A common misconception among Catholics is that everything the Church teaches is of equal importance. Some Catholics believe that all teachings are infallible teachings of the pope or that each discipline, practice, dogma, and doctrine of the Church is directly revealed.
Understanding what is required to be a “good Catholic” can be overwhelming. Some people, disrespectfully categorized as “cafeteria Catholics,” supposedly choose what they believe and practice, disregarding the rest. Others embrace a form of so-called “traditional” Catholicism, believing that to find clarity, they must reclaim a purer discipline. It is not surprising that there is often confusion, misunderstanding, and even frustration that lead to a disconnect from Tradition and the Church. This could be the unintended result of poor catechetical training or insufficient education, but the role of dueling social media “talking heads” also cannot be discounted. There is a kind of trench warfare going on in social media, and people who become confused and disheartened are seen as the unfortunate casualties of the battle for theological purity.
“In Catholic doctrine there exists an order or ‘hierarchy’ of truths, since they vary in their relation to the foundation of the Christian faith” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 90). If we understand the teachings of the Church within the context of this hierarchy, it may be easier to focus on what is important and necessary—what is essential truth—without feeling like a bad Catholic and without passing such judgment on others.
Dogmas, doctrines, beliefs, and practices are reflective of the hierarchical system that is in place in the Church. The system, reflective of the prayerful work of many scholars and saints, is intended to direct, form, and inform what it means to be Catholic. A dogma is different from a pastoral practice. A doctrine can emerge from Tradition or sacred Scripture or can be discerned by an ecumenical council. Practices and disciplines can change from one place to another, at one time or another. This is what we understand, live, and put into practice each day through the guidance and the inspiration of the Spirit of God.
—Excerpted from Catholic Update, “What Do Catholics Believe? A Hierarchy of Beliefs and Practices” by Fr. Thomas M. Santa, CSsR, (C2509A). Available from Liguori Publications. To order, call 800-325-9521, or visit Liguori.org.