Is the Catechism of the Catholic Church, the Catechism of Vatican II?

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YehoiakhinEx232

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Real quick, I’m doing Evangelization work, I’ve been asked a question about Vatican II. When I read the introduction to the current Catechism, I got the impression that this was the Catechism of Vatican II, in the same way the Roman Catechism was the Catechism of the Council of Trent, is that an accurate understanding?
 
Yes. It is an accurate understanding, with one minor exception. The Catechism that followed Trent was a Catechism meant strictly for the Roman Church, and did not really have an eye towards Eastern Catholicism/Christianity at all. The intention behind the CCC is to be a universal Catechism that all Church sui iuris can use as the foundation of their own local catechisms.

I hope that makes sense.
 
CRM_Brother said:
It officially declared the need for an updated universal catechism
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I’m familiar with all of the documents of VII and have never heard this.

From what I know the need for a Catechism was expressed first in a synod during the 80s.

Where in VII is such a thing stated?
 
I apologize. You are correct. I was mistaken and misinformed. I have removed my post. Thank you for alerting me to my error.
 
No problem brother

Tis what we do here - guide eachother in Truth
 
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Yes and no. The Catechism of Trent was initiated specifically by a resolution passed at the Council as a direct measure to address the issues the Council was called to address.

The CCC was initiated in a synod of (some, not all) bishops in 1985 in response to a lot of the doctrinal confusion for which the event of Vatican II unfortunately served as a catalyst. St. John Paul II clearly considered the new Catechism in line with the true purpose of the Council, stated by St. John XXIII, to propose clearly the doctrine of the faith. Some critics, who favored a more…fluid…interpretation of the directives of Vatican II opposed it to Vatican II’s spirit of adaptation (a fixed doctrinal compendium was seen as contrary to the need for constant updating and reform or the concept of faith as lived experience). Obviously, the extent this opinion was held shows the very need for such a fixed reference point!

The idea of a new universal Catechism had also been floating around for a long time. It was on the agenda of the First Vatican Council, but that Council never got to it because it was cut short and never reconvened (due to the invasion of Rome during the unification of Italy). Many of the things it never got to were completed by subsequent Popes (and Vatican II), including, ultimately, the Catechism.
 
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Hi Casilda,

If memory serves me correctly, you are Maronite. I am too. You’re right in that Maronites do not have an “official” catechism. The closest we come to a catechism, at least in the U.S., is the book Captivated by Your Teachings, which does make reference to the Catechism of the Catholic Church along with the documents of Vatican II.

The Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church also issued their own catechism, which, from what I’ve heard, also makes reference to the Catechism of the Catholic Church.

Again, the point of the CCC was to serve as a foundation or point-of-reference for the formation of local catechisms. In that sense, the attempt was to be truly universal by incorporating the insights of both the East and the West. The extent of success on that matter is debatable, and I’d argue that it was pretty much a failure when it comes to incorporating the insights of the East, save for a passing reference to the Byzantine tradition here and there. But it is what it is and we Maronites and other Eastern and Oriental Catholics can certainly make use of it according to our needs.
 
Right, but I think its fair to say that the Catechism reflects the theology of Vatican II… you could argue that it was inspired by the intent of the Council, which was to “repackage” the Gospel for the modern world. I would also argue that the synods that followed in Vatican II’s wake were a continuation of the Council’s work.
 
To me, the Catechism is just the Catechsim. 🙂

The Churches teaching on Faith and Morals never changes. It does get reworded and presented a bit differently to be more timely, but the teachings are constant.

JPII simply said the CCC is “a sure norm for teaching the faith.”

I love the Catechism. I think it’s great.
 
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