Dear John:

Well, we need to clarify the issue of infallibility. The declarations of Ecumenical Councils are not automatically infallible. There are three times when a proclamation may be infallible:

First, the subject of the teaching to be made infallible must be..

1) on faith and morals
2) apply to the whole Church and not just to a part of it
3) be specifically intended as infallible teaching

There are three ways infallible declarations are made

1) an ex cathedra declaration of the Pope

2) Ecumenical Councils of Bishops (the Magisterium) who intend to make an infallible statement, which must be ratified by the Pope

3) ordinary Magisterium in which the teaching authority of bishops in union with  the pope, exercised in "ordinary" acts of teaching outside an ecumenical council that which is to be held infallible.

Vatican II says, "Taken individually," bishops "do not enjoy the privilege of  infallibility." Yet, under certain circumstances, they do "proclaim infallibly the doctrine of Christ."

As written in <Lumen Gentium>, that is so "when, even though  dispersed throughout the world but preserving for all that amongst themselves and with Peter's successor  [the pope] the bond of communion, in their authoritative teaching concerning matters
of faith  and morals, they [the bishops] are in agreement that a particular teaching is to be held  definitively and absolutely."

As for the Catechism, this book contains a summary of the teaching of the Church. The book contains infallible teaching, definitive teaching, authoritative teaching, and disciplinary teaching.

The Catechism as a whole is not a infallible document, but the book does contain infallible teachings.

As for the Orange Catechism, I have not read it or know anything about it. But any official Vatican approved Catechism will not contradict any other official Vatican approved Catechism.

The reason to quote the Catechism is because it contains the official teachings of the Church. Those teachings are from the Bible and Sacred Oral Tradition which is the Word of God. Those teaching are infallible and definitive. As mentioned above the Catechism also contains other kinds of teachings, but it is all teaching that Catholics are either bound to, or must give assent, or must give respect depending on the level of teaching.

The Catechism is not equal to the Bible, but it explains the Bible. It contains official interpretations of the Bible, which is important with there are thousands of differing interpretations out there.

God Bless,
Bro. Ignatius Mary