BXVI--Cardinal Ratzinger--had major input into the CCC.
The Baltimore Catechism is fine for children, but, for adult catechesis, there's simply nothing comparable to the CCC as the basis for an RCIA program or adult education curriculum.
Nothing.
But, we'll disagree about this.
You do realize that there are 4 levels of the Baltimore catechism don't you? Level 4 could hardly be viewed as meant for children, and level three has at least the level of depth that any confirmant would need.
there's simply nothing comparable to the CCC as the basis for an RCIA program or adult education curriculum.
Even if this were true, as if a 700 plus page catechism would be usable in an RCIA program, it isn't used. Not in my diocese anyway, and I would be willing to bet not in most. Nor was it ever used or even referred to any of the "pastoral formation classes" I was obliged to sit through.
I would like to know what you base your opinion on. I too think there is nothing comparable to the new catechism, in that no prior catechism has as many unnecessary words, which instead of clarifying any points of doctrine, succeed in only obscuring them.
Yes sir we most certainly will, respectfully.
The need to format our Catechism in a way that is workable to various constituencies and situations has always been the case. Why do you think they have been manifest in so many different vehicles? There are many ways to learn the faith from the Baltimore "First Communion Catechism" to more extensive works such as "My Catholic Faith".
My problem isn't so much that JPII assembled a catechism, as that it has become a standard mainstay with the others being very purposely and intentionally cast aside. Now instead of a deep established well, we draw from a singular shallow one. Whether you're seeking to further science, history, faith or anything else ... it's a foolish way to proceed.