Ethics and the Catechism of the Catholic Church

The extraordinary Synod of Catholic Bishops held in Rome in 1985 decided that the pastoral mission given to Vatican Council II by Pope John XXIII should be continued by means of the creation of the Church's first new Catechism in more than 400 years. Their intention was that it present an organic overview of the essentials of Catholic doctrine in faith and morals as seen both in the documents of Vatican II and in the long tradition of the Church. The essays in this volume are a commentary on this Catechism, centering on its third part, (1691-2557), the part that deals with moral questions and is entitled: Life in Christ. Their purpose is to highlight its moral teaching and make it more generally available and understandable by means of background analysis and explanation. The authors of these essays, all scholars and teachers committed to the Council's purpose, attempt to clarify the Catechism's summary-styled and often complex text. In doing so, they hope that, as Pope John Paul II said in his Apostolic Constitution Fidei Depositum, it will be a "sure norm for teaching the faith", and, by doing so, help to renew the life of the church.Allsopp, Michael E. is the author of 'Ethics and the Catechism of the Catholic Church' with ISBN 9780940866799 and ISBN 094086679X.