Catholics United for the Faith
 
 


"If you have a question about Catholic teaching, Faith Facts provide a clear, accurate, and understandable explanation of what it is we believe as Catholics." --Archbishop Charles J. Chaput

Faith Facts provide concise, complete, and easy-to-read answers to specific questions about the Catholic faith. They explain what the Church teaches on important issues of faith, morals, and discipline. Faith Facts also explain the reasons behind these teachings--reasons that are found in Sacred Scripture, Sacred Tradition, and the documents of the Magisterium. If you have a question about what the Church really teaches, chances are there's a Faith Fact that can give you the answer you're looking for.

UPDATED LAY WITNESS PROTOCOL: CUF has updated its "Lay Witness Protocol."
Please read this document for guidance on using Faith Facts.

See a list of many of our Faith Facts below.

Faith Fact Title Category
All in the Family - The Communion of Saints Apologetics
Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Apologetics
Chosen In Him: The Catholic Teaching on Predestination Apologetics
Christ's Descent Into Hell Apologetics
Co-Redemptrix, Mediatrix of All Graces, and Advocate Apologetics
Give it a Rest: Sunday is the Lord's Day Apologetics
God or Goddess?: Our Heavenly Father Knows Best Apologetics
Going God's Way - The Church's Teaching on Moral Conscience Apologetics
Gregory the Great and Papal Primacy Apologetics
Honor Thy Mother: Praising Mary and the Saints Apologetics
If I Forget You O Jerusalem: The Truth About the Crusades Apologetics
Indulgences Apologetics
Inquisition in the Catholic Church Apologetics
Is Christmas a Pagan Feast? Apologetics
It 'Works' For Me: The Church's Teaching on Justification Apologetics
Jehovah's Witnesses and the Holy Spirit Apologetics
Life in the Fast Lane: Why Catholics Abstain Apologetics
Mary Conceived Without Sin - The Dogma of the Immaculate Conception Apologetics
Mary's Perpetual Virginity Apologetics
Mary's Role in Our Salvation Apologetics
No Bull: Papal Authority and Our Response Apologetics
Persevering to the End: The Biblical Reality of Mortal Sin Apologetics
Pillar and Bulwark of the Truth: The Infallible Magisterium of the Catholic Church Apologetics
Predestination and Free Will Apologetics
Purgatory Apologetics
Rock Solid: The Salvation History of the Catholic Church Apologetics
St. Augustine's Real Faith in the Real Presence Apologetics
That They May All Be One: The Difference The Church Makes Apologetics
The First Marian Dogma, Mother of God Apologetics
The Human Knowledge of Christ Apologetics
The Role of the Inquisition in Europe Apologetics
Trinity: Blessed be God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit Apologetics
Without the Church There is No Salvation Apologetics
Separation of the Church and Home? - The Right to Prepare Children for the Sacraments Catechesis
We Have But One Teacher, Jesus Christ - Catechesis In Our Time Catechesis
Where Do We Go Wrong? Top Ten Errors in Catechesis Catechesis
Catechesi Tradendae: Catechesis in Our Time Church Document
Catechism of the Catholic Church Church Document
CDF Responses Concerning Artificial Nutrition and Hydration Church Document
Chrisitfideles Laici: On the Vocation and Mission of the Lay Faithful in the Church and in the World Church Document
Code of Canon Law Church Document
Commentary on the Concluding Formula of the Professio fidei Church Document
Deus Caritas Est--God Is Love Church Document
Ecclesia de Eucharistia, Encyclical Letter on the Eucharist and Its Relationship to the Church Church Document
Evangelium Vitae: On the Value and Inviolability of Human Life Church Document
Ex Corde Ecclesia, On Catholic Universities Church Document
Familiaris Consortio: The Role of the Christian Family in the Modern World Church Document
Fides et Ratio: On the Relationship Between Faith and Reason Church Document
General Directory for Catechesis Church Document
Humanae Vitae Church Document
Jesus Christ: Bearer of the Water of Life Church Document
Mane Nobiscum Domine, Apostolic Letter for the Year of the Eucharist Church Document
Motu Proprio "Summorum Pontificum" Church Document
Mulieris Dignitatem: On the Dignity and Vocation of Women Church Document
Ordinatio Sacerdotalis: On Reserving Priestly Ordination to Men Alone Church Document
Rosarium Virginis Mariae, Apostolic Letter on the Rosary Church Document
Sacramentum Caritatis Church Document
Salvifici Doloris: On Human Suffering Church Document
Tome of Leo Church Document
Ut Unum Sint: On Commitment to Ecumenism Church Document
Vatican II Documents Church Document
Veritatis Splendor: The Splendor of Truth Church Document
'Be Fruitful and Multiply': The Morality of Fertility Drugs Family Issues
Benziger Family Life: 3rd Edition (1995) Family Issues
Canonical Misconception: Pope Pius IX and The Church's Teaching on Abortion Family Issues
Catholic Traditions for Advent and Christmas Family Issues
Chastity Begins At Home: Parental Rights and Chastity Education Family Issues
Choose Life, That You and Your Children May Live: The Truth About Birth Control Family Issues
Divorce and Remarriage: The Church's Perspective Family Issues
Ectopic for Discussion: A Catholic Approach to Tubal Pregnancies Family Issues
Home Schooling Resources Family Issues
Lenten Traditions Within the Home Family Issues
Male and Female He Created Them: The Church and 'Same-Sex Marriages' Family Issues
Marriage in God's Plan - Discovering the Power of Marital Love Family Issues
Organ Donation Family Issues
Pure Biology? Effective Chastity Education Family Issues
Raising Tomorrow's Saints: The Catholic Education of Youth Family Issues
Reproductive Technologies Family Issues
Should I Attend? Family Issues
Should I Be a Confirmation Sponsor? Family Issues
Should I Be a Godparent? Family Issues
The Annulment Process Family Issues
True Compassion for the Dying: The Church's Teaching on Euthanasia Family Issues
What Makes A Marriage? Consent, Consummation and the Special Case of the Holy Family Family Issues
“So That We Might Become God”: Understanding Catechism No. 460 General
A Matter of Reception: Abortion, Holy Communion, and Catholic Politicians General
A Threshold of Hope - Jubilee Year 2000 General
Above and Beyond: The Church's Teaching on Miracles General
All Hallows' Eve General
All You Need Is Love - The Theological Virtue of Charity General
Anglican-Catholic Relations: The Quest for Unity General
Anti-Judaism vs. Anti-Semitism General
Attending a Protestant Service General
Attending Non-Christian Worship Services General
Avoiding War and Safeguarding Peace General
Burying a Statue of St. Joseph to Sell One's Home General
Can God Do the Impossible? General
Capital Punishment General
Catholic Funerals and Burials in Catholic Cemeteries General
Christian Joy General
Christian Stewardship: What God Expects of Us General
Cloning: An Affront to Human Dignity General
Colleges, Recommended Catholic General
Daily Penance, Days of Penance General
Dark Night of the Soul General
Debunking the Overpopulation Myth General
Doctors of the Church General
Drawing the Line: The Church's Teaching on Embryonic Stem Cell Research General
Eastertide: Determining the Date for Easter General
Ecumenical Councils of the Church General
Ecumenism and the Unity of the Church General
Effective Lay Witness Protocol General
Following Our Bishops General
Frozen Embryos and Embryo Adoption General
Fundamental Option General
God's Big Bang: The Church and Evolution General
Hell: The Self-Exclusion From God General
Here Am I Lord: Vocations in Christ General
Hold Fast What Is Good: On Borrowing Forms of Meditation from Eastern Religions General
'Holy Things To The Holy': Sacred Things, Places, and Times General
Hope: A Pilgrim's Virtue General
Horoscopes, Should the Christian Faithful Utilize General
Human Suffering: Why Does God Permit It? General
I will Give You Shepherds: Addressing the Priest Shortage General
Is Missing Sunday Mass a Mortal Sin General
Jehovah as a Name of God General
La Iglesia Catolica: Ordenada por Dios o por el Hombre? General
Lent: Discipline and History General
Mary: Mother of the Church General
Morality is Habit-Forming: The Cardinal Virtues General
Nihil Obstat and Imprimatur General
No Man's an Island: Associations of the Faithful General
Non-Mass Use of Churches General
Not in Vain: Repetition and the Rosary General
On Earth As It Is In Heaven: The Necessity of Law and Right Order General
One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic: The Marks of Christ's Church General
Papal Succession General
Principle of Double Effect General
Private Revelation General
Proclaiming the Good News to the World: The Church's Evangelizing Mission General
Reiki General
Responding to Scandals in the Church General
Returning to the Church General
Sacred Art General
Should I Obey?: Faithfully Responding to Lawful Authority General
Sign of the Cross General
Signs and Symbols General
Small Faith Communities General
Spiritual Communion General
Spiritual Retreat Centers, Recommended General
Tattoos General
The Book On Gambling General
The Enneagram General
The Grammar of Dissent: Identifying and Engaging Heresy General
The New Age Movement General
The Theological Virtue of Faith General
The Third Part of the Secret of Fatima General
The Year of the Eucharist General
Vatican Wealth General
Ways and Means: Using Today's Technology to Evangelize the World General
Where Do We Go from Here?: The Concept of Limbo General
Who Art in Heaven: The Dwelling Place of God General
Worthy Reception of Holy Communion General
A Voice of Reason?: The Truth About Voice of the Faithful Groups/Persons
Can Catholics Be Freemasons? Groups/Persons
Catholics United For the Faith Groups/Persons
Eastern Catholic Churches Groups/Persons
Friend in Word and Deed - Pius XII and the Jews Groups/Persons
Jehovah's Witnesses: A Catholic Response Groups/Persons
John the Baptist Groups/Persons
Mormonism and the Great Apostasy Theory Groups/Persons
New Ecclesial Movements Groups/Persons
Old Catholics Groups/Persons
Saint Hildegard of Bingen - The Genius of a Woman Groups/Persons
Seventh-day Adventists Groups/Persons
St. Francis de Sales: Co-Patron of CUF's Catholic Responses Groups/Persons
St. Joseph: Patron of the Universal Church & Co-Patron of Catholics United for the Faith Groups/Persons
St. Mary Magdalene: A Model Penitent Groups/Persons
St. Nonna: Patroness of Catholic Responses Groups/Persons
St. Patrick: The Apostle of Ireland Groups/Persons
St. Thomas More: Co-patron of CUF Groups/Persons
Sts. Peter and Paul Groups/Persons
The Encyclicals of Pope John Paul II Groups/Persons
The Enduring Legacy of Pope John Paul II Groups/Persons
We Are Church Groups/Persons
'An Ordinance Forever' - The Biblical Origins of the Mass Liturgy
Announcements at Mass Liturgy
Approved Biblical Translations for Mass Use Liturgy
Baptism of Desire Liturgy
Baptism: Is There a 'Rite' Time? Liturgy
Baptismal Fonts Liturgy
Catholic Funeral Rites--Common Questions Liturgy
Catholic-Protestant Weddings Liturgy
Children's Masses: Don't Play With the Word of God Liturgy
Children's Masses: May Lay People Read the Gospel and Give the Homily? Liturgy
Christ's Presence in the Mass Liturgy
Come, Worship the Lord!: Promoting Adoration of the Most Holy Eucharist Liturgy
Communion in the Hand: When Did it Start? Liturgy
Communion Services Liturgy
Communion Under Both Species Liturgy
Cross or Crucifix on the Altar Liturgy
Defending Our Rites - Constructively Dealing with Liturgical Abuse Liturgy
Dogmatizing Discipline:Papal Authority, Modifying the Mass and The Truth About Quo Primum Liturgy
Elevation of the Host Liturgy
Eucharistic Consecration: Kneeling vs. Standing Liturgy
Eucharistic Exposition, Appropriate Devotional Activities During Liturgy
First Confession Before First Communion Liturgy
Gathering Around the Altar at the Consecration Liturgy
General Absolution Liturgy
Genuflecting Liturgy
God's Gift to His Bride: Priestly Celibacy Liturgy
Holy Communion for Catholics Suffering from Celiac Sprue Disease, Alcoholism, or Other Related Diseases Liturgy
How Lovely is Your Dwelling Place? The Placement of a Tabernacle in a Church Liturgy
I Confess: The Biblical Basis of the Sacrament of Reconciliation Liturgy
Indelible Characters of Ordination Liturgy
Intinction Liturgy
Invalid Masses Liturgy
Is the Washing of the Hands Required at Mass? Liturgy
Kneeling After Communion Liturgy
Lay Preaching Liturgy
Let the Children Come to Me: Why the Church Baptizes Babies Liturgy
Liturgical Dancing Liturgy
Location of the Choir during Mass Liturgy
Loss of the Clerical State Liturgy
May a Layperson Expose the Blessed Sacrament? Liturgy
Music during the Proclamation of Prayers at Mass Liturgy
Music in the Sacred Liturgy Liturgy
Norms for Confession Liturgy
Norms for Eucharistic Adoration with Exposition Liturgy
Norms for Infant Baptism Liturgy
One-Hour Fast Before Communion Liturgy
Posture after the Agnus Dei Liturgy
Postures and Gestures during the Mass Liturgy
Preparation of the Gifts: When to Stand Liturgy
Pro Multis: For 'Many' or For 'All'? Liturgy
Proper Handling of the Species After Communion Liturgy
Proper Matter for Bread and Wine Used in Consecration Liturgy
Reception of Holy Communion Liturgy
Saturday Vigil Mass Liturgy
Self-Communication Liturgy
Signs of the Christ: Sacraments of the Church Liturgy
Smells, Bells, and Other Liturgical Odds and Ends Liturgy
Spiritual Parents: The Role of Godparents in the Catholic Church Liturgy
St. Blaise and the Blessing of Throats Liturgy
The Church's Norms for Cremation Liturgy
The Gloria Liturgy
The Gospel Truth Concerning Lay Readers - The Role of the Laity During the Liturgy of the Word Liturgy
The Graces of Confirmation Liturgy
The History of Daily Mass in the Church Liturgy
The Mass: Timeless and Changing Liturgy
The Placement of Gifts During Consecration Liturgy
The Sacrament of Confirmation Liturgy
The Washing of Feet on Holy Thursday Liturgy
This is My Body - Christ's Real Presence in the Eucharist Liturgy
We Believe in One God...: The Nicene Creed at Mass Liturgy
What Must Be Done For A Valid Baptism? Liturgy
Who Receives Communion First? Liturgy
Why Not Women Priests? Liturgy
'An Ordinance Forever' - The Biblical Origins of the Mass Scripture
Apocalypse Not Now - The Church, The Millennium, and The Rapture Scripture
'Call No Man Father'? Understanding Matthew 23:9 Scripture
Eat, Drink and Be Catholic: The Biblical Prohibition of Eating Blood Scripture
His Name is John: The Beloved Disciple and Author of the Fourth Gospel Scripture
Just Grape Juice: The Sober Truth About Biblical Wine Scripture
Making Sense Out of Scripture: the Four Best Kept Secrets in Biblical Studies Today Scripture
Now You See 'Em, Now You Don't: Dispensing with the Rapture Scripture
Sola Scriptura? Not According to the Bible Scripture
Taking God at His Word: A Catholic Understanding of Biblical Inerrancy Scripture
The 'Brothers and Sisters' of Jesus Scripture
The Complete Bible: Why Catholics Have Seven More Books Scripture
The Historicity of Gospel Accounts of the Nativity Scripture
What's in a Name?: Protocanon, Deuterocanon and Apocrypha Scripture
CUF Resources
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From Our Founder

Let us learn from Naaman the Syrian: He was full of scorn and doubt when the prophet told him to bathe his leprosy in the little Jordan, whereas he was familiar with the noble Tigris and Euphrates. But he was not asked to compare the splendor of the river, but to obey the word which God spoke through His prophet. His little maidservant prevailed on him to bend his pride, and put his trust in the work of God's messenger. He did so, and was cleansed.
Let us all beg God for the humility and grace to do the same.

H. Lyman Stebbins
February 7, 1973