Thank you for this article on the CCC.
Diocese Bishops should require all their Priests to re-read and study the CCC, and request that all in their Diocese read it as well.
All “Catholic” Universities and Colleges should require that the CCC be used as a student text for freshman and or sophomores - most do not.
All Seniors in “Catholic” High Schools should be using the CCC as a required text.
For Catholics to gain a plenary indulgence during this Year of Faith, each Diocese should have lectures on the CCC and/or Vatican II.  Contact your Diocese office for more information on when and where.  (And see the web site below.)
The CCC is under-utilized in most Diocese in the USA.
The CCC is for non-Catholics as well so they will know the truth of what the Church really teaches.
On the net go to: - - - - - “What Catholics REALLY Believe SOURCE” - - - - -
for more info about the CCC and more quotes from Pope John Paul II and Pope Benedict.

We need the leadership of our Diocese Bishops to encourage the reading and study of the CCC by all the Faithful - who are literate.  Public anc active promotion of CCC must become one of their top priorities for accurate teaching.
I don’t understand why this is not the case in all Diocese.
The CCC comes in many languages.

I’d like a CCC “for Dummies” version as well. I personally don’t have a problem reading it as it is (actually I like it the way it is), but have found that many don’t like to read it because of its rather “dense language.” The Youcat has been great to recommend in these situations, but it’d be nice to have a more official version. Haven’t delved into the Compendium, perhaps this might be what I should look to next.

@Anne, I commend your sentiments but I don’t agree that the CCC should be used as a straight text for high school and college students. The reason is that the CCC is largely structured this way: concept after concept after concept. A good text will be structured this way: concept / explanation(s) of that concept / illustration(s) of that concept. A good text will also provide learning activities so the students can practice or “play” with that concept so as to understand it better. The Didache Series texts are good examples of this method.

The Compendium Catechism of the Catholic Church may be what you are looking for.
It is not intended to take the place of the CCC, and refers back to the specific paragraphs in the CCC for those who are interested.
The “CATECHISM of the CATHOLIC CHURCH, Second Edition”,
as well as the “Compendium Catechism of the Catholic Church” and “YOUCAT” (Youth Catechism of the Catholic Church) are all appropriate depending on a persons ability or age appropriateness.
For the answers to: Are there more than one Catechisms of the Catholic Church? What about all the other catechisms out there?  Where can I purchase one ?- - - see the answer to Question #17, on the site of “What Catholics REALLY Believe SOURCE”.

Coast Ranger, our Popes disagree with you.
In addition, the Youcat or the Compendium should be used for High School students younger than Seniors.  As I stated SENIORS are able to comprehend the CCC, and this may be the last time any of them receive a Catholic education.
“….the Catechism has raised throughout the world, even among non-Christians, and confirms its purpose of being presented as a full, complete exposition of Catholic doctrine, enabling everyone to know what the Church professes, celebrates, lives, and prays in her daily life.”  – Pope John Paul II (CCC pg xiv)
“Through the harmonious and complementary efforts of all the ranks of the People of God, may this Catechism be known and shared by everyone, so that the unity in faith whose supreme model and origin is found in the Unity of the Trinity may be strengthened and extended to the ends of the earth.”  -  Pope John Paul II (pg xv)
In addition, when you read the footnotes in the CCC - you will find the explanations on where the various teachings come from.

Please do not underestimate students - High School Seniors and College Students, and those in Seminaries and Convents for their ablities to read and understand.  They study curriculum far more complicated than the CCC.
The CCC is not complicated at all, and is a great reference to use throughout life.
The explanations in the footnotes of the CCC are wonderful and satisfy all Amercians - for our need to know “why”.
It is important for High School Seniors because it may be the last formal education in our Faith that they receive.
It is important for College students to insure they accurately know the faith and know when they are accidentally or purposely being taught innacurate or personal opinions.
We must not treat our young people as being stupid.  This is why catechesis has been so poor over the last 40 years, and why so many leave the Faith.
I find that those who object to the CCC being used for students aged 17 and up, usually have an alterior motive so the students will not know our Faith in entirety.

@ ANNE: Which popes disagree? The Apostolic Constitution “Fidei Depositum” written by JPII reads, “This catechism is given to them [pastors and lay faithful] that it may be a sure and authentic reference text for teaching catholic doctrine and particularly for preparing local catechisms” (3). It is a prudential judgment about who can benefit from drinking the CCC straight out of the bottle. My opinion is based on teaching high school and college students and intensive and extensive daily experience with the CCC.

Fred, catechesis has not been poor because young people have been treated as if they were stupid; it is been poor because catechesis has been non-existent or empty of content! Also, to ascribe bad ulterior motives to others is rash judgment. If the US bishops didn’t want catechetical texts to be written and used they would not have published frameworks for developing these texts and require that they approve them themselves. 

Coast Ranger, that is why so many leave the Faith.
They are not taught properly, or in entirety.
And occasionally they are taught errors. Some catechists are part of the problem. - Well they had it there way for the last 40 years and look where we are today - young people who have not used the CCC - leaving the Faith in droves.
Ave Maria University uses the CCC as a required student text as well as Francisan University in Stubenville, as well as others.  Do not expect a good “Catholic” education from any University that does not use the CCC as a required text.

I am with Fred.  The CCC is far easier and accessible than many other texts we assume everyone can read. And yet people seem always wanting to bring up new versions we need instead of simply taking on the challenge of teaching it. The writing is very clear and also has an appealing straight-forwardness about it. Of course not everyone who suggests alternatives has bad motives, but I have met plenty of religious who do not like the hard edges of the CCC and so retreat to, “Oh, its WONDERFUL, but who can read all those pages?! Let’s use THIS,” suggesting some watered down junk. Are Americans, youth and otherwise, all now so dense we need pull quotes and FOR DUMMIES guides to everything. Wait, don’t even answer that… it is a rhetorical question, if there are people still around who don’t need that rephrased for comprehension. My venting now complete, I’ll just say I love the CCC, find it classic, and think people would be best served by servingi straight. It is a healthy and easily digestible meal if consumed slowly and deliberately.

Local catechisms are not the same as the CCC, but as supposed to conform to the CCC.
Local catechisms are good for those who are not literate enough or for some reason such as young age cannot comprehend the CCC.
“ The Catechism of the Catholic Church, which I approved ... and the publication of which I today order by virtue of my Apostolic Authority, is a statement of the Church’s faith and of catholic doctrine,  attested to or illumined by Sacred Scripture,  the Apostolic Tradition and the Church’s Magisterium.  I declare it to be a sure norm for teaching the faith and thus a valid and legitimate instrument for ecclesial communion. “  – Pope John Paul II. (CCC pg 5)

There is a rule that says, “If it isn’t broke, don’t fix it”. Vatican II violated that rule when they threw out the Baltimore Catechism.  This was the catechism used in Catholic Schools for decades before Vatican II.  It was small and an easy read and it covered the basics. It was “doable” for the lazy and/or low level readers. Bring back what already works.

The Baltimore Catechism is a wonderful catechism for children.  If you want this used in your local Catholic elementary school, or elementary aged classes at your Parish contact your Diocese Bishop since he makes the decisions.
* * * * * The “CATECHISM of the CATHOLIC CHURCH, Second Edition” is not for elementary aged children, and covers everything in the Baltimore plus:  artificial insemination, homosexual acts, contraception, euthanasia and palative care, just war, commutative justice - without which no other form of justice is possible, death penalty, why women can not be ordained Priests or Deacons, marriage between only one man and one woman, etc, etc, etc,.
“This catechism will thus contain both the new and the old (cf. Mt 13:52), because the faith is always the same yet the source of ever new light.”  - Pope John Paul II   (CCC pg 4).

@ANNE. Yes, as the pope wrote, the CCC is “a sure norm for teaching the faith.” That does not mean it is always “a sure norm for” learning the faith! As an educator, my experience is that abstract concept + abstract concept + abstract concept = boredom (due to mental overload). On the other hand, abstract concept + explanation + illustration + activities = learning. That said, there is no doubt that the CCC has improved catechetical materials tremendously in the United States because the US bishops have required publishers to conform to the CCC. In addition, there is a whole new generation of young, faithful, orthodox religion teachers at work.

When was the last time you heard accurate info from the pulpit or Parish classes on the topics mentioned in Anne’s post of 2:15 pm?
In addition what about the following that are also included in the CCC - the mortal sin of viewing pornography, donating organs after death, cremation, subsidiarity, celibacy of Priests and why, the primary role of Bishops is teaching those in their Diocese, immgrants must obey the laws of the host country, legitimate self defense, even the Church teaching on “Hell”, and more?
There is so much teaching in the CCC along with the reasons for the teaching that it is wrong not to read and reference it, and share it with all others over age 16.
I am so proud of my Church’s Magisterium for developing the CCC for the use of everyone.
To deny anyone over age 16 the use of the CCC or to pretend it will not be useful to them in life - is sinful.
If our Bishops had been actively encouraging everyone to read the CCC for the last 20 years, it would be unlikely that any Catholic, (including Catholic politicians) today would support homosexual marriage or abortions.
CCC: ” 1791 This ignorance can often be imputed to personal responsibility. This is the case when a man takes little trouble to find out what is true and good, or when conscience is by degrees almost blinded through the habit of committing sin. In such cases, the person is culpable for the evil he commits.”

OK Coast Ranger, so you are talking about youngsters aged 16 & under.  Everyone writing agrees with that.
No one is stating that everything in the CCC must be covered in a couple of weeks or a few months, but over the course of an entire school year.
Why do you want to deny young people the truth of what our Church teaches - ACCURATELY and in ENTIRETY?
If catechists are like you who think Church teaching is “boring”, no wonder youth are not taught the truth in entirety.  Please re-read the CCC including the footnotes or stop teaching young adults.
The CCC is not boring but enlightening, interesting and wonderful.  And pertains to our getting to Heaven.

If it were not for the CCC, I would not have been able to answer my non-Catholic friends questions about our Faith accurately.
I love the CCC, and with only a high school education, I have not had any problem understanding.
I love the references in the footnotes of the CCC, and these Bible quotes have helped significantly.
Any theologian or catechsist who wants to keep the CCC to himself is not a good person.

@Bill, you are making rash judgments. Don’t attribute to me the view that I “want to deny young people the truth of what our Church teaches - ACCURATELY and in ENTIRETY.” Especially since you wrote earlier, “To deny anyone over age 16 the use of the CCC or to pretend it will not be useful to them in life - is sinful.” Not even the US bishops think the content of the CCC can be “covered” by young people in one year. That is why their framework breaks up the fundamentals of the Catholic faith into six one-semester courses with additional semester electives. And where did I say the CCC is boring?

Coast Ranger, perhaps it would be good if you taught youngsters, rather than young adults who have a thrist for the truth as stated in the CCC which as we know is from the Magisterium.
Six one sememster courses for youngsters in high school should be finished by the end of 11th grade.
Seniors should be taught from the CCC, and it should continue to be a reference book thoughout their lives.
I attended RICA classes and had to correct a younger “trained” catechist on more than one occasion since I read the CCC and this catechist interjected too many innacurate personal opinions, and did not take the teachings in entirety. 
Catechists and Theologians are not the end all, and certainly do not know everything.  Sometimes even though most are well intentioned are part of the problem.
Catechists and Theologians have been advising the Bishops for more than 40 years, and we have a mess today regarding poor catechesis.  This mess still exists today.
Pope Benedict has asked each of us to read the CCC on more than one occasion.
when the Pope speaks (unless specifically directed to one audience), he speaks to the entire world. 
There are still a few places on earth where lack of literacy is a problem, that is where local catechisms come in handy.  They also are helpful for those age 1 and under.
I would like to hear the Bishops’ excuses for re-writing catechisms in the USA for adults (those over age 16).
The CCC is the best, easy to read, and easy to understand.  The references are great too.
As someone else said, take a look at the various difficult classes at the College level, and compare to studying the CCC for Theology and you will find that reading the CCC is a snap for College level students.

Both the ‘Roman’ Catechism issued after the Council of Trent by Pius V and the current Catechism issued by John Paul II were instrumental in my conversion from Southern Baptist to Catholic.  The CCC is a great gift and, as I routinely still work in Protestant circles, I make a habit of gifting the CCC to Protestant Pastors I meet; especially if they tend to be severely anti-Catholic.

I’d like to see a study guide that linked lectionary readings with catechism readings and provided questions so that a small group could discuss both of these readings together.  I’d like to see networks of such small groups led by laity and in each parish.

I purchased my copy 20 years ago and it opened a whole new level of Catholic thought and teaching for me.  Receiving poor catechesis in the 1970s, I was especially awed by the richness to references to scripture and Church writings over the centuries. I greatly help in bringing my understanding of Church teachings to a new level.

I too purchased my copy 20 years ago, and only used it for reference.  I am now reading it in my e-mail for the year of faith, and it is blowing my mind (especially since I never bothered to read the paragraphs below 1000, because I thought I knew the creeds and that did not pertain to the political problems I have run into with Protestants._)

I remember when the New Catechism of the Catholic Church first came out. There was alot of confusion, simply because modernist Catholics did’nt like it. At that time they were teaching the heresy that there is no absolute truth. Many Bishops proclaimed that it was not for the faithful to use, it was soley a guide to making new Cathecisms. Bl. John Paul ll finaly put an end to the confusion by stating that it should be used by all the faithful. I have hardly ever read this Cathecism, but now that the article speaks of Cardinal Arinze’s praise for it and reading the comments here speaking highly of it. I will be blowing the dust off my volume. Thanks.

Those of you who have 20 year old original versions - some errors were printed.
The correct version should state: “Second Edition” “revised in accordance with the official Latin text promulgated by Pope John Paul II” on the cover.
The original had a sort of beige color for the cover; the corrected version is dark green.
The first printing in the USA according to the copyright page says “March, 2000”.

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Vance hit the nail on the head. The Baltimore Catechism worked for many years for children. Why not bring it back?  I love the CCC but it is less effective for those under the age of 14.  We have under Catechized for over 40 years and it shows!  Look who voted pro-death!

May the New Catechism die a well-deserved early death, and may we return to the catechisms that nourished the Church for centuries, keeping minds and hearts stable and Catholic, and which created nuns, priests and Saints.

I will always be grateful to those small publishers (and used book stores) that made it possible for my wife and I to teach our children from great, time-honored catechisms bereft of the ambiguities and banalities of the new one.

@Dan, “ambiguities and banalities” in the CCC?! Please back this up or retract your statement.

Dan, there have only been two catechisms of the Catholic Church.
The first was “The Catechism of the Council of Trent” of 1566 AD.
The second is “The Catechism of the Catholic Church, Second Edition” in English first published in the USA in March 2000.  (Check the copyright page.)
Apparently you have not read the CCC which contains no ambiguities and banalities.  What paragraph number do you not understand in the CCC?  Perhaps we can help you.
Btw - it is sinful - both heretical and schismatic to hope that teachings from the Magisterium die a slow death.

The only group I have ever heard call the teachings of the Church Ambiguous are the Feeneyites, who mistake the Church Militant for the whole Church.

Church Universal, is traditionally divided into:
the Church Militant (Ecclesia Militans), comprising Christians on earth who are living; Christian militia, who struggle against sin, the devil and “..the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places” (Ephesians 6:12);
the Church Triumphant (Ecclesia Triumphans), comprising those who are in Heaven;
and
the Church Suffering, a.k.a. Church Padecent or Church Penitent (Ecclesia Penitens) or Church Expectant (Ecclesia Expectans), comprising those Christians presently in Purgatory.
These terms are often used in the context of the doctrine of the Communion of Saints; although Christians may be physically separated from each other by the barrier of death, they nonetheless remain united to each other in one Church, and support each other in prayer.

Lin, I aggree with you on the Baltimore Catechism. Some don’t even know that there is a Baltimore Cathecism #4. In 1999 Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger now Pope Benedict XVl said of the Baltimore Cathechism, “Of all the Cathechisms from around the world that I have looked at, the Baltimore Cathechism is the best one.”. The New Cathecism is certainly a major achievment, but that does not mean that all previous good Cathecisms must be set aside as some suggest. Bl. John Paul ll himself said that the New Cathecism in no way abolishes the Cathecism of the Council of Trent. He called that Cathecism a still very useful tool for teaching the faith.

As stated earlier, if you want the Baltimore catechism used in your Diocese for children aged 16 and under, contact your Bishop.  You will have a better chance at success if you compare it to the children’s catechism that they are currently using, along with the reasons why you support the change.
The Catechism of the Council of Trent was written in 1566 AD, and does not cover many of today’s issues (many of which have been stated in some of the posts above) such are artificial insemination, etc.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church - “This catechism will thus contain both the new and the old (cf. Mt 13:52), because the faith is always the same yet the source of ever new light.”  - Pope John Paul II (CCC pg 4).

“CATECHISM of the CATHOLIC CHURCH, Second Edition” - “revised in accordance with the official Latin text promulgated by Pope John Paul II” - - -
“Through the harmonious and complementary efforts of all the ranks of the People of God, may this Catechism be known and shared by everyone, so that the unity in faith whose supreme model and origin is found in the Unity of the Trinity may be strengthened and extended to the ends of the earth.”  -  Pope John Paul II   (CCC pg xv)

Anne, Your suggestion about the Baltimore Cathechism for those under the age of 16 is right on. In my Diocese sadly it is the official stand that Vatican Council ll condemned the Baltimore Catechism, so it is prohibited in Parish Cathecitical programs. In the main Catholic Bookstore and Church supply store in my Diocese, one of the long time employees told me that their number 1 best seller is the Baltimore Cathecism. It is bought by parents to supplement the deficient Cathecitical programs of their parishes. As for the reason for the New Cathecism you have stated exactly what Bl. John Paul ll gave as a reason for the New Cathecism. When the Cathecism of Trent was made, many, many of todays questions and problems did not exist, so the New Cathecism was a great need for the Church today. Thanks Anne, its great to hear from someone like you who holds the same position of the Church and not making up your own. I have read many posts on other sites that commenters claim that the only valid Cathecism is the New Cathecism of the Catholic Church. And that all previous Cathecisms must not ever be used again, that the New Cathecism has abolished them all.

Anne or Angelo…....Do either of you know if Vatican II spoke to the issue of whether the Baltimre Catechism is still approved for use?  Once it was abandoned as the standard for teaching the faith to our children, Catholics have not learned their faith. As a sponsor for my nephew for Confirmation, I was required to attend his weekly Catechism classes. The teachers, in their 30’s, meant well but they did not know their faith!  We have had 50 years worth of inadequate Catechesis in most parishes. It is no wonder that Catholics do not know that LIFE trumps all issues at the ballot box. For the first time in my life, I am in a parish with a self-proclaimed progressive priest.  For a traditionalist like myself, I am very disheartened and praying about what to do about it. I can leave and go elsewhere but many of the elderly cannot and I do not want to abandon them. I would like to see the Baltimore Catechism made the standard again nation wide. The sooner the better!  Pray!  God bless you!

The Baltimore Catechism has never been ‘outlawed’ by the Catholic Church at any time. If anyone tells you differently, ask to see the condemning document from the Vatican (it does not exist).
In fact, you can get copies of the Baltimore through the EWTN catalogue site, as well as some other Catholic catalogue stores.
If your Diocese Bishop wants your children to use another children’s catechism, the children will have to comply.  However there is no reason that Parents can not teach their children through the Baltimore in addition to whatever the Bishop wants used.
CCC: ” 2223 Parents have the first responsibility for the education of their children. They bear witness to this responsibility first by creating a home where tenderness, forgiveness, respect, fidelity, and disinterested service are the rule. The home is well suited for education in the virtues. This requires an apprenticeship in self-denial, sound judgment, and self-mastery - the preconditions of all true freedom. Parents should teach their children to subordinate the “material and instinctual dimensions to interior and spiritual ones.” Parents have a grave responsibility to give good example to their children. By knowing how to acknowledge their own failings to their children, parents will be better able to guide and correct them:
He who loves his son will not spare the rod. . . . He who disciplines his son will profit by him.
Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.”
CCC: ” 2228 Parents’ respect and affection are expressed by the care and attention they devote to bringing up their young children and providing for their physical and spiritual needs.  As the children grow up, the same respect and devotion lead parents to educate them in the right use of their reason and freedom. “
YOUCAT for teens and “Compendium of the Cathecism of the Catholic Church” are also minor catechisms that you may want to review and are recommended by Pope Benedict - but not to take the place of the CCC, but to lead people to the CCC.
As for the “Progressive Priest” he must (as we all must) adhere to the “Catechism of the Catholic Church, Second Edition” in entirety.
There are other legitimate local catechisms that are acceptable, which must accurately adhere to Church teaching.
On the net go to: - - - “What Catholics REALLY Believe SOURCE” - - - ,
- the answer to question #17 will give you more detail.
“17. Are there more than one Catechisms of the Catholic Church?  What about all the other catechisms out there?  Is it difficult to read and understand?  Where can I purchase one?”
 

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Lin, That’s the thing, Vatican ll never as much as mentioned the Baltimore Cathecism. Yet in my Diocese they claim Vatican ll condemned the Baltimore Cathechism. It was over 30 years after the Council that Pope Benedict as Cardinal Ratzinger gave it the highest praise. I too am a Traditionalist, so with the progressive priest you have, pray and carry this Cross with Our Lord. The Sacred Heart of Jesus has been much wounded by the progressives. Ven. Pope Paul Vl in 1974 said, “My crown of thorns has been the way priests are acting today”. Ven. Paul Vl spoke out strongly against the abuses but as commentators said after his death, “Pope Paul Vl will go down in history as the Pope who was never listened to”.