Dogma are things that are declared as truths by the Church. This declaration is so strong that if I as a Catholic do not believe an item of dogma, I cease to be a Catholic “in full communion” with the Church. While dogmatic teachings can be refined over time, they can never change.
Doctrine are things that are declared as truths by the Church. However, she does not require all Catholics to believe doctrine. Certainly, as a faithful Catholic I should believe doctrine, or at least work hard to understand it and come to agree with it. However, if I fail at that, or even if I refuse to believe doctrine, I am still in full communion with the Church. While doctrinal teachings can be refined over time, they can never change. They can, however, by pronouncement of the Magisterium, be elevated to dogma.
Discplines are practices of the Church that can change over time. Disciplines can change, and Catholics are in no way required to agree with current disciplines, although they are asked to follow them as a matter of… discipline.
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I agree with you on all but your statement that we are not require to beleive Docturine. As from everything I can find Dogma is basically a defining of docutrine.
Example:
Docturine: God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Ghost.
Dogma: Holy Trinity.
I can think of no Docturine that we as Catholic are not rquired to hold and a Truth.
