How bizarre to read a 'statement of faith' based on the outline of the Apostles Creed and not the Bible. In this volume the creed appears to have taken precedence over the Bible, (except where proof-texts are needed from the Bible to force this organizations dogma). How remarkable the arrogance and how splendid the language of an organization which extorted its way into world religions through the oppression of the poor, (indulgences to build St. Marks' Cathedral), drug sales to fill its coffers, (Jesuit Black ships from Japan), wholesale killing of those who held the Bible as singly sacred, (inquisition of the original Baptists and latter reforming true Christians), and recently the abuse of likely 100's of thousands of children at the hands of pedophile priests, bishops, and cardinals. How we would do best to get back to historical Christianity and do away with the human invention of "Catholicism". Is it any wonder that Mohammed considered "Christianity" corrupt in his day and began his own religion? Now we have more corruption in yet another human religion to counter the original apostacy. What blight on humanity and disgrace to Christ Himself is this?

"If the Christians would be Christians, we would all be Christians" -Mahatma Ghandi

Rating this book is like rating a rulebook for football - the rules are the rules are the rules.

It is what it is; if you don't "like" the Catechism then Catholicism probably isn't for you. :-)

For those just beginning their exploration of Catholicism, you *should* own a copy of the Catechism, but you may also want a couple books that explain the Church in simpler language (the catechism is NOT an easy read). You can then refer back to the Catechism as needed further explanation.

I had been away from the Catholic Church for 26 years. I was a elder in a charismatic church for about 20 years. This book had a big influence in my returning home to the Catholic Church on May 3, 2008.

Received in excellent condition and in a shorter time that I thought. You have a good service here and I'll be back to shop again.

Good book, very understandable and useful for Catholics to find answers to what the Church teaches. Also, vendor provided quick delivery.

Required for every Catholic or person who wants to know what the Catholic Church teaches.

I read parts of this book while still a newcomer to theological study and again after becoming a bit more accomplished in the field. I must confess that I wasn't altogether impressed with it the first time around. I regarded it as a solid reference book but not a particularly compelling read. However, after I became more acquainted with the issues the book treats of, I have come to see this work for the masterpiece it really is. The economy of its phrasing is simply astounding. A large amount of truth is often packed in a single sentence. The articles are short and simple enough for a beginner to understand yet so rich and deep that you never feel like a topic was ended too abruptly. This book cannot be praised highly enough.

This isn't a book that you'll probably sit down and read cover to cover, but I find that I reference it often throughout the year.

This Catechism is an extraordinary literary work. It is very informative, eloquently written, and a very inspiring read. It is the "go to" book if you have any questions on the Catholic faith.

This is the latest official version of the Catholic Catechism (as of Jan 08). This is set up in an outlined version, although it is very thorough. Footnotes are employed to verify the information, which are often biblically based.

A companion reference of some sort is helpful in explaining this information. This could be another learned person of the Catholic faith, or one of several publications available. Even though the book can be difficult reading, the information is the bottom line of what Catholics believe.

I purchased this version of the Catechism to replace the original first edition by Ligouri Press that I had before (ahem) "lending" it to someone a few years ago and never getting it back. I miss that first edition for a number of reasons, not the least of which were my rather copious margin notes and highlights I had made, as well as it's overall heft. The only downside was that they subsequently did some revisions and issued a separate addendum containing the corrections. For the record, that addendum always stayed with the main book and is presumed "missing" along with its main volume. Without getting too bogged down in the history of the book, the First Edition was based largely (if not exclusively) on the French translation of the Catechism. Once they completed the Latin version and began cross-checking, they discovered a number of linguistic inadequacies that were later addressed through the addendum then through subsequent issuances (like this one.)

I was pleased to find this 2nd edition printing available (in hard cover, no less) for such a decent price. And to be certain, it is indeed the "revised" (based on the Latin text) version of the new Catechism. The reality of things hit me as soon as I pulled the volume from the box it shipped in. This edition is at least 1.5-2 inches smaller in both height and width than it's Ligouri predecessor. It also seems a skosh thinner than I remember the original being. I'm guessing this is due to smaller margins and MUCH smaller typeface, as well as some apparent content that was trimmed from this edition (primarily indices).

The book does seem to be well constructed; the binding is tight, the leaves appear clean-cut and a casual pass-through noted no noticeable bleeds, smudges or mis-registers. Aside from my expectations with regard to dimensions, it seems to be a nice, solid publication. The 4-star rating was for the overall size of the volume and typeface. The Catechism itself receives a solid 5-stars for content, and will likely be the Catholic Church's legacy to future generations for many, many years to come.

I highly recommend this book to all who feel something is missing and want to know the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth. I was very ignorant for many years pertaining to the catholic church, though being a Catholic myself. I did not understand many of the things which the church practiced. My Lord and Savior is leading me on a path back to his church. In doing so he has blessed my family and I beyond words. He is truly our Lord and Savior. If I had to describe in one word the church's teaching contained in this book it would be "Fullness". I sincerely hope this review helps in your selection. Enjoy and May God Bless you all.

This book does an excellent job of explaining Catholic doctrine in a very detailed and simple manner. The Catechism of the Catholic Church also talks about many of the so called "difficult issues" (which aren't difficult at all if you took the time to read the bible) and give a detailed explanation about that the right thing is. Excellent read for all Catholics!

The book contained all I expected. It is a good hard cover book and the only drawback is the printing is small, which may make it a little bit hard to read.

Bought my Catechism 3 years ago. Now it's falling apart. It is GREAT reading. I know that sounds far fetched. I really not exaggerating at all. Grab a pencil, a warm chair, good light, and what a marvelous wonder it is!

No need to be in a hurry.

Ample room for contemplation. And not the morbid destructive sort with which we are all too famaliar.

I needed an up to date catechism. I needed to see what if any changes have been made in the Catholic Church thinking on all issues from Genesis to Revelation. I have found there has been adjustments to the Catholic Church ways of thinking. This is an excellent book with very easy and understandable writings.

The one book along with the Bible that all Catholics should own. Excellent resource for study. The CCC is also an excellent resource for discussions among the faithful on contentious issues.(ie. War,Death Penalty, etc, etc). One of the attractive features of this edition is its compactness and durability.

I would highly recommend the book. I have had the pleasure of reading the Spanish version (5 years ago) and have decided to read the English version now. I ordered 2, one for a gift and the person whom I gave it to told me she can really understand this versus the Bible. It is not a replacement of course but rather highlights importance scriptures and categorizing concepts such as Virtues, Sacraments, Holy Order, and so much more. I cannot say I am a devote Catholic or even Protestant as I was mostly around but I could say that great reading is easily identifiable by any follower of Jesus Christ. Buy more than one, I will be definetly, God willing, purchasing more for gifts this year.

This is a wonderful improvement over our traditional "Baltimore Catechism". It's very easy to use - easy to understand - easy to reference. I wish I'd had this when I was a teenager and had lots of questions. The questions are finally answered in depth in verbiage that anyone can understand. I recommend this to every Catholic and to any non-Catholic who has questions regarding the faith.

This is a great reasource for those who wish to get an idea of what the Roman Catholic church actually teaches. Coupled with an audio class on Roman Catholicism by Dr. Fhil Fernandez, I was able to make real progress in understanding the very complicated doctrines of this world religion.

I am a convert and the Catechism is a great resource to show people that the Catholic Church does NOT worship Mary, idols, or saints. It does not teach that you have to earn your salvation. It does NOT teach that everyone is going to Heaven. It is NOT OK to use artificial contraception.

Do not worry about what you might hear about the Catholic Church or what some individual Catholics might "say" the Church teaches, even if they are priests or bishops. Many are just not well catechised or they are in rebellion. Find out for yourself in the Catechism of the Catholic Church. This one is a good edition b/c it contains an index in the back so you can look up topics you are interested in.

If you are Catholic and have questions about your faith, or are uncertain about matters of faith and teaching, this is an excellent book. A great book for the curious about the Catholic faith and who want to know more. The index is based on subject and paragraph number so you can find just what you are looking for. Subjects feature the matter at hand, what popes have said about it, what saints have said/written and most importantly, how each point is explained by and pertains to scripture including chapter and verse. It is a profound read, even though it may seem like a reference book, most eloquently written. Overseen in its writing and assembly by then Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, now Pope Benedict XVI.

This is an absolutely magnificant document for Catholics and non-Catholics alike. Following historical catechism formats, this catechism explains in clear modern language the beliefs of the Church for all to read and understand. Footnotes are extensive, refering to many documents from Vactican II, and the writings of the Church Fathers, Doctors, and Saints, While there are other valuable catechisms to read and study, they all supplement this one. If you highlight important passages in a book, get a couple, three highlighters before you start this book. You will need them.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church is an excellent reference of the Catholic faith. I love using it for any questions I may have. It is also a very handy tool for Bible Studies. This also makes a great gift. I already have this book and purchased two more to give to RCIA students who just became Catholic. No disappointments here.

I understand as a Catholic that we are to be grateful for having the CCC as a resource available to us laymen (post Vatican II that is) -- but I find the arrangement of the content somewhat cumbersome.

I can appreciate that our bishops have tried to make the Catechism more exciting by veering away from the tried-n-true Q&A format, but sometimes, finding the answer to a pressing question is much more difficult than it should be.

I'm fine with Q&A and opposed to this semi-prose, semi-counseling approach. I actually kinda miss those old Baltimore Catechisms...

I bought two of these books, one for my mother and one for my grandmother. My grandmother is becoming Catholic and my mom is becoming Confirmed. They both loved it. My grandmother showed the book to everyone in their class and bragged about how nice of a book it was. The priest even said that the book was wonderful and every Catholic should have one. She truly enjoys reading it and I think it's a wonderful book at a wonderful price.

I bought two of these books, one for my mother and one for my grandmother. My grandmother is becoming Catholic and my mom is becoming Confirmed. They both loved it. My grandmother showed the book to everyone in their class and bragged about how nice of a book it was. The priest even said that the book was wonderful and every Catholic should have one. She truly enjoys reading it and I think it's a wonderful book at a wonderful price.

This is a reference for any Catholic whose got questions or seeks to understand the how and why of official Catholic positions. If you can't remember your catechism classes then this book is for you. Scholars of religious study benefit from this detailed overview of what the Catholic church stands for and what they preach.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church has been very helpful to me, especially going through RCIA, it has helped with a bunch of questions that have come up during classes. It has also helped me to understand where the Church stands on such matters as Drug/Alcohol Abuse, Marriage, etc... I would definitely recommend this for anyone going through the faith or even those we call "Cradle Catholics".

This is an excellent tool for those who wish to explore the Catholic faith and seek the source of those beliefs.

This is an excellent tool for those who wish to explore the Catholic faith and seek the source of those beliefs.

A dry, weighty tome - but I don't regret reading it. Taught me more about my faith. Contains a number of enlightening nuggets of information.

I haven't been able to read it yet because THE PRINT IS SO SMALL! That's the only thing I can base my review on. I'm sure it's a fine book if you can read it.

I love this book, and try to read it often. Everything is in English...simple and direct. By reading this you will know the inner world of the Roman Catholic Church...very beautiful.

I grew up Catholic, served as an altar boy, followed the sacraments and thought I was a Catholic.

I received this as a birthday gift from my parents. While thumbing through it, I had no idea what being a Catholic was.

"Catechism of the Catholic Church" -- officially published by the Vatican -- is used by both Protestant and Catholic schools to teach what Catholics believe. The top evangelical college in America (Wheaton College) even uses it for their Catholic theology course.

I realized while reading this I had no idea what a Catholic baptism was, what the Catholic Church said about saints, what Rome has to say about Catholics who have converted to another Christian faith. And I learned some things the priest in our Chicagoland parish was not teaching Catholic doctrine.

Whether you are Catholic or not, there is a fair chance you've bought into some of what pop-culture has said Catholic is and is not. This easy-to-read (thick, but well-organized) book will give you the Catholic position on the matter.

I fully recommend "Catechism of the Catholic Church."

Anthony Trendl
editor, HungarianBookstore.com