Subcommittee on the Catechism

The Subcommittee on the Catechism assists the bishops, both collectively and individually, in fulfilling their role as chief catechists in their dioceses. The primary work of the Subcommittee is to foster the authentic implementation of the Catechism of the Catholic Church. This work is accomplished primarily through reviewing catechetical materials for conformity with the Catechism.

Publishers may voluntarily submit their texts and materials to the Subcommittee for review. Once the Subcommittee has deemed these materials in conformity with the Catechism, they are added to the Conformity Review List, which is updated on a regular basis:

Conformity Review List

The Conformity Review Process is outlined and provided as a reference for catechetical publishers who wish to submit any texts or materials for review. Please visit this page to see the latest information and to download all necessary forms.

What is a Catechism?

"Catechism" is the name given to a written work that contains a summary of all the beliefs of the faith that is used as a teaching tool.

Until the second half of the twentieth century, for millions of Catholics in the United States the word catechism meant the Baltimore Catechism, which originated at the Third Plenary Council of Baltimore in 1884 when the bishops of the United States decided to publish a national catechism.  The Baltimore Catechism contained 421 questions and answers in thirty-seven chapters and gave unity to the teaching and understanding of the faith for millions of American Catholics. Its impact was felt right up to the dawn of the Second Vatican Council in 1962.

At that time, Blessed John XXIII articulated a vision for the Fathers of the Second Vatican Council that charged them to guard and present more effectively the deposit of Christian doctrine in order to make it more accessible to the Christian faithful and all people of goodwill in the contemporary world.

In 1985, a synod of bishops in Rome convened to celebrate the twentieth anniversary of the conclusion of the Second Vatican Council's proposal to develop a universal catechism for the Catholic Church was made and accepted. The fruit was the Catechism of the Catholic Church, first published in 1992. Subsequent language editions were published in 1994. A new edition with some modifications was released in 1997.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church is arranged around four pillars or parts:

  • The Profession of Faith
  • The Celebration of the Christian Mystery
  • Life in Christ
  • Christian Prayer

The content of the Catechism is faithful to Apostolic Tradition, Scripture and the Magisterium. It incorporates the heritage of the Doctors, Fathers, and Saints of the Church and illuminates with the light of faith, contemporary situations, problems and questions.

For further background on the Catechism of the Catholic Church, see the Informative Dossier from the Catechism Editorial Commission.