Scripture basis of Catholic Catecism QUESTION from Mark L. Beyke May 12, 2000 I had a conversation with on of our Church's Leaders yesterday about using the Catholic Catecism as the basis of our Church's PSR program. She said that it should not be used because the current Catecism is not based on Scripture. Do you have any experience with this arguement? I was under the impression that the 'New' Catecism was strongly grounded in the Bible.
ANSWER by John-Paul Ignatius, O.L.S.M. on June 12, 2000 Dear Mr. Beyke:
You are right! The New Catechism has so much scripture in it, either in the text itself or in footnotes, that you can't swing a stupid female Church leader around without hitting a Biblical reference.
Excuse me, I must take a break before answering this question anymore. I need to calm down. When I see this demonic, and it is demonic, trashing of the Catechism I become, well, I feel like getting in my car and driving to you town, going to see this person who said this and slap her silly. But then I would be in jail and I couldn't answer these questions :-)
Okay, I am calm :-)
The only place you will here this argument is from a raving delusional nincompoop who has the brain power of snail slim.
I said I was calm :) You should hear what I am really thinking.
Satan has tried every trick in the book to get even bishops to discourage the reading of the new Catechism. Why?
Because in all the chaos of the last 40 years, the Catechism tells is like it is.
The Liberal, the Ultra-traditionalists, the cafeteria Catholics and other pretend Catholics can no longer hide their heresies, schisms, and rebellion behind chaos. Satan loves chaos because so much can be hidden within it.
The new Catechism is a beaming stalwart of ORDER that has destroyed the chaos of the last 40 years, and a beaming light of truth that has destroyed the darkness of the Church's enemies.
Our great Pope John Paul II says in Fidei Depositum (the apostolic constitution the promulgated the new catechism):
(emphasis of bold or underline is my emphasis. I mark out the statements that directly refute the nay-sayers in their attempts to say the Catechism is not for the laity, or not a statement of Church teaching.)
The Catechism of the Catholic Church, which I approved 25 June last and the publication of which I today order by virtue of my Apostolic Authority, is a statement of the Church's faith and of catholic doctrine, attested to or illumined by Sacred Scripture, the Apostolic Tradition and the Church's Magisterium. I declare it to be a sure norm for teaching the faith and thus a valid and legitimate instrument for ecclesial communion. May it serve the renewal to which the Holy Spirit ceaselessly calls the Church of God, the Body of Christ, on her pilgrimage to the undiminished light of the Kingdom! The approval and publication of the Catechism of the Catholic Church represent a service which the Successor of Peter wishes to offer to the Holy Catholic Church, to all the particular Churches in peace and communion with the Apostolic See: the service, that is, of supporting and confirming the faith of all the Lord Jesus' disciples (cf. Lk 22:32 as well as of strengthening the bonds of unity in the same apostolic faith.
Therefore, I ask all the Church's Pastors and the Christian faithful to receive this catechism in a spirit of communion and to use it assiduously in fulfilling their mission of proclaiming the faith and calling people to the Gospel life. This catechism is given to them that it may be a sure and authentic reference text for teaching catholic doctrine and particularly for preparing local catechisms. It is also offered to all the faithful who wish to deepen their knowledge of the unfathomable riches of salvation (cf. Eph 3:8). It is meant to support ecumenical efforts that are moved by the holy desire for the unity of all Christians, showing carefully the content and wondrous harmony of the catholic faith. The Catechism of the Catholic Church, lastly, is offered to every individual who asks us to give an account of the hope that is in us (cf. I Pt 3:15) and who wants to know what the Catholic Church believes.
...
At the conclusion of this document presenting the Catechism of the Catholic Church, I beseech the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Incarnate Word and Mother of the Church, to support with her powerful intercession the catechetical work of the entire Church on every level, at this time when she is called to a new effort of evangelization. May the light of the true faith free humanity from the ignorance and slavery of sin in order to lead it to the only freedom worthy of the name (cf. Jn 8:32): that of life in Jesus Christ under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, here below and in the Kingdom of heaven, in the fullness of the blessed vision of God face to face (cf. I Cor 13:12; 2 Cor 5:6-8)!
Given 11 October 1992, the thirtieth anniversary of the opening of the Second Vatican Ecumenical Council, in the fourteenth year of my Pontificate.
Joannes Paulus II
As far as I am concerned anyone who puts down the catechism, expecially after reading the above, is a person in league with Satan.
Our response to such people, and I am not kidding, is to say: GET THEE BEHIND ME......
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