Notes

Slide Show

Outline

1	Can Catholics disagree with Church teaching? 4 levels of teaching hierarchy of truth Adhering to Church teaching is a part of maintaining our Catholic identity Must be sure to avoid both extremes: “cafeteria Catholicism” and creeping infallibility
2	Church Dogma The most authoritative level of teaching Contained in Scripture or the logical conclusion of what is in the Bible calls for the “assent of faith” Most are found in the creeds and sacraments others in statements of councils examples: divine inspiration of the Bible
3	Definitive doctrine Not divinely revealed but taught infallibly the believer is bound to “accept as true” definitive doctrines Examples; doctrine of infallibility itself, Assumption, Immaculate Conception
4	Authoritative doctrine Not taught infallibly Still to be followed in faith- important to the life of the Church believers are to give “religious docility of the will and intellect” Examples; living together before marriage, social teachings of the Church: Encyclicals, teaching on divorce and remarriage
5	Prudential admonitions and Church discipline Any Church teaching that does not reach the level of official doctrine Examples; celibacy for priests, belief in Marian apparitions (free to believe or not), use of sacramentals