Citing The Catholic Catechism: A Quick Guide

how to reference the catholic catechism

The Catechism of the Catholic Church can be cited in many different styles, including MLA, APA, Chicago, Harvard, ACS, Turabian, the American Medical Association (AMA) style, and the Council of Science Editors (CSE) style. When citing the Catechism of the Catholic Church in Chicago style, you should follow specific guidelines for both footnotes/endnotes and bibliography entries. The citation should include the edition, location, publisher, and date of publication, as well as the section number and URL and access date for online versions.

Characteristics Values
Style APA, MLA, Chicago, Harvard, ACS, Turabian, AMA, CSE, IEEE
Edition 2nd
Publisher Our Sunday Visitor, United States Catholic Conference, Libreria Editrice Vaticana
Location Huntingdon, PA, Washington, DC, Vatican City
Year 2000, 2011, 1997
Section symbol §
Canon abbreviation c. for one canon, cc. for two or more canons

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Using the Chicago Manual of Style

When referencing the Catholic Catechism using the Chicago Manual of Style, there are a few key guidelines to follow. Firstly, it is important to note that the Chicago style is commonly used in the fields of history, humanities, religion, and social and natural sciences.

For books of the Bible, the first time you paraphrase or quote, add a footnote indicating the version of the Bible used. The Bible is referenced in footnotes but not in the bibliography. If you are referring to a specific chapter and verse(s), abbreviate the book name, including a space between the book name and chapter number, and a colon before the verse(s).

When citing the Catholic Catechism, the general format is as follows:

> Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2nd ed. (United States: United States Catholic Conference, Inc. – Libreria Editrice Vaticana, 2000), page #. Second time mentioned: CCC paragraph #.

For example:

> Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2nd ed. (United States: United States Catholic Conference, Inc. – Libreria Editrice Caticana, 2000), 782. Second time mentioned: CCC 782.

Note that "Inc." is sometimes included and sometimes omitted in the publisher's name.

If you are citing a specific section of the Catechism, use "sec." instead of the section symbol (§) or number sign (#) to distinguish it from a page number. This is especially helpful when citing an online text that does not include page numbers. For example:

> United States Catholic Conference, Catechism of the Catholic Church with Modifications from the Editio Typica (CCC), sec. 414, (New York: Doubleday, 1997).

When citing authors without a surname or commonly known by only a given name, list them by that name. For example, "Augustine," "Francis," or "Benedict XVI." Omit titles such as "Pope" or "Saint," and place identifiers like "of Hippo" or "the Great." For example, simply "Augustine" instead of "Saint Augustine of Hippo."

Publications produced by councils or organisations with no personal author indicated should list the corporate author as the author, even if it is repeated as the publisher. Capitalise the names of councils, administrative bodies, or other corporate associations. For example:

> USCCB (United States Conference of Catholic Bishops). “Baptism: Becoming a Christian.” In United States Catholic Catechism for Adults, 181-199. Washington, D.C.: United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, 2006.

This guide is based on the 17th edition of The Chicago Manual of Style. Always refer to the most recent edition and your instructor's preferences for specific formatting requirements.

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Citing the Bible

When citing the Bible, it is important to note that different style guides have different requirements. For example, the Chicago style guide and the APA style guide have different formatting rules.

The Bible is usually treated as a work with no author, but the specific translation or version must be specified in brackets the first time it is referenced. This is because different versions of the text are not identical, so it is important to indicate which one is being cited. For example, in APA style, this would be formatted as ("Quote", Bible version, Year, Book, Chapter:Verse). Abbreviations for book names can be used, but only if the version of the Bible being used includes them. In Chicago style, the version should be indicated in a footnote the first time the Bible is referenced, and subsequent references can use an abbreviation.

When directly quoting from the Bible, use the book, chapter, and verse numbers instead of page numbers. For example, in APA style, this would be formatted as ("Quote", Year, Book, Chapter:Verse). If you are referring to a range of verses, use an en dash, for example, 3:16–18.

Bible dictionaries and other reference books that provide content in alphabetical order may be cited differently. In Chicago style, an abbreviated footnote is used, including the book title, entry title, and (for online resources) the last updated/accessed date and URL.

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Using the APA Publication Manual

The Catechism of the Catholic Church can be cited in APA style by following these guidelines:

In-Text Citations

When citing the Catechism of the Catholic Church in APA style, use the abbreviation "CCC" and include the year of publication (1997) in parentheses. For example: "In the Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC, 1997)..." When citing specific paragraphs, use "para." followed by the paragraph number, rather than page or section numbers.

Reference List Entry

The reference list entry for the Catechism of the Catholic Church in APA style is as follows:

Catechism of the Catholic Church (2nd ed.). (1997). Publisher.

Note that the publisher information may vary depending on the specific edition or version you are using. The second edition, for example, was published by Libreria Editrice Vaticana in 1997.

Additionally, if you are accessing the Catechism online, include the URL in your reference list entry. For example:

Catechism of the Catholic Church (2nd ed.). (1997). https://www.scborromeo2.org/catechism-of-the-catholic-church

Translated Works

If you are referencing a translated copy of the Catechism, include the translator's name in brackets after the title, followed by the abbreviation "Trans." Use the date of the translated work as the publication year and add the date of the original work in brackets at the end. For example:

Catechism of the Catholic Church (2nd ed.) [Translated name in brackets, Trans.]. (Translation year). Original publication year]. Publisher.

Remember to always consult the latest APA Publication Manual for detailed and updated guidelines on referencing religious texts and any specific variations or requirements.

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Using the Harvard Referencing Style

The "Catechism of the Catholic Church" can be cited using several referencing styles, including MLA, APA, and Chicago. When using the Harvard referencing style, here are some guidelines to follow:

In-Text Citations

When referencing the "Catechism of the Catholic Church" in the text of your paper, you will need to provide an in-text citation. This typically includes the author's name, the date of publication, and the page number or paragraph number, depending on the format you are referencing. For example:

> "This concept is further elaborated in the Catechism of the Catholic Church (Catholic Church, 2000, p. 123)..."

Or, if you are referencing a specific paragraph:

> "As explained in the Catechism of the Catholic Church, 'Paragraph 1650: Love is patient' (Catholic Church, 2000, para. 1650)."

Reference List Entry

In your reference list or bibliography, you will need to include a full citation for the "Catechism of the Catholic Church." This should include all the relevant information to help your reader locate the source. Here is an example of how the reference might look:

> Catholic Church. (2000). Catechism of the Catholic Church (2nd ed.). Huntingdon, PA: Our Sunday Visitor.

Note that the specific format may vary depending on the guidelines of the Harvard referencing style that you are following. Additionally, if you are referencing an online or digital version of the Catechism, your citation may include a URL or DOI instead of a publisher. Always remember to be consistent in your formatting and to follow the specific guidelines provided by your institution or publisher.

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Using the Turabian Style

The Turabian style is a simplified version of the Chicago style with some modifications for the needs of student writers. It includes a notes-bibliography style and a parenthetical citation-reference list style.

When using the Turabian style to reference the Catholic Catechism, the following guidelines should be followed:

In-Text Citations

In-text or parenthetical citations should be used when citing the Catechism. This is because the Catechism is treated as a book without an author. Do not list the "Catholic Church" or any other corporate entity as the author. Instead, abbreviate the Catechism as "CCC" and italicize the abbreviation. The Catechism's internal reference system, paragraph numbers, are used in place of page numbers. For example: (CCC, 15)

Footnotes

Footnote numbers should be placed at the end of the clause or sentence to which they refer and should appear after any and all punctuation. In the footnotes themselves, the footnote numbers should be in normal text size with a period and space after, or use superscript with a space but no period after. Indent the first line of each footnote by half an inch, and use regular or smaller font size. Single-space each footnote and add a blank line between footnotes. Footnotes should be left-aligned, leaving the right margin "ragged."

Bibliography

For your reference list or works cited page, center the title "Bibliography" at the top of the page and add two blank lines after. Apply half-inch hanging indents for each entry. Single space each entry and add a blank line between entries.

Frequently asked questions

The Catholic Catechism can be cited in 14 different styles, including MLA, APA, Chicago, Harvard, ACS, Turabian, AMA, CSE, and IEEE.

The Chicago style citation for the Catholic Catechism is as follows:

Footnote/Endnote: Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2nd ed. (Vatican City: Libreria Editrice Vaticana, 1997), [section number].

Bibliography: Catechism of the Catholic Church. 2nd ed. Vatican City: Libreria Editrice Vaticana, 1997.

The APA style citation for the Catholic Catechism is as follows:

Catholic Church. (2000). Catechism of the catholic church (2nd ed.). Our Sunday Visitor.

When citing the Bible in Catholic writing, use parentheses after the quotation, indicating the Biblical book, chapter number, and verse number. For example: "For still the vision awaits its time; it hasten to the end—it will not lie" (Hab 2:3).

The MLA style citation for the Catholic Catechism is as follows:

Catholic Church. 2000. Catechism of the Catholic Church. 2nd ed. Huntingdon, PA: Our Sunday Visitor.

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