Devout schmevout. I just call myself a raving looney fanatic and be done with it.
The real problem here is that the word “Catholic” itself has come under such abuse that “the faithful” (as magisterial documents refer to them) must try in vain to distinguish themselves from everyone and their pet dog who call themselves “Catholic” because of some accident of circumstance that has nothing to do with their lived lives. How to do that without appearing arrogant? I say, it’s not your concern how you’re perceived; there’s precious little you can do anyway–the world has it in for “devout Catholics.”
A faithful Catholic can have questions, and can even have doubts about Catholic leadership in some instances (I wouldn’t have it any other way). But if your philosophy is “believe what you like and leave the rest,” then the question I ask is: have you converted to Catholicism, or did you just make Catholicism convert to you?
That’s what people call ‘cafeteria catholicism’; I call it “halfolicism”.
The more tolerant and gentle people here may disparage the arrogance of snooty “devout Catholics,” but at the same time there are those who are merely scandalized by the notion that there is anything inherently wrong with dissent. Let’s look at it this way. You have people for whom their agreement with Catholic teaching is incidental; they have opinions which, matter-of-factly, are orthodox; and many such folks regard this an entitlement to the self-description of “faithfulness,” and will vigorously dispute any challenge to that honor.
And then there’s the rest; the ones who, knowing full well that they’re hypocritical, sinful, foul-smelling lowly schmucks, of varying degrees of treachery, nevertheless have a commandment in their heart which noone else has: to trust in the Church as our Christ-given light in the dark, at every single turn.
There are no degrees of difference; there is no middle road, no “moderately faithful” Catholic. The switch is either off, or on. Sure, the switch might be on, and the lightbulb burnt out, or not screwed in tightly, or the wrong wattage, or with sparks flying out and hurting people or burning the house down, whatever. What I mean is, there are ‘devout Catholics’ who are bitter, nasty curs, who in their world-weariness would much rather that their misery be shared than to be shining beacons of Christ.
But that notwithstanding, for any given individual, dissent is either allowed, or it is not; and the ones for whom it is not allowed should not fear to make that fact known.
Nobody has a license to actually be arrogant, but even being mindful of charity, the appearance thereof might not be preventable for every person.
