What is difference between US Catechism and regular one?

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fisherman_carl

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I was looking for an audio book of the catechism and noticed the US catechism is available as an audio book. What is the difference between the US Catechism and the regular one? Im in Canada so also would be wondering why it is country specific and if it suitable for a canuck. Thanks.
 
Hmm… the U.S. Catechism was developed in English, and the CCC was developed in Latin and translated to English? 😉

Just kidding: the USCCA was developed specifically for an American audience, although it was based on the CCC. The CCC was developed for the universal Church, with the notion that it might be used, in part, to develop regional catechisms (such as the USCCA).

The USCCA is, in my opinion, more approachable and more reader-friendly. Then again, I’m part of the target audience, so it makes sense that I’d see it that way… 😉

I would think that it would be very approachable for a Canadian audience, as well; there aren’t any references to American football, or demeaning Tim Horton’s donuts, that would be off-putting for a Canadian reader… 😉
 
The Pope, when releasing the Catechism of the Catholic Church, called on bishops’ conferences to develop national/country catechisms based on the CCC that were appropriate for the general public.

Remember, the primary audience of the CCC was bishops, priests, and those doing catechesis. From the CCC:

*CCC 11 This catechism aims at presenting an organic synthesis of the essential and fundamental contents of Catholic doctrine, as regards both faith and morals, in the light of the Second Vatican Council and the whole of the Church’s Tradition. Its principal sources are the Sacred Scriptures, the Fathers of the Church, the liturgy, and the Church’s Magisterium. It is intended to serve “as a point of reference for the catechisms or compendia that are composed in the various countries”.

CCC 12 This work is intended primarily for those responsible for catechesis: first of all the bishops, as teachers of the faith and pastors of the Church. It is offered to them as an instrument in fulfilling their responsibility of teaching the People of God. Through the bishops, it is addressed to redactors of catechisms, to priests, and to catechists. It will also be useful reading for all other Christian faithful.*

The US Adult Catechism is very good, it is in a question and answer format and is a solid catechism for use in RCIA or adult catechesis.

And, yes, Canadians are welcome to read it. 🙂
 
I would think that it would be very approachable for a Canadian audience, as well; there aren’t any references to American football, or demeaning Tim Horton’s donuts, that would be off-putting for a Canadian reader… 😉
That’s good because us canucks are very picky about our donuts, aye.
 
In the 2006 United States Catholic Catechism for Adults, most (maybe 80%) of the 35 chapters begin with a 2-page biographical sketch of an exceptional Catholic who lived in the United States, such as Archbishop John Carroll (1735-1815), the first U.S. bishop, whose biographical sketch appears at the beginning of the book’s preface and Dorothy Day (1897-1980) at the beginning of chapter 29.

An attempt is made in nearly all the chapters to touch on the relationship of Catholic teaching to the American culture. Consequently, many chapters include American cultural references, such as the mention of the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which prohibits the establishment of a state religion, in chapter 2 and mention of the 1925 “Scopes monkey trial” in Dayton, Tennessee in chapter 5.

Some pastoral documents prepared by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops are quoted at length in the book, such as their *Guidelines for the Reception of Communion *at the end of chapter 17 and their A Pastoral Message: Living with Faith and Hope after September 11 in chapter 24.
 
snip…

Remember, the primary audience of the CCC was bishops, priests, and those doing catechesis. From the CCC:

CCC 12 This work is intended primarily for those responsible for catechesis: first of all the bishops, as teachers of the faith and pastors of the Church. It is offered to them as an instrument in fulfilling their responsibility of teaching the People of God. Through the bishops, it is addressed to redactors of catechisms, to priests, and to catechists. It will also be useful reading for all other Christian faithful.
It constantly amazes me at how many of the big green Catechisms we sell in my bookstore. All to laypeople. And many of these laypeople are in RCIA.

I’m down to just one again. 😃
 
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