The Catholicism Answer Book

A reliable guide to understanding the Anglican Catholic faith and practice. The Roman Catholic Church—one of the world's oldest religions and the largest branch of Christianity—claims a total of over 1 billion baptized members around the globe and has been revered by billions of followers for thousands of years. Why? The Catholicism Answer Book answers 300 pivotal questions about how to be catholic. From the basic tenets of Christianity and the nature of God and salvation to the differences between a Catholic Bible and a Protestant Bible, readers of this catholic history and social teaching book can round out their knowledge on such inquiries as: What are the " lost" or " missing" books of the Bible? Why can't Catholics divorce or remarry? Why are priests celibate? Why does it seem like Catholics worship Mary? Why confess to a priest when I can go directly to God?