Continuing Religious Education
New catechism for adults calls for lifelong learning

By Ambria Hammel, The Catholic Sun
December 7, 2006

MESA — Some Catholics may associate the word “catechism” with memorization of answers to difficult doctrinal questions, religious education classes or theoretical texts seemingly too difficult to grasp.

That may soon change.

The nation’s bishops released the U.S. Catholic Catechism for Adults this summer, a faith resource filled with stories of American followers, discussion questions and an application to today’s culture.

James Pauley, a professor of catechetics and theology and former leader in the Phoenix Diocese, introduced the text during a special presentation at St. Timothy Parish last month.

“It’s a means to holiness,” Pauley told the nearly 50 Catholics in attendance Nov. 15.

The text is intended to complement the universal Catechism of the Catholic Church by bridging authoritative Church teaching to American culture and experience.

“Sometimes the faith compartment and the real life compartment don’t come together,” Pauley admitted. “This is a step toward that.”

The adult catechism includes brief sections on terrorism, stem-cell research, war and the death penalty. Readers will see the application to American culture throughout the 664-page book.

“You’re going to notice there are stories and examples drawn specifically from American life,” Pauley said.

Several of the 36 chapters begin with a biography of influential U.S. Catholics, such as Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen, Dorothy Day and Cesar Chavez. Stories of American saints, including Elizabeth Ann Seton and Frances Cabrini, also introduce the main teachings in the adult catechism.

Just like in the universal Catechism of the Catholic Church — a theological resource of Church teaching for religious leaders and followers — subjects in the U.S. version for lay adults range from the creed and sacraments to morality and prayer. The difference, however, lies in the format.

Each teaching is partnered with a sidebar featuring three questions and answers to summarize main points. Discussion questions, doctrinal statements, a meditation and prayer close out each chapter.

“It seems like it’s laid out in a common sense order,” said Kim Whisenhunt, a Protestant who will begin RCIA classes at St. Timothy Parish next month.

The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops last produced a nationwide catechism in 1941 when they revised the 1885 Baltimore Catechism. Its Q-and-A format totaled 421 questions and was intended for children. It also emphasized memorization rather than interaction.

“Adults are the primary educators of children,” said Larry Fraher, instructor at the Kino Institute. He noted that they must be informed to be effective.

“If adults can grasp the details and the understandings of the faith, then they will be able to pass that on to children,” Fraher said.

Pauley pointed out that faith formation for many adults ends at confirmation and marriage. Pursuit of catechesis, he advised, should occur throughout life.

“When the kids are learning the faith, but their parents don’t, that’s a big, big problem,” Pauley said.

He should know. Pauley once served as a youth minister at St. Maria Goretti Parish in Scottsdale and director of adult faith formation at St. Thomas the Apostle Parish in Phoenix.

The lack of emphasis on adult faith formation may be changing with the introduction of the new catechism, which has already sold more than 83,000 copies. The gift shop at St. Timothy Parish sold 75 and still had at least 30 in stock at press time.

“We’re beginning a real thrust here with adult education,” said Fr. Jack Spaulding, St. Timothy’s pastor.

Rita Simmons, a member of the parish council, would like to see small faith groups meet in someone’s home over dinner to discuss the text.

“That would be an awesome forum for this book,” she said.

Katrina Zeno, director of the John Paul II Resource Center, agreed.

“It’s very user-friendly,” she said. “Any group of people can get together and study it on their own because it doesn’t take a facilitator.”