ABOUT CATHOLIC ANSWERS
MISSION STATEMENT
Catholic Answers is one of the nation’s largest
lay-run apostolates of Catholic apologetics and evangelization. Its
mission statement explains its purpose:
Catholic Answers is
an apostolate dedicated to serving Christ by bringing the fullness
of Catholic truth to the world. We help good Catholics become better
Catholics, bring former Catholics “home,” and lead non-Catholics
into the fullness of the faith. We explain Catholic truth, equip the
faithful to live fully the sacramental life, and assist them in
spreading the Good News.
BEGINNINGS
Catholic Answers began in 1979 after a Fundamentalist church in San Diego,
California, decided to leaflet the cars at a local parish during
Mass. The fliers attacked the Eucharist and were riddled with
misinformation. Upon coming out of Mass and finding one on his car,
attorney Karl Keating was annoyed and drove home with a modest goal:
to draft a tract that would present basic Catholic beliefs and
refute anti-Catholic charges. Keating signed the tract “Catholic
Answers,” opened up a post office box in that name, and then placed
his rebuttal on the windshields of cars in the Fundamentalist
church’s lot.
That modest effort was Catholic Answers’ first
publication. Much to his surprise, Keating soon found the post
office box bulging with letters—some unquotable, others cheering him
on and asking for other tracts. He obliged, writing 24 more tracts
that comprised Catholic Answers’ total line of publications for
several years.
He also wrote articles for the Catholic press
about the clash between Fundamentalists and Catholics, drawing
responses that convinced him there was a real need for information
on Catholic apologetics—the study of how to explain and defend the
faith. In 1986 he launched a monthly newsletter to help people keep
abreast of what Catholic Answers was doing and learn more about the
exciting field of apologetics.
In 1988 growing demand and
his own burgeoning desire to commit himself to serving the faith led
Keating to close his law practice and turn Catholic Answers into a
full-time apostolate, with its first office and staff members.
The apostolate grew quickly, and in 1990 its original
newsletter was replaced with This Rock, a 10-issue-a-year magazine
that has become the nation’s premier journal of Catholic apologetics
and evangelization.
SERVICES
The demand for solid information has turned Catholic Answers
into the preeminent apostolate of its kind. Its dedicated full-time
staff and volunteers respond to the questions, needs, and pleas of
tens of thousands of people a year, in multiple ways. Catholic
Answers offers:
- A growing collection of books, tracts,
booklets, audiocassettes, and videotapes published by the apostolate
and designed to bring the public the best in Catholic apologetics
and evangelization. These may be ordered through Catholic Answers’
on-line catalogue,
along with hundreds of solid, faith-building resources by other top-notch Catholic publishers.
- This Rock magazine, the premier peridoical on apologetics and evangelization;
- The Catholic
Century Seminars program, in which staff apologists and other top-notch speakers
lead more than 200 conferences, seminars, and retreats throughout the country every year.
- “Catholic Answers
Live”, a daily, two-hour, live, call-in radio broadcast heard on
over 100 AM/FM stations nationally, as well as internationally via
shortwave and the Internet. Participants in the broadcasts include
many important and influential figures in the Catholic community.
- A Correspondence Department that provides answers to the
pressing questions of thousands of people who contact Catholic
Answers each year.
- A web site that presents a broad range of
information about Scripture and the teachings of the Church and that
assists visitors in tapping into the various branches of the
apostolate.
SUPPORTING CATHOLIC ANSWERS
We rely on tax-deductible donations from the laity for the
majority of our support. Even though our work has the approval of
many bishops in the United States and other countries, we do not ask
dioceses for direct assistance. The balance of our support comes
mainly through the sale of good Catholic literature, tapes, and
magazine subscriptions.
You can make a tax-deductible gift
to Catholic Answers on-line or you can send it as a check made
payable to:
Catholic Answers
P. O. Box 199000
San Diego, CA 92159
A receipt will be mailed to you.
You also can help the apostolate by making a bequest to the
organization. For anyone wishing to help in this way, more
information is available.
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