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WASHINGTON (December 8, 2006)—The United States Catholic Catechism for Adults has sold over 100,000 copies since its release in August and has stayed on the Catholic best seller list since that time. With the approach of Christmas, it is also prominently featured in bookstores large and small around the country.
The United States Catholic Catechism for Adults was the first official catechism produced by the Catholic bishops of the United States since the creation of the well-known Baltimore Catechism in the 19th century. Unlike the earlier catechism, with its questions and answers that became familiar to generations of Catholics, this catechism is in narrative format and does not require rote memorization. Instead, it promotes a command of Catholic faith and practice through a more accessible writing style and numerous new features. Each chapter opens with a story about a saint, a biblical figure, or an exemplary Catholic, most of them American, to invite reflection and to demonstrate the contribution of American Catholics to society. Although it is geared to adults, including college age and young adults, a number of youth ministry leaders have noted that it is proving to be a useful tool for older teenagers as well.
The new work, which took six years to complete, is an inculturated version of the Catechism of the Catholic Church promulgated in 1992 by Pope John Paul II, who urged that local catechisms be developed to better address specific situations in different countries.
The United States Catholic Catechism for Adults is poised to be the #2 best selling title for the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) for 2006, just behind the Compendium of the Catholic Church. It has been on the Catholic best seller list since its release, currently holding at #3.
The United States Catholic Catechism for Adults is now available on the holiday table at Barnes & Noble bookstores and other bookstores across the country.