DIfferent Schools of Thought?

[tyler_1]

Hi,

I’ve heard a lot about “conservative” and “liberal” Catholics, but I haven’t been able to turn up anything useful on Google What is the difference?

I was under the impression that you are either in agreement with the Magisterium of the church, or you are not.

Thanks,

-Tyler

 

[GJx86]

Most often, I find that you are right: “Conservative” is often used to mean “orthodox,” and “liberal” “unorthodox.”

If someone labels himself a “liberal Catholic” because he holds a belief that is contrary to the formal teaching of the Church, then he is really an “unorthodox Catholic.” Whether this is actually sinful is, of course, a question for God alone–it may be that this person knows no better, or believes that it’s okay to pick and choose what doctrines to accept.

I suppose you could also make this distinction about liturgical preferences–a “conservative” Catholic might be more inclined to the extraordinary form of the Mass, for example–but for the most part I have found that these labels are used in a doctrinal sense, not a liturgical one.

Hope that helps.

 

[Randy_Carson]

Hi,

I’ve heard a lot about “conservative” and “liberal” Catholics, but I haven’t been able to turn up anything useful on Google What is the difference?

I was under the impression that you are either in agreement with the Magisterium of the church, or you are not.

Thanks,

-Tyler

Here are a few bellwether issues:

Conservative Catholics typically agree with the pope and the bishops of the Church on most if not all matters of faith and morals, they agree that women cannot be priests, they do not vote for pro-abortion candidates, they reject the concept of “gay marriage”, and they accept the plain teaching that contraception is intrinsically evil.

Liberal Catholics would take the opposite positions on one or more of these issues.

 

[tyler_1]

Thanks for the replies.

I see these categories aren’t necessarily well-defined, but I do have a better idea of at least what to expect now.