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Summary: Reliable and Easy-to-Comprehend Catholic Info
Review: Catholic teaching in a mass-appeal format, "Catholicism For Dummies" is an easy-to-understand, nuts-and-bolts guide to what's really Catholicism. (See the Imprimatur in the front pages.) Authors Fr. John Trigilio Jr. and Fr. Ken Brighenti know their subject matter inside and out and backwards, offering clear, understandable, and down-to-earth explanations of complex Catholic belief. Fr. Trigilio and Fr. Brighenti explain the logic behind the Catholic veneration of Mary and the saints, for example, and readers can enjoy the careful reasoning behind Catholic doctrine. This book is a real eye opener -- not just for readers who may know nothing about being Catholic, but for many devout Catholics who are still fuzzy and misled on any number of Catholic-specific terms and concepts, i.e. the redemptive nature of suffering, the communion of saints, the five proofs of St. Thomas Aquinas, the magisterium, infallibility, papal election, natural family planning, the Real Presence, exorcism, excommunication, annulments, canon law, natural moral law, the canonization process, and convalidation ceremonies, as well as some of the more newsy issues, i.e. the Church's viewpoint on the death penalty and war, why women can't be priests, and why abortion is wrong. This title is a MUST for anyone interested in becoming Catholic, as well as Catholics in general. Unfortunately, much misinformation is out there in print regarding the Catholic faith, and even the right information is sometimes difficult to understand for Catholics, much less non-Catholics. So, too, studious Catholics may have read a number of books by Catholic authors, i.e. St. Augustine, Chesterton, Fr. Bernard Groeschel, St. Theresa of Avila, yet they still don't have a complete handle on some of the basics, but "Catholicism For Dummies" fills in all the blanks and casts away the falsehoods. This book should find a place in every Catholic home and in every high-school senior and college freshman catechism class.
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Summary: FINALLY - a Catholic book you can share with EVERYONE! :)
Review: For the last 7 years I've been buying and reading Catholic books to help me better understand the Catholic faith... out of all those books, I've never found just one that I could give to friends and family as a good, easy to use resource that explains clearly what the Catholic church teaches and believes-- UNTIL NOW! Whether the recepient is a curious non-Catholic, a fallen away Catholic, or even a very devout Catholic this is a fabulous resource to help with understanding and explaining what the Catholic church believes. There are many other books out there that are full of opinions about the Church and are vague about the facts.... thank you to the authors for trusting that their readers actually want factual explanations. Next to the Bible and the Catechism... I think this is the best Catholic resource out there.
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Summary: Add this to your library of resources
Review: I am always on the lookout for resources that will assist me in learning about my own Catholic faith and in sharing that faith with my children, family and friends. I find Catholicism for Dummies (Wiley, June 2003, paperback, 384 pages) an excellent resource for both my own research and for teaching the faith in a straightforward yet comprehensive manner. Authors Rev. John Trigilio Jr. and Rev. Kenneth Brighenti have compiled a wide-ranging resource which will be of help for anyone looking to increase their knowledge of and devotion to their own practice of Catholicism.
Written in a concise, organized fashion, the Catholicism for Dummies offers practical information on all of the most basic elements of Catholicism, including - but not limited to - the Four Marks of the Church (One, Holy, Catholic, Apostolic), the structure of the Church, basic beliefs, worship types, the Sacraments, the Mass, and much more. Timely (and at times controversial) issues of concern to most Catholics are discussed.
I found especially enjoyable the "Part of Tens" which relates the stories of remarkable Catholic role models and landmarks. The two appendices, one detailing the popes and a second outlining a brief history of the Church, are helpful additions.
Buy this book for your own Catholic library or as a gift for a friend interested in exploring the treasures of our Catholic faith.
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Summary: Extremely Useful and Well-Written!
Review: I am currently an Anglican/Episcopalian exploring the Catholic Church, likely to be received soon. I have an extensive background in Scripture, Church History, ancient languages, etc. Yet as I began to explore the Catholic Church I realized that I could tell you quite a bit about St. Thomas Aquinas' understanding of transubstantiation, but I didn't know something as simple as when to cross myself at Mass! I also didn't know the official differences between mortal and venial sins, the ins-and-outs of papal infallibility, or the difference between a sacrament and a sacramental. This book helped me understand all of these things and then some. My point is that virtually anybody can learn a lot about the Catholic Church from this book, even those who consider themselves fairly knowledgeable to begin with (like cradle Catholics). The style is easy-to-read, straight-forward, and the advice and information is always based on official Church teaching. So it is not a good place to go if you wish to join the Catholic Church because you like the stain glass windows but don't want to accept Church teachings. This does not mean the authors cover up or gloss over difficult issues. They clearly admit how some popes were awful, and they have harsh words for the minority of priests who sexually abuse children. They do put these issues in perspective, pointing out that the papacy has a better record than most secular leaders, and the sinfulness of Peter, who was still chosen as first of the apostles. They also compare molestation by priests to molestation within families, showing that within families it is far more rampant (without excusing bad priests' behavior!). These are fair and balanced assessments in my opinion. This is not an apologetics book, although it does go to some length to show the Faith in a positive light. While strict apologetics books (Protestant or otherwise) often leave me cold, this book was a delight to read. I read this is an entire weekend, and felt prepared to visit a Catholic Church for the first time in years. In addition to using this book, I would recommend reading the Catechism, using The New Saint Joseph People's Prayer Book, and reading the early Church Fathers. The Faith of the Early Fathers by William Jurgens is a three volume set with excerpts from the Fathers. Scott Hahn's works are also recommended. Personally, I would say the best way to get a glimpse of the Catholic Church is to visit a Mass (but don't commune until you are a member!). Ultimately it was worshipping and praying with the Church that convinced me that Catholic was the way to go. Overall, Catholicism for Dummies is a good introduction to the Catholic Church, and tells you everything you really need to know in a concise and enjoyable way.
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Summary: Naked Truth
Review: I did not find the section on Church History (in the Appendix) to be inaccurate. "Bloody" Queen Mary did have her faults but some English historians have sanitized and re-invented Queen Elizabeth I, Mary's half-sister, who reigned after her. Henry VIII and Elizabeth I did as much to persecute English Catholics as Mary I did to persecute English Protestants. Just recall Saint Thomas More and Saint John Fisher as well as numerous other 'papist' Catholics who were brutally 'drawn and quartered' merely for their faith. Sadly, brutality knows no denomination and persecution happened on both sides. Our family migrated from Great Britain to Canada and we have a demonstrable affection for Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, unlike the first. Our family is also Catholic (partly why we left). "Catholicism For Dummies" is 95% about the teachings (doctrine), worship (liturgy), morality and customs (traditions) of Roman Catholicism. The Appendix on Church History tries to cover two millennia of material. I would like to see the authors do a Church History for Dummies and show all the good, the bad and the ugly of every country and century. I recommend Catholicism For Dummies to non-Catholics as well as Catholics, Protestants, Anglicans, Lutherans, Methodists, etc.
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Summary: CLEAR AND ILLUMINATING
Review: I have found this book very readable and an exceptional source for what and why the Catholic Church teaches what it does.
A much much better alternative than the "Complete Idiot's guide to Catholicism".
Rating: 
Summary: Flawed
Review: I have just looked at the sample pages, specifically P. 14, where it is written: "Catholics are taught that all men and women are made in the image and likeness of God and that all men and women have been saved by Christ and are adopted children of God." That is not what the Church teaches. The Church teaches that salvation is offered to all men, and that it is up to each individual to embrace it or not. I also noticed that, in these pages, it mentioned the 10 Commandments and the natural moral law but made no reference to Christ's moral teachings which make much greater demands on one and distinguishes Christian behavior. The 10 Commandments and natural moral law oblige everyone, not just Christians. Christians are called to holiness which means "putting on the mind of Christ" and trying to follow Christ's words in the sermon on the mount.
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Summary: Excellent book!
Review: I picked this book up to learn more about Catholicism. This is truly a great book, it is so informative. Whether your Catholic or not you will learn a lot about a Religion that is so interesting and so ancient. If you are looking for one book all about Catholicism, let this book be the one.
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Summary: Disappointing
Review: I read this book with a genuine interest in Catholicism but found the blunt dishonesty about the parts I know (e.g. English history) put me off believing the rest of the book. e.g. top page 379 states that "1829 was the first time since Henry VIII that freedom of worship was allowed for Roman Catholics" but in between these dates there was actually obligatory Catholicism under a particularly nasty Roman Catholic queen (called "Bloody Mary": she martyred many for their faith).
As far as I am aware Bloody Mary completely reversed the schism of the Anglican communion and the current schism dates to Elizabeth I. That doesn't mean the schism was right or valid but pretending it was down to a dodgy king (Henry VIII) when it was actually partly caused as a backlash to a particularly nasty loyal Roman Catholic queen makes me inclined to believe the rest of the book is a pack of lies too. Yours in deep disappointment
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Summary: Everyone can learn something from this book. Full of info!
Review: I think the book is extremely useful. I am confident that there's information in there for everyone. You might think that because you have been raised Catholic that you couldn't possibly learn anything from this book. You can't be more wrong! This book explains so much! You can learn how the popes are chosen, where the Church gets its teachings, what each of the sacraments mean, why the mass is so important and just what's going on during it, and so much more. Something I never understood was infallibility. How could a pope, or the Church, always be right? But, the way the author explains it makes sense. If you believe, as Catholics do, that the Holy Spirit guides church teachings, especially when the pope speaks ex cathedra (from the chair (of Peter)) or when the Magisterium speaks as a whole, then you can see how the Holy Spirit would protect that teaching from error. Now, you see? I didn't know a Magisterium from a Magician before I read this book. And, I sure didn't know the term ex cathedra. But, I do now. You can impress all your Catholic friends by knowing more about the church than you do! Surprise your parish priest with your in-depth understanding of theology. Have a discussion about the various heresies. This book is so complete it even has a portion on the Rite of Exorcism, something most Catholic priests won't even talk about. Now, if you're all put off of an entire book because you disagree with a fine point about history that's in the Appendix of the book, then you might not want to buy it. But, if you really feel that way, you're probably looking for a way to not like the book in the first case. If you go into it that way, you're sure to find a reason not to like the book. But, if you want a very complete and easy to understand discussion of practically everything Catholic, then this is the book for you. As usual, the ...for Dummies books have done it again. A very fine introductory tome!
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