When I heard the term YOUCAT, I thought...what??? Then...

... I read the stories about the Italian translation and the statements that are directly contrary to the moral teaching of the Church...and this from a document directed to youth to be presented to them by the Church at World youth day.  What can one say.....?  If you have not seen this before, I warn you.  It is painful.

This is an excerpt from the Lifesite news story.  Follow the link and read more.

Cardinal Schonborn at today's press conference about the release of YouCat.

ROME, April 13, 2011 (LifeSiteNews.com) – At a Vatican press conference today, officials admitted that a book intended to teach young people the details of the Catholic faith, which will be handed out at upcoming World Youth Day in Spain, contains several errors, with particularly egregious mistakes on life and family issues.

Cardinal Christoph Schönborn, president of the German Bishops’ Conference and a director of the project, told assembled journalists that the Italian edition of the book, “YouCat,” contains errors on the Church’s teachings on euthanasia, as well as contraception.

In answer to question 382, the Italian book says, “In so-called passive euthanasia someone helps another person in the dying process and thereby obeys the commandment ‘Love your neighbor.’”

.....[At this point is a section with, once again, quoting Archbishop Fisichella. The quote did not seem very helpful.]

.......
The news comes on the heels of a revelation that the Italian language edition had given the answer “yes” to the question of whether couples can morally use contraception to “regulate” births. The Italian publisher Nuova Citta announced today that they would be recalling the book and correcting the error. Copies of the book handed out at the press conference today had the section blocked out, and a paper insert was given that said the Church promotes Natural Family Planning.

The English language version said that Catholic couples are entitled to plan the size of their families by “regulating conception” and that the Church “recommends” Natural Family Planning.

The YouCat project had been intended as a major tool in the Church’s approach to the secular world. It was touted on Vatican Radio this week as a “young and user-friendly” way for young people to learn how to answer common secular objections to unpopular Catholic teaching on topics such as contraception, abortion and euthanasia.

Cardinal Stanislaw Rylko, President of the Pontifical Council for the Laity, said that YouCat “translates the content of the [1992] ‘Catechism of the Catholic Church’ rigorously and faithfully, and using language adapted to the young … It aims to guide the young toward a deeper knowledge of their faith.”

I may have to comment more upon this, but I have to moderate my sorrow, first.