You believe what the Church teaches, period.You do not necessarily need to understand the ins and outs.Well I did confess this, and my priest just encouraged me to rephrase my confession in terms of “doubting” or “not understanding”, which really doesn’t cover it in my case. So what do I do about this? I know its tedious to explain what is and isn’t sinful and I don’t normally ask these sots of questions on here, but I’m really quite concerned about this.
A priest explained this quite succinctly once. He said “one may dissent from church teaching, however, one may not preach it.”And what is malice in this context? If I know the church teaches x, but I just do not believe that this teaching is true, where does that leave me?
No, one may not “dissent” from Church teaching, especially when regarding infallible dogmas. This would signify an ‘obstinate’ refusal to submit to divine truths and would be the equivalent of being in a state of heresy. One can be unable to grasp and quietly disagree or debate over a topic with an openness to learning but this is different to dissenting.A priest explained this quite succinctly once. He said “one may dissent from church teaching, however, one may not preach it.”
You are free to not believe in Church teaching. Myself, I have some discomfort with certain elements of Catholic teaching, belief, and practice. I do however keep them to myself and look forward to the day the Lord will answer all my question.
However, if you don’t believe in the teachings of the Creed we say at all Masses, then I think your problem goes beyond dissent, and wanders into the area of separation from the Church. Something you really ought to do. Professing the Catholic faith, while not believing in it, is a form of false witness; something that’s a big no-no according to those stone tablets that came down from Sinai.
Heresy has to be preached in some form or another (oral or written) to be an excommunicable offense. As to casual conversation, depends on how those to whom you are speaking perceive you.
Shalom
And there I was thinking I had an easy way out of this quandary. If I in good conscience can not agree with a dogma taught by the church (not I think anything regarded as infallible), then what do I do?
edwest2 gave the complete answer with references. #24A priest explained this quite succinctly once. He said “one may dissent from church teaching, however, one may not preach it.”
You are free to not believe in Church teaching. Myself, I have some discomfort with certain elements of Catholic teaching, belief, and practice. I do however keep them to myself and look forward to the day the Lord will answer all my question.
However, if you don’t believe in the teachings of the Creed we say at all Masses, then I think your problem goes beyond dissent, and wanders into the area of separation from the Church. Something you really ought to do. Professing the Catholic faith, while not believing in it, is a form of false witness; something that’s a big no-no according to those stone tablets that came down from Sinai.
Heresy has to be preached in some form or another (oral or written) to be an excommunicable offense. As to casual conversation, depends on how those to whom you are speaking perceive you.
Shalom
If you already know that the Church teaches this dogma, you have no “good conscience” reason because your conscience is now informed. If you obstinately refuse to assent to this teaching, you could be culpable.And there I was thinking I had an easy way out of this quandary. If I in good conscience can not agree with a dogma taught by the church (not I think anything regarded as infallible), then what do I do?
It is possible to believe, even if you don’t understand. It’s called trust, and trust is an act of the will. To believe is an act of the will, not of the emotions.This is a real situation, not a hypothetical. I have already talked to my pastor about this in confession, and when I confessed to denial of dogmas taught by the church, his answer was to persuade me I don’t deny anything but instead have doubts. I could just about by persuaded by this since I am hardly 100% sure my belief is correct, its just a belief after all.
Obviously, there is a potential catch-22 situation here, since if my denial (even inward denial) of dogmas constitutes heresy, I can not be validly absolved for that since I have no intention of amendment. How can I after all change my beliefs by willpower?
*“You should seek guidance off these forums, such as your pastor”.It is possible to believe, even if you don’t understand. It’s called trust, and trust is an act of the will. To believe is an act of the will, not of the emotions.
That’s why I am very in-your-face when I say: Believe it. Because belief is not subject to your emotions. It’s your will saying, The Church teaches it, therefore, I believe it.
Okay, I am slowly learning that one must be very precise in posting on these forums.No, one may not “dissent” from Church teaching, especially when regarding infallible dogmas. This would signify an ‘obstinate’ refusal to submit to divine truths and would be the equivalent of being in a state of heresy. One can be unable to grasp and quietly disagree or debate over a topic with an openness to learning but this is different to dissenting.
Pray.And there I was thinking I had an easy way out of this quandary. If I in good conscience can not agree with a dogma taught by the church (not I think anything regarded as infallible), then what do I do?
What are your doubts and questions on the above two?Okay thanks for that. The main things I have an issue with are
These are not regarded as infallible dogmas?
- The infallibility of the Pope
- The notion that there is only one church which received a mandate from Christ.
Certainly these are infallible teachings of the church. The former was declared so by the first Vatican council. The latter because we have Jesus’s exact words and it is in the Apostles Creed and Niceness Creed. . It is accepted by all of Christianity.Okay thanks for that. The main things I have an issue with are
These are not regarded as infallible dogmas?
- The infallibility of the Pope
- The notion that there is only one church which received a mandate from Christ.
What are your doubts and questions on the above two?
Instead of being hyper focused on the possibility of being a heretic, focus on obtaining answers for your questions and doubts.