An Overview of Basic Catholic Teachings:

The Catholic Church and Her teachings can be compared with an oak tree.

Just as there are many branches, large and small, on an large oak tree, there are many doctrines in the Catholic Church, ranging from the existence of God to the divinity of Jesus Christ, from the sacraments to the role of the Blessed Virgin Mary, from moral issues to peace and justice, the papacy to purgatory.

And like branches on an oak tree, the doctrines of the Church are all interconnected and related to the whole.

Some Catholic teachings are absolutely central, such as that there is One, True God Who is revealed to us as the Blessed Trinity: One God in Three Persons, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. From this central truth about God flow other truths, such as the Incarnation of Jesus Christ (Second Person in the Trinity).

Branching outward from there, we encounter related issues, such as salvation, the reality of heaven and hell, the mission of the Church Christ established, the Body of Christ and communion of saints. We discover the sacraments and the papacy, and so many other aspects of the truth, and one thing becomes clear: All these teachings are interrelated.

This page will give you a broad overview of Catholic doctrines, allowing you to “dig deeper” into whatever area interests you.

You’ll see that by clicking on one of the major categories, such as “The Communion of Saints,” you’ll find many related subsections on issues such as Mary, praying to the saints, relics, martyrs, and more.

(Please be sure to check out this section of FREE audio downloads on the Catholic Faith by renowned author and philosopher Dr. Peter Kreeft, and, of course, the Catechism of the Catholic Church.)