YouCat

[Armor_of_Light]

I purchased this for my son last year…

I have not read it. How is it? Does it contain anything to be overly concerned about in terms of wishy washy language or marginal errors?

Thanks

 

[Rich_C]

I’ve only skimmed it but I was impressed.

If I recall, its largely question and answer, which I favor for introductory catechisms.

It has a great preface by the Holy Father in which he challenges young people to take ownership of the Faith and learn it.

It seemed very straightforward, without room to misinterpret what it meant. Just how a catechism should be.

I’ll probably buy it for my future children to supplement their Baltimore Catechism.

 

[Rich_C]

As an aside, after I skimmed the YouCat I suggested to me wife that there must be a hip abreviation for the Baltimore Catechism. She vetoed “BalCat.” Any suggestions?

 

[RPRPsych]

As an aside, after I skimmed the YouCat I suggested to me wife that there must be a hip abreviation for the Baltimore Catechism. She vetoed “BalCat.” Any suggestions?

The “B-More Cat”? Yo, yo, check out that B-More Cat, dude!

 

[Armor_of_Light]

As an aside, after I skimmed the YouCat I suggested to me wife that there must be a hip abreviation for the Baltimore Catechism. She vetoed “BalCat.” Any suggestions?

Retro-Cat?

 

[Mike30]

While certainly an interesting topic for those with children, I fail to see how it fits in with the stated subject matter of this particular forum.

 

[RPRPsych]

I purchased this for my son last year…

I have not read it. How is it? Does it contain anything to be overly concerned about in terms of wishy washy language or marginal errors?

Thanks

I’ve only read it briefly, so take what I say with a pinch of salt.

It’s user-friendly, orthodox, and presents facts and traditional teachings in an easy-to-read, attractive manner.

I remember one questionable passage about atheism though, but that may have been just because I skimmed it. Something about “atheism not being a sin if…”, but I can’t remember what comes after the “if”. I doubt very much it was anything serious, or anything that a good parent or teacher couldn’t clarify.

Also, the copy I bought has a lot of pictures of young people in it, as it ought to. Judging by some of the responses I’ve seen on other threads here, it could be argued that some of them are not dressed as “modestly” as they ought to. I had no problem with them (I teach young adults and adolescents, after all!), but I’m just sayin’.

 

[Armor_of_Light]

While certainly an interesting topic for those with children, I fail to see how it fits in with the stated subject matter of this particular forum.

…Uhhh…

Because I wanted a traditional catholic response. Sorry if I mis-placed it.

 

[maryjk]

I’ve only read it briefly, so take what I say with a pinch of salt.

It’s user-friendly, orthodox, and presents facts and traditional teachings in an easy-to-read, attractive manner.

I remember one questionable passage about atheism though, but that may have been just because I skimmed it. Something about “atheism not being a sin if…”, but I can’t remember what comes after the “if”. I doubt very much it was anything serious, or anything that a good parent or teacher couldn’t clarify.

"Atheism is not a sin if a person has learned nothing about God or has examined the question about God’s existence conscientiously and cannot believe.

The line between being unable to believe and being unwilling to believe is not clear. The attitude that simply dismisses faith as unimportant, without having examined it more closely, is often worse than well considered Atheism.

Also, the copy I bought has a lot of pictures of young "people in it, as it ought to. Judging by some of the responses I’ve seen on other threads here, it could be argued that some of them are not dressed as “modestly” as they ought to. I had no problem with them (I teach young adults and adolescents, after all!), but I’m just sayin’.

I haven’t found anything immodest in the YouCat.

 

[1AugustSon7]

This is an excerpt from the YouCat that I found on the youcat.org website (which looks really well done):

Question of the Month (October 01, 2012)

307 What is faith?

Faith is the power by which we assent to God, acknowledge his truth, and commit ourselves personally to him. [1814–1816, 1842]
Faith is the path created by God leading to the truth that is God himself. Because Jesus is “the way, and the truth, and the life” (Jn 14:6), this faith cannot be merely an attitude or “confidence” about something or other. On the one hand, the faith has definite contents, which the Church professes in the Creed (= profession of faith), and it is her duty to safeguard them. Anyone who wants to accept the gift of faith, in other words, anyone who wants to believe, acknowledges this faith, which has been preserved constantly through the ages and in many different cultures. On the other hand, part of faith is a trusting relationship to God with heart and mind, with all one’s emotional strength. For faith becomes effective only through charity, practical love (see Gal 5:6). Whether someone really believes in the God of love is shown, not in his solemn affirmations, but rather in charitable deeds.

• youcat.org/glauben/question-of-the-month.html

Gives you an idea of its contents. Love how this question concludes, especially as it is written for young or younger people who are, naturally, full of energy : “Whether someone really believes in the God of love is shown, not in his solemn affirmations, but rather in charitable deeds.”
The concusion a young(er) person draws from this: ‘I should love people actively and go out of my way to help others. In this I show forth faith in Christ (and what it is and means) to the world.’

I like.

 

[DarkLight]

It’s what my parish uses for RCIA (somewhat annoyingly). It’s probably good for young teens. I found it fairly clear but rather disappointingly lacking in depth - very little in the way of true explanation of the foundation and importance of beliefs.

 

[edward_george]

It’s what my parish uses for RCIA (somewhat annoyingly). It’s probably good for young teens. I found it fairly clear but rather disappointingly lacking in depth - very little in the way of true explanation of the foundation and importance of beliefs.

It isn’t intended to be a very deep explanation of things, but rather a sort of introductory survey. The Compendium of the Catechism of the Catholic Church is structured in the same sort of way–neither one gives you the whole package, but are intended to be used with other resources as well. Both of them quote and cross-reference both the Bible and the CCC extensively. So the idea, at least with YouCat, is that you can read the question, get a brief answer (in boldface), then get a slightly more in depth answer by reading on, and then look up the relevant sections in the Catechism for even more information (they are usually listed in the margins if I recall). If you read the introduction to YouCat it actually says this is how it is supposed to be used.

-ACEGC

 

[nichola]

It’s what my parish uses for RCIA (somewhat annoyingly). It’s probably good for young teens. I found it fairly clear but rather disappointingly lacking in depth - very little in the way of true explanation of the foundation and importance of beliefs.

Do you not think it could be better for easing people into it though? The actual Catechism of the Catholic Church could be very heavy and intimidating for people who are just learning about the faith. I think it’s a good foundation in terms of something to start of with.

 

[Mrs_Sally]

I like it. We all received a copy at World Youth Day, and my 15 year old started reading it on the way home. My kids have read through it at least once and find the explanations helpful for themselves. They also say that it is written in a way that gives them language to answer friend’s questions or refute arguments from non-Catholics.

I compare it very favorably to the BaltoCat D). Same content, similar format, modern examples and wording. All good.

 

[Joe_5859]

If you go through the YOUCAT question by question and look at the cross-references to the main Catechism after each question, you’ll notice that the YOUCAT covers pretty much everything, just in a much briefer way.

I have no problem recommending it. If the Pope encourages youth to study it, who am I to say different?

Try literally flipping through it front to back while looking at the lower right-hand corner. It’s a fun little flip book.

 

[DarkLight]

Do you not think it could be better for easing people into it though? The actual Catechism of the Catholic Church could be very heavy and intimidating for people who are just learning about the faith. I think it’s a good foundation in terms of something to start of with.

Eh, I guess. My main issue was that it felt very disjointed and dogmatic in the wrong way. I came in wanting to know why the Church believes what she does and how the beliefs fit together in a coherent whole. The YouCat felt more like the sort of disjointed list of “believe this and this and this” that started annoying me when I was 12 or 13.

Edit: I don’t mean to say that I object to dogmatic declarations. What I object to is being taught them without and reason or background, or relating them clearly to the rest of our faith. The church does not declare her dogmas on a whim, but because the things she declares are somehow important.

 

[maryjk]

If you go through the YOUCAT question by question and look at the cross-references to the main Catechism after each question, you’ll notice that the YOUCAT covers pretty much everything, just in a much briefer way.

I have no problem recommending it. If the Pope encourages youth to study it, who am I to say different?

Try literally flipping through it front to back while looking at the lower right-hand corner. It’s a fun little flip book.

I had totally forgotten about that.

So I had to do it again, just now. And now I need to remember to show it to others. (I work at a Catholic gift store)

 

[Mike30]

…Uhhh…

Because I wanted a traditional catholic response. Sorry if I mis-placed it.

I didn’t mean to put you on the defensive and sorry if I did. It seems at times that this forum in particular gets all kind of questions and opinions posted which have absolutely nothing whatsoever to do with the stated purpose which is:

Discussion of traditions and customs of the Roman Catholic rite

This Forum used to have a different description which has been replaced by the above. In fact there have recently been posters who felt that the name of the forum needed to be changed to more accurately reflect what this forum is supposed to be about now. You will find on this forum for instance very few people who would call them selves traditionalists or even traditional Catholics in the way that term is currently understood by most.I’m not saying that there are not Traditionalists or Traditional Catholics here, just not as many as you might think from the name.

As to the Youcat itself, it is a very new publication which was totally unknown just a few years ago let alone in Traditional Catholicism. I would venture to say that many if not most who would identify themselves as Traditionalists would choose not to use it preferring instead the Baltimore Catechism for the youth or the Catechsim of the Council of Trent or some variation thereof for adults.

I am not in any way saying that the Youcat or the current catechsim are bad, improper or dcefective in any way, just that they are not what most traditionalists would choose as a first choice.

As an aside I will say that some people have stated that there are certain ambiguities in the Youcat that could lead to misunderstanding of Catholic doctrine and dogma. I don’t know if that is true, but I have heard that stated on more than one occasion.

Again I apologize if I said anything that upset you or put you on the defensive.

 

[RPRPsych]

"Atheism is not a sin if a person has learned nothing about God or has examined the question about God’s existence conscientiously and cannot believe.

The line between being unable to believe and being unwilling to believe is not clear. The attitude that simply dismisses faith as unimportant, without having examined it more closely, is often worse than well considered Atheism.

Thank you, that was the line. I think the point the authors are making there is about invincible ignorance, which is a valid and legitimate consideration.

I haven’t found anything immodest in the YouCat.

Neither did I! But after seeing some of the hyperventilation that occurs on the “Modesty in Dress” threads, I just thought I’d put the surgeon general’s warning out there.

 

[Jennifer_G]

The “B-More Cat”? Yo, yo, check out that B-More Cat, dude!

Being from Baltimore, that has a nice ring to it.