Excerpts From Herbert McCabe’s Catechism*

Here are a few excerpts from Herbert McCabe's Catechism, chosen either for their relevance or their inherent interest.

134 :: Why is the Church called the Church of the Poor?

The Church is called the Church of the Poor because Christ said that to the poor belongs the Kingdom, because she is dedicated to upholding the cause of the needy and the oppressed and because Christ promised that she would be hated by the wealthy and powerful of the world (cf. Gaudium et Spes, 1).

208 :: How do we usually exercise [the virtue of] charity towards others?

We usually exercise charity towards others by seeking their good and supplying their needs; by readily forgiving their offences; by mercy; by thinking and speaking of their good points; by helping them in temptation, sickness, ignorance or poverty; by seeking to enjoy their company.

221 :: What is an unjust society?

An unjust society is one in which some section of the community is systematically exploited in the interests of another wealthy and powerful section. Although we must use every means in our power to liberate such a society, we know that, because of original sin, any society will be in some respects unjust until the coming of the Kingdom.

231 :: How can we fail in the exercise of justice?

We fail in the exercise of justice by depriving others of their due or failing to defend them against an injustice: by murder, abortion, injury, including self-injury, torture, rape and adultery; by collusion with an oppressive and exploitative regime or with an unjust war; by indulging racism, sexism or religious bigotry; by avarice, by accumulating wealth and keeping it from the poor; by stealing or misusing the legitimate property of the community or individuals; by tax-evasion and inequitable forms of legal tax avoidance; by spreading deceptive propaganda or misleading advertising; by perjury and all forms of dishonest or sharp practice and by any form of co-operation with the injustice of others.

235 :: How do we exercise the virtue of courage?

We exercise the virtue of courage principally in energetic struggle on behalf of the poor and the weak and on every occasion when we have to face hostility and danger for the sake of the gospel.

241 :: How do we fail in the exercise of [the virtue of] temperateness in [the area of eating and drinking]?

We may fail by indifference to the enjoyments of the table; by eating and drinking that is totally divorced from either friendship or the requirements of health; by eating what is merely superficially attractive at the expense of a reasonable diet, by drug abuse and by all forms of gluttony and drunkenness.

253 :: How can we fail in the exercise of good sense [a.k.a. the virtue of prudence]?

We fail in good sense by the exercise of cunning to encompass bad ends as well as by foolishness while trying to do good; by all forms of unreasonableness, self-deception, bigotry, and prejudice; by pedantic legalism; by being doctrinaire; by voting ignorant, irresponsibly or merely selfishly; by careless incompetence in the management of domestic affairs and by leading a life without any conscious purpose or meaning.

260 :: How do we become detached from the things of this world so that we may be prepared for death?

We become detached from the things of this world by penance and mortification, especially by almsgiving and all forms of difficult works for others in need.

* Herbert McCabe, OP, The Teaching of the Catholic Church: A New Catechism of Christian Doctrine (London: Darton, Longman and Todd Ltd, 2000).