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Open the doors to the Catholic Church

You're no idiot of course. You know that Catholicism is one of the largest groups within Christianity, and that the pope represents the leadership of the church. But there's much more to being a Catholic than saying your prayers and going to Sunday Mass.

The Complete Idiot's Guide to Understanding Catholicism will show you exactly what it means to be a Catholic - from its ancient origins to its role in modern times. This revised and updated edition explains:

• The modern-day Catholic church - following the death of Pope John Paul II and the election of Pope Benedict XVI.
• How Vatican II changed the face of Catholicism
• The present state and effectiveness of Catholic schools, education, identity and social teaching
• the Seven sacraments and the Catholic canon
• the various stances within American Catholicism