Skip to main content

Doctrinal Dissonance - An Application of Cognitive Dissonance Theory

+
JMJ

I've discussed various cultural and psychological barriers that exist both in 'modern' and 'traditional' Catholics here, here, and here.

Normally, I referred to fig 1 in discussing the issues faced by Catholics of all cultural dispositions.

Fig 1: Cognitive Dissonance Model

I was involved in some debates on dogmatic facts, specifically the dogmatic fact established by the recognition of the Bishops determines infallibly who is the Pope.

I decided that it would be good to provide a graphic applying the model to the crisis of the Church.



Fig 2: Cognitive Dissonance Model as applied to Doctrine of Catholic Church
Applying the Cognitive Dissonance Model to the crisis in the Church is valuable.

There is Doctrine and how the Church explained it.  There are what people believe as to these doctrines.  They are not necessarily aligned and when confronted with a conflict between their belief and the Church doctrine people encounter discomfort.

Depending on how strongly people hold their beliefs (which is tied to culture), they will make a selection between the three options.

In general modernists would have us change the perception of the doctrine by altering the meaning of the words used, since the doctrine is relatively fixed.

However, if a Trad has a misbelief about Catholic Doctrine and holds it firmly - then they will do exactly what the modernists have done.

Alter the perception of the doctrine.

Funny how holding a misbelief about Church doctrine leads to a response similar to the modernists.

So as a warning to all Catholics we need to understand Church Doctrine as the Church understands and explains it.

If not ... well we risk falling into error and becoming that which we strive against.

P^3

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Morning and Evening and other sundry Prayers

+ JMJ Along the theme of P^3 (Prayer, Penance, Patience), and for my own reference ... here is a collection of Morning and Evening prayers from the Ideal Daily Missal along with some additional prayers. In this crisis of the Church, I do not think it is possible to do too much prayer, penance and have patience. P^3

Is it sinful to attend the Novus Ordo (New Mass) - Is it Sinful to Not Attend the Novus Ordo on Sunday?

+ JMJ A non-SSPX Catholic is upset over the SSPX statements on not attending the Novus Ordo Missae. Ladies and gentlemen, what the SSPX, or at least its website editor, is advocating is a mortal sin against the Third Commandment.  Unless the priest deviates from the language of the Sacramentary, the consecration, and thus the rest of Mass is to be considered valid.  No one may elect not to attend Mass simply because abuses are occurring therein.  Might I suggest that such absenteeism is its own abuse?  The Third Commandment binds under mortal sin.  Father So-And-So from the SSPX has no authority whatsoever to excuse attendance at Mass, be that Mass ever so unpalatable. Source:Restore DC Catholicism Well, this is interesting. First why does the SSPX issue this statement? Because it is sinful to put your faith in danger by attending a protestant service.  It is likewise dangerous to put your faith in danger by attending a protestantized mass (ie the Novus Ordo Missae

Remember this day March 25, 1991 - The Death of Archbishop Lefebvre

+ JMJ This is the day, 25 years ago, that Archbishop Lefebvre passed on to his eternal reward. I know that he has as many (perhaps even more) critics than admirers.  For example I still remember Fr. Paul Nicholson's screed in which he shouted from the top of his webpage: "To die excommunicated - how horrible". I'll leave aside Fr. Nicholson's ignorance on the matter as in the grand scheme of things, his impact on the life of the Mystical Body of Christ, which IS the Roman Catholic Church is no greater than that of Michael Voris etc. Archbishop Lefebvre and the work he founded (ie Fraternal Society of St. Pius X ) have had a significant impact. Let us list of few from greatest to smallest: Consistent and constant Catholic perspective on the crisis of the Church from the halls of the Second Vatican Council to the Synod on the Family (and beyond!) Summorum Pontificum and Universae Ecclesiae : By which the restoration of the sacramental life of the

Can I attend SSPX Mass? Is it sinful to go to SSPX for Mass? Does it fulfill my Sunday obligation?

 + JMJ   As the 'roll out' of Traditiones Custodes continues, I think more Catholics will be asking this question. Here are some answers. P^3 Attached below is the more recent of the two statements, see link for the earlier contradicting one :-) Letter by Msgr. Camille Perl Regarding Society of St. Pius X Masses Una Voce America has received a communication from the Pontifical Ecclesia Dei Commission, concerning an article which appeared in The Remnant newspaper and various websites. At the request of the Commission, we are publishing it below. Pontificia Commissio "Ecclesia Dei" January 18, 2003 Greetings in the Hearts of Jesus & Mary! There have been several inquiries about our letter of 27 September 2002. In order to clarify things, Msgr. Perl has made the following response. Oremus pro invicem. In cordibus Jesu et Mariæ, Msgr. Arthur B. Calkins Msgr. Camille Perl’s response: Unfortunately, as you will understand, we have no way of controlling what