org, Jason Evert and other chastity program coordinators, political issues, early church fathers, explanations of the writings of the Saints, etc.

But, I like all the shows no matter what the main subject matter or guest - I get something from each show and I appreciate them all and you!

Thank you!
Elizabeth

johnq · #10 Jun 1, '05, 7:16 am

I started listening to Catholic Answers while at work. After a year of listening, I looked at my wife during the middle of CA and without any particular reason told her, "I believe everything the Church teaches!" She lovingly looks at me says, "Duh!" "I do not think you understand, I never really understood that you had to."

It had the same effect as a good confession. A great burden was lifted off my shoulders. I was able to really come to a better understanding of God and His Church.

Thank you Catholic Answers.

jschwehm · #11 Jun 1, '05, 11:43 am

Hi Jerry:

I discovered Catholic Answers while I was converting to the Catholic Church after having been raised as Jehovah's Witness and then spending some time as a Lutheran.

I spent time on your website and then I listened to much of your radio programs on the Church. These programs assisted me in learning about the faith and defending the faith.

My wife and I have started an apostolate that reaches out to Jehovah's Witnesses called The Fellowship of Catholic Ex-Jehovah's Witnesses. Our website is www.catholicxjw.com

Please visit our site and recommend it to people you may meet on the Journey Home.

By the way, John Davis (ex-JW elder who is now Catholic and a recent guest on your radio show) is a good friend of mine and encouraged my wife and me to start the apostolate. John and I taped a program called The Journey Home Roundtable on EWTN back in February and it will air in September of this year.

Keep up the good work.

Jeff Schwehm

Trelow · #12 Jun 1, '05, 11:50 am

Free beer and brats would be nice.

Actually the program showed me that Catholicism isn't pagan. Cleared up alot of misconceptions that I held. I have yall to thank for cultivating the seed planted in my heart.

But free beer and brats are always welcome.

urquhart · #13 Jun 1, '05, 12:04 pm

I love CA, and the program has had a profound impact on my understanding of the faith over the years. But I listen on EWTN shortwave, and they seem to have cut the power of their transmission in the last year, since the station no longer comes in well at the time you are broadcasting live. But I can listen to the re-run, if I want to get up at 3am. Not often the case!

One suggestion - your commercials often seem unnecessarily long and repetitive. No doubt the commercials are necessary, but I believe you might get better results if they were shorter and more varied.

Isidore_AK · #14 Jun 1, '05, 1:08 pm

Jerry, Awesome job! Love the show!

A couple three suggestions/requests:

I would love to have more episodes of 'So you want to be an Apologist' & 'Tough Questions from non-Catholics'.

It would be nice if the turn-around getting archived shows online was a little faster. Sometimes its next day, but more often its up to a week later. I primarily listen on the web cast (We don't CA in Alaska), and if I miss it, I pull it from the archives.

Maybe y'all could do a continuing series on the deuterocanonicals? Just an overview of the books for our Protestant listeners?

Keep up the good work!

>>>>Your post count is kinda low...maybe you should hang out here more often!

sconea · #15 Jun 1, '05, 7:30 pm

Would surely love it if you would promote Catholic Answers Live in my area! I can't believe this is all over the country and how many people it has helped...but we don't get it.

In my archdiocese ( of Washington, DC) we get no catholic radio of any kind, but in our diocesan paper we get a big ad every week for a local evangelical/fundamentalist radio station because they are 'prolife.'

We could sure use you here.....blessings.