[Catholic Caucus] “Of What Use Is a Changing Catechism?”

Rorate Caeli ^ | May 14, 2019 | Peter Kwasniewski

[ebb tide]

Ping

[DuncanWaring]

On the first Feminian Sandstones we were promised the Fuller Life
(Which started by loving our neighbour and ended by loving his wife)
Till our women had no more children and the men lost reason and faith,
And the Gods of the Copybook Headings said: "The Wages of Sin is Death."

[Mrs. Don-o]

I recently posted a list of Catechisms over the years (LINK) ,of which I am aware, including those of Trent and Bellarmine and Pius X, some 30 or so.

As a RCIA catechist, I would gladly teach from any of them, with one single exception: I would not teach the revisions inserted by Pope Francis.

My pastor and bishop know that..

[Tell It Right]

The ultimate catechism is the New Testament. Able to read by all and doesn’t have to be validated by Vatican leaders.

[Ouchthatonehurt]

I was taught with The Baltimore Catechism (Bellarmine’s), and this was in the late 70’s so we were definelty old-school. Loved its clarity, still do.

[Mrs. Don-o]

Oh, me too. I was taught with the Baltimore Catechism in the late-50's, early 60's. I remember years later when was trying to get a bit of clarity in my confused young-adult life, it was consoling to repeat to myself,

Q - "Why did God make you?"

A - "God made me to know Him, to love Him, and to serve Him in this world, and to be happy with Him for ever in heaven."

[amihow]

I personally recommend anything by the logical and orthodox Roman Catholic John Hardon. No word salad from him.

[Svartalfiar]

The ultimate catechism is the New Testament. Able to read by all and doesn’t have to be validated by Vatican leaders.

Except the New Testament is mostly a collection of stories about Jesus, not a structured set of principles and doctrine. The NT by itself does not give much structure to the faith.