• Remember, not every "Catholic" resource is approved by the Roman Catholic Church.Catholic church image by vin5 from Fotolia.com
  
  Catholic resources vary widely in nature from websites to books to organizations doing charitable work. When you look for information resources, remember that not all sites using the word "Catholic" will follow church doctrine. Official Catholic websites have an imprimatur (Latin for "let it be printed") to let the reader know the material has been approved by a bishop and contains nothing contrary to faith and morals. Financial and material resources are also available through Catholic Charities to help those in need, including people of all faiths.
  
  

Catechism of The Catholic Church

• The Catechism of the Catholic Church is an official church publication that presents what Catholics believe. It is considered the primary source of information on the Catholic faith. This publication is typically found in Catholic as well as secular bookstores. Religious education teachers for the Catholic Church usually have an ample supply of these books, which they give out to parishioners upon request. The book is published by Doubleday and is available in 20 languages.
  
  

Catholic Answers

• Catholic Answers is available on line, and has a small staff that answers queries about faith-related matters. The site was created by apologist Karl Keating and has been given an imprimatur by church authorities, meaning it has been approved by a bishop. The website gives pertinent information on theological topics and also morality issues such as teenage sexuality, abortion, masturbation, birth control, and other controversial teachings. Besides the forum where questions are answered by a knowledgeable staff, the site includes a Catholic Encyclopedia, a database of saints, and a database of art.
  
  Catholic Answers
  
  2020 Gillespie Way
  
  El Cajon, CA 92020
  
  619-387-7200
  
  catholic.com
  
  

Catholic Charities USA

• Catholic Charities USA has an extensive network across the nation. Created to fight poverty in America, it supports local agencies and affiliates, serving people of all faiths. The organization provides various resources to help people in need in the areas of disaster relief and job placement, counseling, and training. For example, in dealing with the 2010 Gulf of Mexico oil spill, Catholic Charities distributed funds from British Petroleum to local businesses affected by the spill. The organization plans to continue relief efforts by retraining workers and opening food pantries and soup kitchens.
  
  Catholic Charities USA
  
  P. O. Box 17066
  
  Baltimore, MD 21297-1066
  
  1-800-919-9338
  
  catholiccharitiesusa.org