Mandate for the Subcommittee on the Catechism

The Subcommittee on the Catechism assists the Committee on Evangelization and Catechesis by evaluating, fostering, and promoting catechetical resources that are rooted in the fullness of the faith as transmitted in the Catechism of the Catholic Church and expressed through an evangelizing catechesis. The Subcommittee achieves this by: (a) accompanying publishers in their production of catechetical materials; (b) assisting diocesan catechetical leaders in implementing catechetical resources and identifying current catechetical needs to foster an evangelizing catechesis; (c) dialoging with and building relationships among bishops, publishers, diocesan catechetical leaders, and institutions and partners that provide catechetical formation. Finally, the Subcommittee oversees copyright permission for use of the Catechism, and it provides consultation to the standing committee on topics related to the Catechism of the Catholic Church, the Directory for Catechesis, and the United States Catholic Catechism for Adults, including issues of pastoral use.

This mandate includes the following areas of particular responsibility:

On its own authority, the Subcommittee on the Catechism governs the Institute on the Catechism through which it:

• Accompanies Catholic publishers in developing catechetical materials in conformity with the Catechism, assists diocesan bishops and their staff in engaging with and implementing catechetical resources most effectively, and collaborates with institutions and partners that provide catechetical formation;
• Approves and certifies catechetical resources, which publishers have voluntarily developed in conjunction with the Institute or submitted for its review, that exemplify evangelizing catechesis and conform doctrinally to the Catechism of the Catholic Church;
• Invites bishops, their diocesan staff, and publishers to participate in an annual Convocation of the Institute on the Catechism for dialogue and formation regarding catechetical resources and their effectiveness;
• Oversees the planning of additional in-person and virtual formation events to promote strategic priorities;
• Develops guidelines and best practices for Catholic publishers in the development of resources that cultivate a culture of evangelizing catechesis, so that the whole person is formed and educated in the Catholic faith;
• Oversees copyright permission for usage of the Catechism.