Catechism of the Catholic Church (English and Latin Edition)

The Catholic catechism was published in Latin as the "Editio Typica". This text is the English translation of the "Editio Typica" and includes a 64-page readers' guide. There have been some changes, including: the original sentence on criminal punishment has been omitted, reflecting a developing consensus within the Catholic community against this practice; a reference to angels has been dropped in a passage where it was not necessary to the main point and so was distracting; there is a more nuanced approach to some sexual issues, with a greater emphasis on psychological and social factors affecting the relative culpability of certain acts.

Catechism of the Catholic Church is the first new edition of the catechism in 400 years. Catechism means "instruction," and this text will remain the standard reference for Catholics for many future generations. It is the authoritative summary of Catholic belief regarding the Church creeds, sacraments, commandments, and prayers. To get some idea of the level of detail with which the Catechism engages Catholic doctrine, consider that 17 pages of explanation accompany the opening words of the Apostle's Creed ("I Believe in God the Father"). The book is exceptionally well organized, with line-by-line explanations of every conceivable aspect of orthodox Catholic belief. Extensive cross-referencing, indexing, footnotes, and "In Brief" summaries of each section further ease the project of finding the precise answers to any questions a reader might have. Even the layout of information on the page is easy on the eyes, with wide margins for readers who wish to make notes. Furthermore, the back cover features a true rarity in the annals of world literature: a blurb by the Pope. --Michael Joseph Gross