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Cristiano
Guest
I also have a couple of reprints of USA catechisms from the 1940’s and 1950’s but I cannot remember their titles right now. :banghead: Can you can please give it a shot at guessing the names?
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I also have a couple of reprints of USA catechisms from the 1940’s and 1950’s but I cannot remember their titles right now. :banghead: Can you can please give it a shot at guessing the names?
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jwinch2
Guest
If I was to get only one I would have the CCC 2nd Edition as it is the most detailed. However, I currently have 3: The CCC, The US Catechism for Adults put out by the USCCB, and the Catechism of the Council of Trent.
The CCC second edition (often referred to as the Universal Catechism) is actually geared to the Bishops, see LAETAMUR MAGNOPERE. Because of that, and the fact that it is a translation from the Latin, the English is often clunky and obscure. Doctrinally, it is perfectly sound and no one should doubt this or suggest otherwise. Blessed JP2 declared it to be a sure norm for teaching the faith and then Cardinal Ratzinger was highly involved in supervising the changes from the first edition. It was also intended to be used a reference for the development of local Catechisms such as the US, UK, etc., see FIDEI DEPOSITUM.
Zundrah, the bottom line is that the Catechism you have is perfectly sound and you will not go wrong in reading it despite the fact that the style of writing can be frustrating due to the reasons mentioned above. It says on your profile that you are in London. I do not know if that is London England, or London Ontario.
If it is England, I would recommend this verison. It is the local Catechism for the UK and will be perfectly sound from a doctrinal standpoint; and, the English will be much better and much more understandable.
If it is Ontario, I would likely consider the one put out by the USCCB. It is much more readable than the universal Catechism, despite being perfectly sound regarding doctrinally, as it manages to avoid the flowery and often obscure language so often favored by theologians. In short, it says things plainly and in modern American English.
Peace,
The CCC second edition (often referred to as the Universal Catechism) is actually geared to the Bishops, see LAETAMUR MAGNOPERE. Because of that, and the fact that it is a translation from the Latin, the English is often clunky and obscure. Doctrinally, it is perfectly sound and no one should doubt this or suggest otherwise. Blessed JP2 declared it to be a sure norm for teaching the faith and then Cardinal Ratzinger was highly involved in supervising the changes from the first edition. It was also intended to be used a reference for the development of local Catechisms such as the US, UK, etc., see FIDEI DEPOSITUM.
Zundrah, the bottom line is that the Catechism you have is perfectly sound and you will not go wrong in reading it despite the fact that the style of writing can be frustrating due to the reasons mentioned above. It says on your profile that you are in London. I do not know if that is London England, or London Ontario.
If it is England, I would recommend this verison. It is the local Catechism for the UK and will be perfectly sound from a doctrinal standpoint; and, the English will be much better and much more understandable.
If it is Ontario, I would likely consider the one put out by the USCCB. It is much more readable than the universal Catechism, despite being perfectly sound regarding doctrinally, as it manages to avoid the flowery and often obscure language so often favored by theologians. In short, it says things plainly and in modern American English.
Peace,
C
Corki
Guest
If you read the introductory material in the CCC, you will see it was intended that people would use the “big” Catechism to create others more tailored to certain readers or purposes. The ones you mention should be based on the CCC and reference the CCC. If the CCC is not in the references you may have to do more research to determine if it is solid or flakey.
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Zundrah
Guest
Yeah I’m in England, but it can be so confusing as all these Catechism lead people to think that there must be reason as to why so many more were made even if they are all perfectly fine.
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healonzo
Guest
My recommendation for you is to get your hands on the U.S. Catholic Catechism for Adults. It is an excellent Catechism for adults and the format is very easy to read.
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Cristiano
Guest
The Catechism of the Catholic Church was mainly target for the bishops but priests and lay people are strongly encouraged to read it and to study it. Other forms/books could target different audiences by using different methods to teach the same things.
For example the teachings about sexual chastity are universal but they could and should be addressed differently when talking to young people, to married people, and to clergy. The same thing could be said about other teachings on morality, young audiences should be addressed with specific behaviors are prominent at their ages (e.g. cheating in school or stealing a cell phone) while adults might have to deal with corruption or not paying just wages, two different aspects of the same moral issues.
The bottom line is that we have to form our consciences in the proper manner and it will take our lifetime to do the job and so we need to proper resources for the proper times in life. The relationship with God is not the same when you are 6 years, 16 years old and 60 years old, it develops and so we must grow in our understanding. I would not give a calculus book to a 6 year old but a 16 year old could probably handle it. Do not be afraid to read more than one or two books on the catechism, just look at them as the beginning of a long and fruitful education.
When they say do your last order first that does not imply to disregard the other orders and the same it is with the documents of the Church, the more you learn the more you grow.
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joanofarc2008
Guest
Actually one big change in the Catechism 2ed is the teaching on the death penalty. You will not find it in the 1st ed unless you have the Compendium or the Baltimore Catechism. This is because the Bl John Paul II wrote on this after the 1st ed was published.
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jwinch2
Guest
Then I would go with this one: amazon.co.uk/Catechism-Catholic-Church-catholic-church/dp/0860123278 or, I would stick withe one you already have. The one you have will be harder to read since, as I mentioned above, it is a translation from Latin rather than being written by native English speakers. That may or may not be a problem for you. If it is, get the one designed for the people of England which is the one I just linked to.
Don’t let the various versions throw you. Some are just older versions compared to newer ones (e.g. the Catechism of the Council of Trent vs. The Baltimore Catechism vs. The Catechism of the Catholic Church 2nd Edition). And one is a universal Catechism (e.g. The Catechism of the Catholic Church 2nd Edition) which means that it is geared for the whole Church and specifically written for the Episcopate (Bishops) in Latin. Aside from being written for the Bishops, it was designed as a reference for the development of local Catechisms (e.g. the one put out by the USCCB or the one I linked above in this post) which are specific to certain languages and cultures. Finally, some are for kids (YouCat) while others are for adults.
If you already have the Universal Catechism and also get the one designed for the UK, you will be perfectly set. Although, you might also consider picking up Catholicism for Dummies. Don’t let the name throw you, it is for more than just dummies. I learned a great deal from it even after I had already read the entire Catechism.
I have said more than once on CAF and I still believe it, that the Church would be in far better shape of all Catholics would get and read the following three books:
- Your local Catechism of the Catholic Church (UK, USA, etc.)
- Catholicism for Dummies
- A faithful Catholic Study Bible
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Zundrah
Guest
Okay then, this has cleared a lot of my thoughts up. Thank you.
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MissRose73
Guest
I have both the thick CCC and the Baltimore Catechism series, both that can be purchased online. The CCC language is bit hard to understand for some people. I’ve not read the YouCat one yet.
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jwinch2
Guest
I agree. That is why I recommend people get their local Catechism along with the CCC. The local Catechism, being written in that language rather than translated to it, will be easier understand. However the CCC has much more copious citations and references to Church documents as well as Sacred Scripture.
Peace,
C
Cristiano
Guest
Here they are:
I also have a couple of reprints of USA catechisms from the 1940’s and 1950’s but I cannot remember their titles right now. :banghead: Can you can please give it a shot at guessing the names?
My Catholic Faith. This together with YouCat it makes an excellent combination for a young person.
This Is the Faith: A Complete Explanation of the Catholic Faith
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hudson
Guest
Yes to this! I bought this and just started reading it for Lent and it is excellent.
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mattkubes
Guest
Yes, and this is one of the problems with it. This was purely his opinion on the issue of capital punishment. Catholic teaching does not include the caveat that capital punishment is only justified if it’s the only way of protecting people from the aggressor. Compare its section to the one that came out of the Catechism of the Council of Trent:
“The power of life and death is permitted to certain civil magistrates because theirs is the responsibility under law to punish the guilty and protect the innocent. Far from being guilty of breaking this commandment [Thy shall not kill], such an execution of justice is precisely an act of obedience to it. For the purpose of the law is to protect and foster human life. This purpose is fulfilled when the legitimate authority of the State is exercised by taking the guilty lives of those who have taken innocent lives.”
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joanofarc2008
Guest
However you need to look at the differing time periods between the Council of Trent and the Bl John Paul II teaching on morality and faith which a Pope is allowed to do. One of the things that Bl John Paul II said was that in today’s world technology had gotten to the point that the death penalty was no longer protecting the innocent as we had safeguards in place to protect innocents from those that would do harm. He did leave the caveat that in those rare cases the death penalty would be acceptable but that these cases were rare.
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mattkubes
Guest
Capital punishment does not only exist to protect innocents, it exists to punish those who commit capital crimes. When a person commits a capital crime, his right to life is forfeit. The teaching in JPII’s Catechism is an opinion that we’re allowed to hold, but it’s not the only one and it represents a break with Catholic tradition. Capital punishment is a perfectly legitimate practice in cases of murder and is not only justified in “rare” cases.
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joanofarc2008
Guest
While John Paul II may not have been speaking infallibly on this matter we are to follow the Magisterium on teachings of faith and morals. I would submit to you that this was not a break from past teaching but an explanation of it. I would also submit to you that it is very hard to be pro-life and support the death penalty. I would suggest reading here from this own website for a good defintion of retribution and punishment.
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mattkubes
Guest
That’s fine, but this was not a Magisterial teaching - neither ordinary nor extraordinary. It remains an opinion, and one that you’re free to hold, but Catholics are certainly also able to adhere to previously stated authoritative Church teaching on this matter.
No, capital punishment is not inconsistent with the pro-life position unless you buy into modern society’s rhetoric. As the Roman Catechism states, the 5th commandment does not only not forbid capital punishment, but it demands it as a matter of justice. One who commits murder has denied another person his right to life and in doing so forfeits his own. That is official Church teaching.
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joanofarc2008
Guest
Actually it is a Magisterial teaching - it is taught by a member - a rather prominent member of the Magisterium. But let me get you a more exact qualification on this;
Bolded for my emphasis - keep in mind the Pope is the Bishop of Rome. Keep in mind also that this has been adapted as doctrine by the USCCB and passed down in several documents covering teachings of faith and morals within the US as well. If you check your own Diocese I am sure you will find similar teaching on faith and morals.
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