Pre-publication sales booming for compendium of catechism

Published: 2006-03-22

WASHINGTON (CNS) -- Pre-publication sales of more than 40,000 put the Compendium of the Catechism of the Catholic Church, a 200-page synthesis of the 1992 catechism, well on its way to major success, according to USCCB Publishing, the publishing office of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. The figure includes both the paperback version of the compendium, available March 31, and a hardcover edition to be published later this spring. Each version is to be published in English and Spanish. Patrick Markey, associate director of marketing, sales and inventory at USCCB Publishing, said a publishing rule of thumb is that pre-publication sales amount to one-third of the first-year sales. At that pace, the compendium is expected to sell between 120,000 and 200,000 copies in its first year, he said. The compendium is made up of 598 questions and answers. It may be ordered online at: www.usccbpublishing.org, or by phone at: (800) 235-8722.

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