Catechism of the Catholic Church

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Summary: The Faith of the Church that Christ Established
Review: There are many nice things about this book. First of all, the hardcover is well bound, and lays flat when open to a particular page, without the pages flipping around to other places within the book (except perhaps at the very beginning and end of the book). This makes it very easy to open the book and keep it open when taking notes or studying. The material in this edition is the authentic teaching of the Catholic Church, but take note of the Glossary at the end (page 864 hardcover); the end of the Glossary's prefatory note states that the Glossary is faithful to the language, but the Glossary itself does not participate in the approval of the text of the Catechism given in the Apostolic Constitution Fidei depositum of Pope John Paul II. That is, the Glossary is given in addition to the Catechism, not as an integral part of it. This may be an important point for persons studying fine theological points and using the Glossary to enhance their understanding of particular points of dogma and doctrine.

While many Protestants object to a "Catechism" at all, they may overlook the fact that there are many Protestant catechisms which really are publications of dogma and doctrine of their particular churches. Also, many, if not most, of these Protestants carry "Study Bibles", which sometimes contain more explanatory notes than Scripture, peruse the NIV study Bible for example to see what I mean. These explanatory notes function for them in much the same way that catechisms work for Protestant Churches that use them, and the Catechism of the Catholic Church for Catholics. They are particular explanations and interpretations of the Christian Faith. For anyone wanting to truly understand what Catholics believe, and for Catholics who need a refresher in understanding their own faith, the Catechism of the Catholic Church is an indispensable part of the study needed (along with, not in place of, the Bible) to gain a true understanding of the Church that Jesus Christ established, on the apostles (Matthew 16:17-19; 18:10-21; 28:19-20; Luke 10:16; 24:44-45; John 13:20; 16:12-13; 20:21-23; Acts 1:15-26; Psalm 109:8; Ephesians 4:13-14; 1 Timothy 3:15; Philemon 1:14; 2 Peter 1:20; 3:16).

Rating:
Summary: An Outstanding Book of the True Faith
Review: This is an excellent compendium of the key beliefs and practices of the Catholic Church. Any member of the Faithful will find its words inspiring and thought provoking. Its explanations are beautifully written in understandable language; they are succinct, yet they still manage to allot appropriate space to each matter. Catholics of all ages should find this to be a tremendous and spiritual book. I cannot agree more with the words of so many other reviewers: this book is truly a work of the Holy Spirit! Anyone who denies this is merely afraid to accept the Truth contained within its pages.

Rating:
Summary: A good summary of Catholicism
Review: This book is a very helpful summary of the teachings and practices of the Catholic Church. It touches on almost every aspect of the Church, both its doctrines and its disciplines. Somewhere in it is contained the answer to just about any question that one could imagine relating to Christ and His Church.

It could be very useful to compare this Catechism to those older catechisms of past centuries. Particularly, the Catechism of the Council of Trent, and the catechisms of St. Thomas Aquinas and Pope St. Pius X.

My only complaint about the book relates to Doubleday paperback edition. While this printing is compact and quite inexpensive, the book is not bound very well and could fall apart after some use. I would recommend purchasing the hardcover version of the second edition instead.

Rating:
Summary: On this rock
Review: Superb compendium of Church teaching on faith and morals. Very helpful for study and meditation. Real treat is the last part of the Catechism, its treatise on prayer in the form of a commentary on the Our Father. Truly inspiring.

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Summary: This book Makes religion the opium of the people............
Review: I never thought I would feel this way, considering the fact that I spent two years of my life, dedicated to becoming a priest. The contents of this book, however, made that journey only a memory for me. Its words are utterly condemning in many places, and I can not accept the elitist attitude they convey. The Catechism stresses that God is not a distant entity, yet God is distant from its pages. It is not a work of the Holy Spirit, it is the work of men who believe they are right and others are wrong. They take advantage of the human need for something to believe in past this life. We are all vulnerable, and if religious leaders told us that caffeine was sinfull, then we would fear it. The bigshots who came up with this Catechism over the last 2000 years have caused so many predjudices and injustices and bigotry that one can not accept their insecurity. If you want an ego boost; if you want to feel like you are a better person than 90% of the world, then read this book.

Rating:
Summary: A masterpiece...
Review: One reviewer below is quite incorrect in one his assertions. Use of this text in religious education will not portend disaster for catechetics. On the contrary, texts used since c. 1965 not founded on this Catechism have brought the disaster in modern catechetics that a majority of Catholics do not know the Dogma of Transubstantiation, or the Dogma of the Perpetual Virginity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, or the Dogma of her Assumption. These are for Catholics not matters open to debate. They are beliefs to be held by all who profess themselves to be Catholic. If one does not accept that Mary was ever a virgin, they have a defect in their belief system. This book clarifies Catholic beliefs splendidly. Without such a tool relativism and indifference are the swift result. It is a fact that Christ rose from the dead with a glorified body - not open to debate. We have seen the effects of relativism over the last 35 years. They have not been pretty. And incidentally the Church before 1965 was not some horrible institution.

Rating:
Summary: Catechism of the Catholic Church-Second Edition
Review: In this day of relativists and heavy-handed political correctness that permeates much of Christianity, it is wonderful to see such a thorough, well organized work that adheres unrelentingly to the moral absolutes. The Holy Spirit truly is at work here! There are many who call themselves "catholic", that are so blinded by secular influences, ambitions and even the devil himself, that they just cannot comprehend a work to be so authoritative.

Another reviewer made the naive judgement that the Catholic Church no longer has the best theological minds in places of authority and influence. Horsefeathers! When the Catechism was in production, the greatest theological minds in the Church were consulted. The Catholic Church in her Wisdom, which is inspired by the Holy Spirit, applied all that WAS INSPIRED and rejected what was not. Such as she has done for 2000 years! (Yes, this is the same Holy Spirit that guided the Catholic Church when she gave us the Canon of Sacred Scripture or The Holy Bible as we commonly know it.)

I fully recommend this work for anyone who wants the fullness of Jesus Chirst and His Church. The Catechism is loaded with scriptural references, church documents, saints and so much more! For no more than the Catechism costs, you will spend a lifetime exploring! That's well worth the money!

Rating:
Summary: Well Defined and Chronologically Correct
Review: This newly revised and canonicaly correct Catechism is to be held as one of the greatest instructional manuals the Church has ever implemented. This indeed is the first Catechism I have purchased, and I am merely a Catechumen myself; but in the exploration of answers to questions that we who are at a very inquisitive state in the faith are found here in a very concise manner. The subject index in the back makes it very easy to find what you are looking for. Then when you have found the subject, the footnotes and cross-references help to give you a more definitive and sound understanding. There are many who wish to come to the knowledge of the mystery of the Catholic faith, and this particular booklet is the prestige of instruction.

Rating:
Summary: Helpful Hardcover if Used Wisely
Review: This volume, with its hard cover, is the nicest and most up-to-date issue of the new Catechism of the Catholic Church. As far as being a compendium of invaluable reference material for the pastoral minister, the student of theology or anyone interested in learning about Roman Catholic history or doctrine, this book is a good resource. If offers reference aids which can make any student of the subject appear to be an expert and it offers notes which can lead one in many directions for further research.

The problems associated with the publication are major, though they are not a product of the text itself. Instead, the problems associated with the use of this catechism are a result of the manner in which it is being used by many. This document is meant to be a reference and a guide (literalists may confirm this by referring to Sec. III, pars. 11 and 12); it is not the sum total of Roman Catholic doctrine. It simply cannot adequately explain all of Roman Catholic doctrine in such a single volume! Also, as its editors have pointed out, it is not meant as a textbook and should not be used in such a manner as is presently happening in many parochial schools.

The document itself is being misused and abused in many other ways as well. For those who are excessively conservative or traditionalist in their ways, this has been hailed as the definitive and final edition of Roman Catholic doctrine. These persons often fail to realize that in catholic theology, doctrine is always in a state of development (the fact that this is the second edition of the "new catechism" demonstrates this!). There can be no final say in doctrine, because Christ is alive and active in the Church and God's people are always involved in a process of reform and development of new insights.

Perhaps one of the greatest problems being faced by the Church today is the reality whereby our greatest theological minds no longer hold positions of leadership in the hierarchy, for the most part. This was not the case in early Christianity when the great christological doctrines were defined by strong theological and philosophical minds who could effectively enunciate new formulations of doctrine.

Today's Church leaders are often hampered by a lack of theological competency or are hamstrung by the desire to "get ahead" in ecclesiastical circles and they falsely believe that the only correct formulations of doctrine are those which come directly from the Catechism of the Catholic Church. Even Church documents these days all refer back to this catechism as if the final word has been spoken and no new insights are available. They utilize a circular argument, one document referring to another and all of them returning to the new catechism! The greatest problem is that those who continue to boldly offer their new theological insights are investigated and condemned and we are liable to lose the best theological minds of the Church because of the short-cited leadership in Rome and in the local dioceses.

For those with a myopic vision of how the Church used to be and who desire to return to that, this text will seem to be a God-send. Before the changes of the Second Vatican Council (1962-1965), religious education was seen not as an act of giving freedom and assisting a person to grow in faith, but was understood as a strictly cognitive exercise of indoctrination. The "right answers" were repeated and repeated until memorized. The emphasis was on orthodoxy, but no concern was placed on orthopraxy. I, for one, do not wish to return to that vision of Church. It was a vision that borders on the cultic and it smacked of an ecclesiastical fundamentalism that was unhealthy and unrealistic.

There are many who are entirely uncomfortable with the Roman Catholic Church since Vatican II. Often, these groups of people are comprised in great part by those who have fled to the Church from liberal Protestant denominations. For obvious reasons, they fear liberalism in the Roman Catholic Church and blame progressives for diluting authentic catholicism.

A strong and vocal movement is afoot in the Church to repeal the vision of Vatican II. When used in a poor manner, this catechism is a tool for the repeal of that vision. Many educators and diocesan officials are buying into the repeal of the vision of Vatican II when they insist on using only textbooks which are built entirely upon the new Catechism. There is no reason for this reaction and it portends disaster for the future of religious education and catechesis.

For those who may share these concerns, I recommend that you read Francoise Darcy-Berube's little book entitled, *Religious Education at a Crossroads.* You will find it listed here on Amazon.Com, along with my review. I also invite you to contact me directly by way of the email address listed on this site for further dialogue.

Rating:
Summary: Not as Up-to-date, but Helpful if Used Wisely
Review: This is the smaller and slightly older version of the new Catechism ofthe Catholic Church. The newest edition is revised, but for those whoneed to carry a copy of the catechism with them, this little volume isextremely handy. As with other versions of the new catechism, this isan invaluable reference for the pastoral minister, the student oftheology or anyone interested in learning about Roman Catholic historyof doctrine. It offers references that are extremely helpful.

Theproblems associated with the publication are major, though they arenot the product of the text itself. Instead, they are associatedwith the use of this catechism in ways for which it was not intended.It is simply a reference and a guide; it is not the sum total of RomanCatholic doctrine. It cannot be thus because such a project is fartoo big for any text of this size. Also, as its editors have pointedout, it is not a textbook and should not be used as one. (Though thisis, sadly, what is happening in many parochial schools.)

Thedocument is being misused and abused in numerous other ways. For manywho are excessively conservative or traditionalist in their ways, thishas been hailed as the definitive and final edition of Roman Catholicdoctrine. These persons often fail to realize that in catholictheology, doctrine is always in a state of development. There can beno final say in doctrine, because Christ is alive and active in theChurch and God's people are always involved in a process of reform anddevelopment of new insights.

Perhaps one of the greatest problemsbeing faced by the Church today is the reality whereby our greatesttheological minds no longer hold positions of leadership in thehierarchy as was the case in early Christianity. Church leaders,because of a lack of theological competency or perhaps from a desirefor advancement, falsely believe that the only correct formulations ofdoctrine are those which come from the Catechism of the CatholicChurch. Even Church documents these days all refer back to thiscatechism as if the final word has been spoken and no new insights areavailable. Those who boldly continue to offer their new theologicalideas are being investigated and condemned and we are liable to losethe best minds of the Church because of short-cited, often oppressiveleadership in Rome and in local dioceses.

For those with a myopicvision of how the Church used to be and who desire to return to that,this text will seem a God-send. Before the changes of the SecondVatican Council (1962-1965), religious education was seen not as anact of giving freedom and assisting a person to grow in faith, but wasunderstood as a strictly cognitive exercise of indoctrination. The"right answers" were repeated over and over until memorized.The emphasis was on orthodoxy and there was no interest in orthopraxy.I, for one, do not wish to return to that vision of Church. It wasone that bordered on cultic and it smacked of an ecclesiasticalfundamentalism that was unhealthy and unrealistic. It was often evenuncharitable.

There are many who are entirely uncomfortable with theRoman Catholic Church since Vatican II. A strong and vocal movementis afoot in the Church to repeal the vision of that Council. Whenused in a poor manner, this catechism is a tool for that desire andthere are too many educators and diocesan officials who are buyinginto the loss of the vision of Vatican II when they insist on usingonly those textbooks which are built entirely on the new Catechism.There is no reason for this reaction and it portends disaster for thefuture of religious education and catechesis.

For those who mayshare these concerns, I recommend that you also read FrancoiseDarcy-Berube's little book entitled, *Religious Education at aCrossroads.* You can find it reviewed here on Amazon.Com. I alsoinvite you to contact me directly by way of the email address listedon this site if you wish to dialogue.