September 15, 2006

2006 Religious Education Supplement

National adult catechism has local ties

By Sean Gallagher

Although the United States Catholic Catechism for Adults is intended to strengthen the faith of men and women across the country, it has important ties to the Archdiocese of Indianapolis.

“I was chairman of the USCCB Ad Hoc Committee for the Use of the Catechism of the Catholic Church when Cardinal Castrillon, prefect of the Vatican Congregation responsible for Catechetics, urged the development of a U.S. catechism,” said Archbishop Daniel M. Buechlein.

“I proposed the project to the … bishops. They voted yes, and I then appointed a working group to oversee its development.”

What was launched by the vote on the archbishop’s proposal was a process that included three national reviews of the text involving more than 10,000 suggested amendments.

Yet Archbishop Buechlein was convinced “from the beginning … of the significance of this project.”

Washington Archbishop Donald W. Wuerl later succeeded Archbishop Buechlein as leader of the committee that oversaw the creation of the national adult catechism. However, Archbishop Buechlein continued to serve as a consultant to the committee.

Archbishop Buechlein recently spoke about the possible global impact of the text.

“Cardinal Castrillon cited [Pope John Paul II’s] encouragement of local catechisms, saying that if the United States bishops would proceed, so would other countries,” he said.

The archbishop also mentioned his hope for the positive influence that the United States Catholic Catechism for Adults can have in the homes of individual families.

“If given the opportunity to use it, I am confident it will make up for possible past deficiencies in religious education of a generation or two,” Archbishop Buechlein said. “I know of parents who are looking for a resource to help them in the formation of their families. The readable style should prove helpful.” †

 

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