Baltimore Catechism

[Lester]

Two part question:

What Catechism did you use growing up?

Is the Baltimore Catechism still a good one? Does it still accurately reflect the Church’s teachings?

Les

 

[Chatter163]

Considering that the Church’s teachings are the same as they have always been, I would say that the Baltimore Catechism would have to “still” be “accurate.”

 

[Saint_Gemma]

Two part question:

What Catechism did you use growing up?

Is the Baltimore Catechism still a good one? Does it still accurately reflect the Church’s teachings?

Les

1. When I was growing up I was not Catholic.
2. Since no ex cathedra dogmas have been proclaimed since November 1, 1950, any versions of the Baltimore Catechism printed after that date are fine to use.

 

[rwoehmke]

I grew up with the first three of the four levels of the Baltimore Catechism. It is still good in most respects. Limbo and perhaps a very few other things may be outdated, but by an large it has good succinct answers about the Catholic Faith. Once a person gets that knowledge down pretty well though, it soon develops that one desires more expanded information and explanations which cannot be found in the Baltimore. It does build and provide an excellent foundation.

With a number 3 or 4 Baltimore and a copy of “Catholicism for Dummies” anyone would be in very good shape with the basics.

 

[Saint_Gemma]

I grew up with the first three of the four levels of the Baltimore Catechism. It is still good in most respects. Limbo and perhaps a very few other things may be outdated, but by an large it has good succinct answers about the Catholic Faith. Once a person gets that knowledge down pretty well though, it soon develops that one desires more expanded information and explanations which cannot be found in the Baltimore. It does build and provide an excellent foundation.

With a number 3 or 4 Baltimore and a copy of “Catholicism for Dummies” anyone would be in very good shape with the basics.

The Church has no official position on limbo, so it is impossible for a catechism to be out of date on that manner. What else do you think is outdated?

 

[Paul2274]

Stay-at-Home Catholic Dad of 3…is me! (and proud to be)

I teach all 3 of my kids using the Baltimore catechism. It works too. They like the basicness of the books and it’s easy for them to grasp the subject of study… and it’s easier to teach the particular subjects of each chapter too. It helps to compliment something they may hear or see at Mass. When the little “light-bulbs” go off during the homily and they look at me like…“We just talked about that” I smile and shake my head yes and they get a “I get it now” grin. Great moments for me too when they do
“Get It” cause I know where they got it from… me and not sombody who may be giving information other then genuine church teaching.

Remember… Our homes and families are the Domestic Church and it all starts with us (parents).

Paul

 

[Deacon_Ed_B]

I grew up in ;the 1940’s and 50’s using the Baltimore Catechism, that is until I went into the Seminary. it was good as far as it went, as the format was question and answer and you had to memorize the answer. This did not teach us the whys, etc. The present Catechism of the Catholic Church is far superior in that it gives the scriptural, Canon Law, encyclical and references of the fathers of the Church as authority. It is far superior and much more conducive to learning and understanding.
Prayers & blessings
Deacon ed B

 

[Joannm]

I grew up in ;the 1940’s and 50’s using the Baltimore Catechism, that is until I went into the Seminary. it was good as far as it went, as the format was question and answer and you had to memorize the answer. This did not teach us the whys, etc. The present Catechism of the Catholic Church is far superior in that it gives the scriptural, Canon Law, encyclical and references of the fathers of the Church as authority. It is far superior and much more conducive to learning and understanding.
Prayers & blessings
Deacon ed B

I agree with you. I too had to memorise the Baltimore Catechism but it was never explained to us. It wasn’t until I actually went to our seminary that I actually had a good understanding what I had memorized.

 

[muffinmojo]

I have a CCC, but I sort of wish I had a Baltimore Catechsim- I’ve read bits of it online, it seems to be far more easy to understand and just read. Ideally, one would have both, and use the Baltimore to get the ideas down, and then the CCC to get more in-depth.

 

[palmas85]

Two part question:

What Catechism did you use growing up?

Is the Baltimore Catechism still a good one? Does it still accurately reflect the Church’s teachings?

Les

The Baltimore Catechism/

Yes it is still perfectly valid to use for what it was designed for, which was to lay a firm foundation that everyone could understand. It was the beginning, not the end of religious education,

The CCC, while much more in depth is much more difficult to use and to teach from at a basic level. I see no inherent problem in using both. The Baltimore to younger children and then as they get older move to the CCC.

 

[Joannm]

I have a CCC, but I sort of wish I had a Baltimore Catechsim- I’ve read bits of it online, it seems to be far more easy to understand and just read. Ideally, one would have both, and use the Baltimore to get the ideas down, and then the CCC to get more in-depth.

The compendium of the CCC is in the same type question and answer format as the Baltimore Catechism and is easy to use. The new Adult Catechism by the USCCB is also a good resource. We are going to start using it in September in the parish for ongoing adult classes.

 

[bilop]

Two part question:

What Catechism did you use growing up?

Is the Baltimore Catechism still a good one? Does it still accurately reflect the Church’s teachings?

Les

Here is the Baltimore Catechisms 1-3 on-line for those who want it.

intratext.com/X/ENG0104.HTM

One caveat. The Baltimore Catechisms is nolonger accurate on some matters of Church discipline. e.g. Catholics being forbidden to Marry non-Catholics is in the Baltimore, but is nolonger true.

Of course it is accurate on all matters of dcotrine, since doctrine can not change.

God Bless

 

[dessert]

I have gone backwards, when I came back I read the new one which I have and the compendium but then started searching the Baltimore and now have the Saint Joseph version or new not sure. but the one on line is nice too and can down load it and it states the only diff is some of the disciplines. download
www.BaltimoreCatechismonline
It is good too but about the same as mine
Now I know what the children are getting in the schools which is what I wanted to know about before and could not even get a straight answer because I am very ignorant about the catechisms.
Are you asking what are some of the differences?

Considering that our Pope changed a fact that if you are 59 or over there is less discipline like considering fast, I believe there will be more changes in the future.

 

[dessert]

This can be downloaded;
www.catholicinformationcenteroninternet.org/Catechism/index.html
Hope it works

 

[Spiller]

Two part question:

What Catechism did you use growing up?

Is the Baltimore Catechism still a good one? Does it still accurately reflect the Church’s teachings?

Les

The BC is dated. There are better catechisms out there…

 

[Spiller]

The compendium of the CCC is in the same type question and answer format as the Baltimore Catechism and is easy to use. The new Adult Catechism by the USCCB is also a good resource. We are going to start using it in September in the parish for ongoing adult classes.

Both are superior to the BC

 

[mercygate]

I grew up in ;the 1940’s and 50’s using the Baltimore Catechism, that is until I went into the Seminary. it was good as far as it went, as the format was question and answer and you had to memorize the answer. This did not teach us the whys, etc. The present Catechism of the Catholic Church is far superior in that it gives the scriptural, Canon Law, encyclical and references of the fathers of the Church as authority. It is far superior and much more conducive to learning and understanding.
Prayers & blessings
Deacon ed B

The GOOD thing about the BC is the Q&A format. I wouldn’t want to lay the CCC on any of my sixth-graders. Heck, half of 'em can’t even spell “C-A-T”.

 

[mercygate]

The BC is dated. There are better catechisms out there…

Anything for kids that has the advantages of the Baltimore Catechism? While kids may not have understood everything they learned, at least they had stuff in their heads they could pull out and use later in life.

I teach sixth grade CCD and would really appreciate an age-appropriate catechism to use with them. I have seen things like a catechism of the Catholic Church “for teens” – in bookstores, not an official publication.

 

[Jacafamala]

The BC is dated. There are better catechisms out there…

The Catechism of the Catholic Church was written for adults. I’m wondering what catechism were you thinking of as being better for kids? The Baltimore Catechism was written for young minds. In my opinion, you can’t beat it. But yes, as other posters have already stated, it needs to be explained as the catechist and children read through the material together.

 

[brotherhrolf]

The GOOD thing about the BC is the Q&A format. I wouldn’t want to lay the CCC on any of my sixth-graders. Heck, half of 'em can’t even spell “C-A-T”.

Here it is almost 50 years later and I can still recall many of those questions and answers.

I was never happy with the watered down catechism texts my kids used in Catholic grade and high school - too heavy on the graphics and too light on the theology. They did use the CCC in 11th and 12th grade and DW and I used it to teach the Confirmation class for our parish where all of the kids were either in the 11th or 12th grade.