The Roman Catholic Church bases its teachings on the Holy Bible. However, the Catholic canon differs from the Protestant version of the Bible. The Roman Catholic canon has forty-six books in the Old Testament; the Protestant version has thirty-nine. Both Bibles include twenty-seven books in the New Testament. This happened because of the questionable nature of certain texts. According to the Protestants, books of Tobit, Judith, and a few others were not inspired by God and therefore did not belong to the Scriptures.

The Ten Commandments hold an important place in Catholic teachings. Young Catholics are expected to memorize and understand them. They differ slightly from the Commandments as given in Exodus 20 in the Holy Bible because they have been simplified.

The Ten Commandments as they are taught to Catholics are:

• I am the Lord your God. You shall not have strange gods before me.

• You shall not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain.

• Keep holy the Sabbath.

• Honor your father and your mother.

• You shall not kill.

• You shall not commit adultery.

• You shall not steal.

• You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.

• You shall not covet your neighbor's spouse.

• You shall not covet your neighbor's goods.