Apologetics is the science of the defense and explanation of Christian religion. It is the comprehensive, scientific vindication of the grounds of Christian, Catholic belief, in which the calm, impersonal presentation of underlying principles is of paramount importance, the refutation of objections being added by way of corollary. It addresses itself not to the hostile opponent for the purpose of refutation, but rather to the inquiring mind by way of information. Its aim is to give a scientific presentation of the claims which Christ's revealed religion has on the assent of every rational mind; it seeks to lead the inquirer after truth to recognize, first, the reasonableness and trustworthiness of the Christian revelation as realized in the Catholic Church, and secondly, the corresponding obligation of accepting it. While not compelling faith -- for the certitude it offers is not absolute, but moral -- it shows that the credentials of the Christian religion amply suffice to vindicate the act of faith as a rational act, and to discredit the estrangement of the sceptic and unbeliever as unwarranted and culpable. Its last word is the answer to the question: Why should I be a Catholic? Apologetics thus leads up to Catholic faith, to the acceptance of the Catholic Church as the divinely authorized organ for preserving and rendering efficacious the saving truths revealed by Christ. This is the great fundamental dogma on which all other dogmas rest.

The 1983 Code of Canon Law defines bishops' conferences thus: "The Episcopal Conference, a permanent institution, is the assembly of the Bishops of a country or of a certain territory, exercising together certain pastoral offices for Christ's faithful of that territory." An episcopal conference, or bishops' conference, is somewhat similar to an Eastern Orthodox synod of bishops. In recent (Roman) Catholic terminology, a synod of bishops is a one-time meeting, convened by the Vatican, with the agenda prepared beforehand and the deliberations submitted for papal approval. But a synod in Eastern terminology, or an episcopal conference in (Western) Catholic terms, is an ongoing canonical level of church governance, the members being diocesan bishops, who together can decide some matters for their combined territories. The bishops together can decide, for example, on the liturgical texts to be used, or on fast days for their combined territories. In some cases, because of the small size of neighboring nations, or because of a relatively small number of Catholics in a geographical region, an episcopal conference is formed by bishops from more than one country. One example of this would be the Scandinavian Bishops' Conference. On the other hand, in large, populous countries, there may be, besides a national conference of bishops, also episcopal conferences for smaller regions. A bishops' conference, therefore, is something of an intermediate step between an individual diocese and the Vatican.

A listing of great places for Catholics to gather and chat or post messages.

This category is for sites about Catholic schools.

Sites relating to the history and experience of the Catholic church and her followers.

Controversial issues in society or in the Church, related to Church teaching.

This category is dedicated to movements in the Catholic Church today. These groups are not religious orders, and are often looser than organizations. Included are such groups as Catholic Worker, the charismatic renewal, Communion and Liberation, Cursillo, and the Community of Sant'Egidio.

Anything related to music used in Catholic worship is appropriate here, including schedules, worship planning, publishers, performers, history, and so on. But there are several more specific related categories that should be considered first, where appropriate. Chant--Gregorian chant or plainsong--has its own category. Several types of music have a more (catholic-not-Catholic) interest and thus their own categories: hymns, carols, classical music.

Catholic churches and groups--other than the Orthodox and Anglicans--not in communion with Rome.

General information about the different religious orders of the Roman Catholic church.

Nonprofit Catholic organizations of national or international interest. The exceptions are the subcategories for Catholic student organizations and for the Knights of Columbus, where local web pages are welcome. Parishes should be submitted to the Parishes category. Religious orders should be submitted to the Orders category. Other local Catholic organizations are best found in the appropriate Regional category.

Catholic parishes with web sites. All rites in communion with Rome.

This category is for sites about Catholic people and various groups or categories of people within the Catholic church, such as Catholic youth or Catholic women.

Reference material about Catholicism in general, or on Catholic topics not covered by another category.

Noncommercial goods, services, or materials of special interest to Catholics, which would not fit in another category.

Sacraments are the life of the Catholic Church around which everything else, prayer, liturgy, meditations and daily living, revolves. There are seven Sacraments: Baptism, Confirmation, Eucharist, Penance, Anointing of the Sick, Holy Orders, and Matrimony. The Catholic Church believes and teaches that all seven Sacraments were instituted by Jesus Christ during his life on earth.

This category is for sites which offer Catholic products for sale online.

Theology from a distinctively Catholic perspective. Includes Catholic theological organizations, and academic departments of theology at Catholic colleges and universities.

Have a Catholic web site? Why not look into one of the Catholic Web Rings to help promote it?