Do the sacramental rites of the Old Testament continue to have value after Calvary? This controversial question has been answered in very different ways in the history of the Church. In recent decades, there has been a widespread change of perspective due to many factors including the Holocaust, the Second Vatican Council's Nostra Aetate, the rejection of more radical forms of supersessionism, the spread of messianic Jewish congregations, and the practice of participation in the Passover seder in parishes.

The doctrine of original sin is an essential component of the Christian faith. If catechists don’t explain well the nature, effect, and consequences of original sin, they will find it very difficult not only to address the major moral issues of our day, but also to effectively communicate the Gospel.