''Youcat'', short for ''Youth Catechism of the Catholic Church'', also styled as ''YOUCAT'', is a 2011 publication that aims to be an aid for youth to better understand the ''
Catechism of the Catholic Church''. The book, presented in the form of questions and answers, is intended for use by Catholic youths around the world and is available in 25 languages, including Arabic and Chinese. ''Youcat'' is based on the ''Catechism of the Catholic Church'' and the ''Compendium of the Catechism of the Catholic Church'' (2005). The catechism has 304 pages and consists of four chapters with 527 questions and answers.
The guide, whose foreword was written by
Pope Benedict XVI
Pope Benedict XVI ( la, Benedictus XVI; it, Benedetto XVI; german: link=no, Benedikt XVI.; born Joseph Aloisius Ratzinger, , on 16 April 1927) is a retired prelate of the Catholic church who served as the head of the Church and the soverei ...
, was authored by Cardinal
Christoph Schönborn
Christoph Maria Michael Hugo Damian Peter Adalbert Graf von Schönborn, O.P. (; born 22 January 1945) is a Bohemian-born Austrian Dominican friar and theologian, who is a cardinal of the Catholic Church. He serves as the Archbishop of Vienna and ...
and others. Approximately 700,000 copies of ''Youcat'' were distributed in thirteen different languages on behalf of the Pope during
World Youth Day 2011
World Youth Day 2011 ( es, Jornada Mundial de la Juventud 2011) was the 2011 occurrence of World Youth Day, a Catholic event held from 16–21 August 2011 in Madrid, Spain focused on youth. Media estimated the event's attendance as over a millio ...
in Madrid.
Background
''YOUCAT'' series
The international ''YOUCAT'' book series also includes:
A prayerbook:
* Georg von Lengerke / Dörte Schrömges, ''YOUCAT Youth Prayer Book'', Munich 2011.
A confirmation book:
* Bernhard Meuser / Nils Baer, ''YOUCAT confirmation book'',
A leader's guide for the confirmation course:
* Nils Baer, ''YOUCAT Confirmation Leader's Handbook''
Errors
In some translations of the ''Youcat'', such as French, Italian and Spanish, errors have been found that deviate from official doctrine regarding questions about many important issues such as
euthanasia and
contraception
Birth control, also known as contraception, anticonception, and fertility control, is the use of methods or devices to prevent unwanted pregnancy. Birth control has been used since ancient times, but effective and safe methods of birth contr ...
. The Vatican has announced that these mistakes will be corrected in future editions.
Sexuality
The presentation of the Church's teaching about sexuality and
chastity
Chastity, also known as purity, is a virtue related to temperance. Someone who is ''chaste'' refrains either from sexual activity considered immoral or any sexual activity, according to their state of life. In some contexts, for example when ma ...
occurs in paragraphs 400 to 417, including the teaching about sexual relations being for
marriage
Marriage, also called matrimony or wedlock, is a culturally and often legally recognized union between people called spouses. It establishes rights and obligations between them, as well as between them and their children, and between ...
only.
The Youcat teaches that
References
External links
Official YOUCAT website
{{Authority control
Catechisms of the Catholic Church
2011 books
Pope Benedict XVI