Abstinence - in contrast to chastity which requires sexual relations be aligned with one's state in life, abstinence involves the total absence of sexual relations.

Apologetics - is derived from the Greek root apologi, which refers to a formal defence of a belief or explanation. Catholic apologetics then seeks to explain or defend the beliefs, teaching, and practices of the Catholic faith and her holy Church.

Calls to Action - the 94 Calls to Action of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission present steps toward redressing the legacy of Indian Residential Schools and advancing the process of reconciliation (e.g., elimination of educational gaps, development of curriculum about residential schools and Treaties, preservation of language and culture).

Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops - the national assembly of the Bishops of Canada founded in 1943, officially recognized by the Holy See in 1948, which after the Second Vatican Council (1962-65) became part of a worldwide network of Episcopal Conferences, established in 1965, as an integral part of the life of the universal Church.

Catechesis - the ministry of teaching about, and forming disciples of, Jesus Christ and the Good News.

Catechism of the Catholic Church - (CCC) the official doctrinal presentation of the Roman Catholic Church in a wide variety of topics first published in French in 1992 and authorized by Pope John Paul II.

Chastity - is much more than simply the "absence of sexual relations". It can involve the presence of sexual relations as chastity requires what the Church refers to as the truthful living out of the sexual language of our bodies - or living and expressing our sexuality according to one's state in life (i.e., single, married, consecrated celibacy).

Covenant - an agreement or sacred bond between God and his people (e.g., Noah, Abraham, Moses). In the New Testament, Christ himself is the new covenant between God and His people.

Culture of encounter - addressed by Pope Francis in the encyclical Evangelii Gaudium, and described as a culture that promotes dialogue which builds harmony within and between peoples as a pathway to peace.

Culture of Life - addressed by Pope John Paul II in the encyclical Evangelium Vitae, a culture of life is based on the theological truth that human life, in all its stages of development from conception to natural death, is sacred.

Discernment - to seek to distinguish what is of or from God, attempting to learn what God is calling one to do (e.g., vocationally, daily choices).

Ecumenism - interdenominational initiatives aimed at greater cooperation and understanding among Christian churches.

Ethics - centred in the `search for the good' of humanity ethics is philosophical in nature tending towards concepts such as happiness and freedom.

Evangelization - is not simply to teach a doctrine, but to proclaim Jesus Christ by one's words and actions. Evangelization may involve humility and/or zeal, and is differentiated from proselytization in that it is carried out in fashion aligned with the spirit of the Gospels respecting the dignity and freedom of others.

Good - according to Catholic Tradition, God is the source of all that is good. Human beings, by their nature and vocation, are directed toward the good. Coming from God, and going toward God, human beings live fully human lives only if they freely live in communion with God. Goodness, then, is the result of being "connected" with God, as branches to a vine (see John 15: 1-17).

Interfaith dialogue - cooperative, constructive and positive interaction between people of different religious traditions (i.e., "faiths") and/or spiritual or humanistic beliefs, at both the individual and institutional levels.

Morality - stemming from ethics, morality tends towards ways that humans can attain `the good' such as the rules, commandments, or laws to be followed. In this sense, ethics names a value whereas morality looks at means (i.e., actions) to attain or uphold that value.

New Atheism - a social and political movement of modern atheist writers advocating that "religion should not simply be tolerated but should be countered, criticized, and exposed by rational argument wherever its influence arises."

Precepts of the Catholic Church - found in paragraphs 2041-2043 of the Catechism of the Catholic Church, "the precepts are set in the context of a moral life bound to and nourished by liturgical life and are meant to...(develop) growth in love of God and neighbour."

Proselytization - in modern usage, negatively connotes the promotion of Christianity by means and for motives which are contrary to the spirit of the Gospel (e.g., does not respect personal autonomy, freedom, or human dignity, motivated by selfishness).

Rite - within the Catholic Church there are multiple Canonical rites representing ecclesiastic traditions about how the sacraments are to be celebrated.  The Catechism of the Catholic Church lists seven rites (CCC1203) and notes that all rites within the Church are equal in dignity, enjoy the same rights and are under the same obligations.

Salvation History - the history and continued story of God's saving work among men and women since the beginning of time. 

Sin - direct acts and acts of omission resulting in damage to relationships with God, creation, others, or self. Sin is categorized by the Catholic church in three ways:

• Original - a doctrine on the consequence for the human race of Adam's abusing his freedom and disobeying God's command resulting in the loss of harmony with creation and the death of the soul.
• Personal - a personal offence against reason, truth and right conscience, and an offence against God which may be considered mortal or venial in nature.
• Social - societal structures which by their very nature are contrary to right relationships, social sin involves acts against the rights, freedoms or dignity of others and their communities.

Slippery Slope - a term used in ethical debate that views decisions not on their own, but through their potential to lead to subsequent decisions and acts. Generally, the argument of the slippery slope states that in allowing something perceived as acceptable or with little to no harm at this point in time subsequent decisions on related issues may develop leading to what was once considered unthinkable becoming the norm.

Stewardship - how humankind is to exercise dominion over creation: tending to all of creation through a caring cooperation with God involving a sense of service motivated by love and understood with wisdom.

Sustainability - has been taught by Indigenous Elders as the good way of living. UNESCO expresses this idea as "a paradigm for thinking about a future in which environmental, societal and economic considerations are balanced in the pursuit of development and improved quality of life."

Trinity - the Catholic dogma of the Trinity confesses one God in three Persons, not sharing divinity among them, but each being God whole and entire while at the same time allowing for each of the divine persons to be distinct from one another and relative to one another.

Virtue - an attitude or habit that makes us more likely to choose what is good even when we don't stop to think first. In Catholic tradition, the virtues are grouped into the three theological virtues, four cardinal virtues and seven capital virtues.