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Is the Catechism in the Public Domain?

Question:

Is the Catechism of the Catholic Church in the public domain? It seems like it should be legal to reproduce if its contents belong to all of humanity.

Answer:

The Catechism is available to be read for free online at several websites, including the Vatican’s and the U.S. Bishops’.

However, it is not in the public domain. That typically applies to much older works. Any use of the Catechism that is less than 1,000 words does not require permission from the U.S. Bishops. Any use of 1,000 or more words does, and will also require a review to ensure that the work is consistent with the Catechism. For further information on using the Catechism, see these guidelines from the U.S. Bishops.

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