Catholic and Christian for Young Adults: Questions and Answers About the Faith

In Catholic and Christian for Young Adults, Alan Schreck discusses commonly misunderstood Catholic beliefs. The Franciscan University theology professor encourages readers to pray to the Holy Spirit for guidance, then consider only a few questions at a time, rather than read the book straight through. That approach is supported by the book's question and answer format, clear writing style, and detailed index. Questions that we may encounter in daily life and those that catch the attention of the media come up in every chapter. What do you say when asked if you have been saved, for instance. There's also the guideline for receiving Holy Eucharist: Why can't other Christians receive in Catholic churches, and why can't Catholics receive in other Christian churches? In the chapters on Mary and the Communion of Saints, Schreck addresses the popular mistaken notions that Catholics pray "to" Mary and worship the saints. The three chapters dealing with sources of Catholic beliefs, the "one true" church, and leadership in the Church contain explanations of such issues as literal interpretation of the bible, papal succession, and the male-only, celibate priesthood. Schreck is quick to point out that this work is an attempt to help young people think about their faith and is not a thorough review of Church teaching. Individuals and groups interested in leaning more about common questions would do well to start here and move on to Alan Schreck's earlier volume, "The Essential Catholic Catechism" for further study.