Dietzen shows what the official church teachings are and are not.

Catholic Answers to Protestant Questions is a must read for those seeking to grow in their Catholic identity. Here are just a few of the questions that are covered in this book: Where did the Bible come from? Was Christ or Constantine the founder of the Catholic Church? Was Peter the first Pope? What do Catholics mean by being "born again" and why do they baptize children? Where do Catholics find the seven sacraments in the Bible? Why do Catholics believe in the Eucharist as the Body and Blood of Christ? Why do we need a priest to forgive serious sins? What are indulgences and why are they needed? Where can we find a priest being referred to as "Father" in the Bible? Do Catholics worship saints? What is the communion of saints? Is Mary the Mother of God? Did Jesus have brothers and sisters? Was Mary assumed into heaven? Is there a purgatory? Is there a rapture? Is salvation assured? Are we justified by faith alone, or by faith and works? Do Catholics practice idol worship?

Why Stay Catholic? is a lively, timely book about the "good stuff" within the Catholic Church today.

"This volume is intended to meet a widely felt need for an up-to-date and concise source book on the principal teachings of the Catholic Church. Since the close of the Second Vatican Council, there has been such an accumulation of ecclesiastical constitutions and decrees and so many changes they introduced in Catholic practice that few people have been able to keep up with all that has happened... A parallel purpose of this volume is to offer those who use it a handy guidebook of the Catholic tradition, whether formally documented in ecclesiastical sources or implicitly accepted by the faithful under the aegis of the Church's hierarchial leaders. "The method followed in presenting the Church's doctrine is a combination of history and logic. Doctrines are placed into a historical framework by tracing their origins to the Old and New Testaments and placing their development within the context of persons, places, and times. The doctrine thus becomes more intelligible because it is viewed in the setting of its vital growth over the centuries. "The intended reading audience of this Catholic catechism are all those priests, religious and laity, and above all parents and teachers, who are looking for a concise statement of the faith they profess, the conduct they practice, and the worship they give to the Lord." --From The Catholic Catechism by John A. Hardon, S.J.

“Excommunication.” To our modern ears, the very word evokes something dark and foreboding, something out-of-place in contemporary society. Many associate excommunication with the medieval Church, with the Inquisition and witch-hunts, and think it has no place in our more enlightened, tolerant times. Yet this ecclesiastical discipline is as relevant today as it was five hundred or a thousand years ago, an unfortunate last resort in combating the rebellion the Church faces in every age from some of her members. In this intriguing book, canon and civil lawyer Edward N. Peters offers a compelling presentation of excommunication based on the current Code of Canon Law, answering some of the most commonly-asked questions about this most serious canonical penalty. Among the questions considered here: What is excommunication? How is a person excommunicated? Isn’t excommunication an offense against Christian charity? Is there any support in the Bible for excommunication? Can Catholic politicians be excommunicated for defying Church teaching, especially on abortion? This book is an especially timely resource. It will help you understand the larger role excommunication may soon play in promoting greater fidelity to the truths of the Catholic faith.

Over 3 million copies sold! Essential reading for Catholics of all walks of life. Here it is - the first new Catechism of the Catholic Church in more than 400 years, a complete summary of what Catholics around the world commonly believe. The Catechism draws on the Bible, the Mass, the Sacraments, Church tradition and teaching, and the lives of saints. It comes with a complete index, footnotes and cross-references for a fuller understanding of every subject. The word catechism means "instruction" - this book will serve as the standard for all future catechisms. Using the tradition of explaining what the Church believes (the Creed), what she celebrates (the Sacraments), what she lives (the Commandments), and what she prays (the Lord's Prayer), the Catechism of the Catholic Church offers challenges for believers and answers for all those interested in learning about the mystery of the Catholic faith. The Catechism of the Catholic Church is a positive, coherent and contemporary map for our spiritual journey toward transformation.