NOUN (2)

1. a series of question put to an individual (such as a political candidate) to elicit their views;

2. an elementary book summarizing the principles of a Christian religion; written as questions and answers;

The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Catechism \Cat"e*chism\ (-k[i^]z'm), n. [L. catechismus, fr. Gr.
   See Catechise.]
   1. A form of instruction by means of questions and answers.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. A book containing a summary of principles, especially of
      religious doctrine, reduced to the form of questions and
      answers.
      [1913 Webster]

            The Jews, even till this day, have their catechisms.
                                                  --Hooker.
      [1913 Webster]

   The Larger Catechism, The Shorter Catechism. See
      Westminster Assembly, under Assembly.
      [1913 Webster]

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

catechism
    n 1: a series of question put to an individual (such as a
         political candidate) to elicit their views
    2: an elementary book summarizing the principles of a Christian
       religion; written as questions and answers

Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0:

43 Moby Thesaurus words for "catechism":
   Weltanschauung, articles of religion, bone of contention, credenda,
   credo, creed, cross-interrogatory, cross-question, cult,
   debating point, demand, doctrinal statement, faith, feeler,
   formulated belief, gospel, ideology, inquiry, interrogation,
   interrogative, interrogatory, ism, issue, leader, leading question,
   moot point, point at issue, point in question, political faith,
   political philosophy, problem, query, question, question at issue,
   question mark, quodlibet, religion, school, system of belief,
   topic, trial balloon, vexed question, world view