NOVELTY - A catalyst contains metal oxycarbonitride comprising metal (A) (0.2 %mass or more) and metal (Z) (0.2 %mass or more). The metal (A) and metal (Z) are chosen from titanium, zirconium, vanadium, niobium, tantalum, molybdenum, and tungsten. The metal (Z) is different from the metal (A). The sum total of metal (A) and metal (Z) is 25 %mass or more. When the metal oxycarbonitride is measured by powder X-ray diffractometry (copper-K ( alpha ) ray), four or more diffraction line peaks are observed at diffraction angle 2( theta ) between 33-43 degrees .    USE - Catalyst is used for catalyst layer for electrode used for membrane electrode assembly for polymer electrolyte fuel cell used as power supply for cardiac pacemaker, heater provided with Peltier device for coolers, teaching material, artificial flower, building material, lighting fixture, designable window glass, machine, vehicle, glassware, domestic electrical appliance, agricultural material, electronic device, mobile telephone, beauty instrument, portable information terminal, tool, tableware, bath article, toilet article, furniture, clothing, fabric product, fiber, leather product, paper product, resin product, sporting product, futon (bedding), container, spectacles, signboard, piping, wiring, metal fitting, sanitation material, car accessories, stationery, emblem, hat, bag, shoes, umbrella, blind, balloon, illumination, light emitting diode (LED), signal apparatus, street light, toy, road sign, ornament, tent, traffic signal, and bulletin board (all claimed).    ADVANTAGE - The catalyst has excellent stability and oxygen reduction ability, and economically provides article having excellent electrical power generation property, light emission property, exothermic property, acoustic generation property, motor property, indicating property, charge function property and durability.    DETAILED DESCRIPTION - INDEPENDENT CLAIMS are included for the following:    (1) catalyst layer, which contains catalyst;    (2) electrode, which has a catalyst layer and a porous support layer;    (3) membrane electrode assembly, which has electrolytic membrane arranged between cathode and anode. The cathode and/or anode are electrodes;    (4) polymer electrolyte fuel cell, which has membrane electrode assembly; and    (5) manufacture of the catalyst, which involves obtaining a metal carbonitride by heating oxide of metal (A) and oxide of metal (B) with carbon at 600-2000 degrees C in nitrogen atmosphere, and obtaining metal oxycarbonitride by heating the obtained metal carbonitride in an oxygen-containing inert gas.