Bishops approve first official adult catechism for U.S. Catholics

Published: 2004-11-17

WASHINGTON (CNS) -- The U.S. bishops Nov. 17 approved a "U.S. Catholic Catechism for Adults," the first official national catechism in this country aimed specifically at adults. Dotted with brief biographies illustrating the faith lives of American saints and other well-known figures in U.S. Catholic history, the new catechism is meant as a complement to the universal "Catechism of the Catholic Church" issued in 1992 by Pope John Paul II. It addresses Catholic belief and practice comprehensively, but often from the perspective of special questions or challenges to Catholic faith that arise out of the American social and cultural context. The bishops adopted the 456-page text by a vote of 218-10, getting well over the two-thirds of all active members of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops that was needed for approval. The text must still receive a "recognitio," or confirmation from the Holy See, before it can be published as an official catechism.

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