From the most basic terms to the structures and practices of the Church, this book offers a plain-speaking introduction to Roman Catholicism. Now in a second edition, it contains new sections on relations with other faiths, coverage of recent controversies in the Church and an expanded section on social teaching.

Table of Contents

• List of boxes
• Introduction
• What this book is not
• What this book is
• Acknowledgements
• Summary
• 1 The Church, Catholic and Roman
• What is the Roman Catholic Church?
• Christianity
• Tests of Christianity
• Catholic
• The demography of Catholicism
• The geography of Catholicism
• Summary
• Further reading
• 2 What do Catholics believe?
• Core beliefs
• Dogma
• Theology and philosophy
• Summary
• Further reading
• 3 Authority
• Tradition
• The Church
• Scripture
• Revelation
• Apostolic Succession
• Councils of the Church
• Canon law
• Summary
• Further reading
• 4 People
• The pope
• Bishops
• Priests
• Deacons
• The laity
• Summary
• Further reading
• 5 Structures
• The parish
• Deaneries
• Dioceses
• Archdioceses
• The bishops’ conference
• The Synod of Bishops
• Summary
• Further reading
• 6 The Vatican
• The Holy See
• The Curia
• Vatican finances
• Summary
• Further reading
• 7 The liturgy
• Catholic worship
• The calendar
• The Mass
• The sacraments
• Summary
• Further reading
• 8 Devotional life
• Devotions
• Prayer and meditation
• Saints
• Shrines, pilgrimages and miracles
• Vows
• Summary
• Further reading
• 9 The Church in society
• First principles
• Family life
• The State
• Religious liberty
• Politics
• The economy
• Migration
• The environment
• War
• Summary
• Further reading
• 10 Unfinished business
• Sex abuse
• Women in the Church
• Contraception
• Pro-life attitudes
• Relations with other Christians
• Relations with non-Christians
• Governance
• Summary
• Further reading
• Appendix: History of the papacy
• Glossary
• Bibliography