[Aquinasfan]

And I would hope that you won't tell me there is unity in the RCC today.

Doctrinal unity, absolutely. There is a range of authority regarding Church teaching, however, ranging from "De Fide" dogma which must be believed by all Catholics through the more difficult to discern authoritatively "ordinary Magisterium" through theological consensus, speculation and opinion.

Ott outlines the various levels of certainty regarding Church teaching in descending order:

1) De Fide- Divinely revealed truths (infallible)
2) Church Doctrines (as infallible as above)
3) Teaching proximate to faith - generally regarded by theologians as a truth of Revelation but not yet formally promulgated by the Church.
4) Teaching pertaining to the faith - theological teaching whose truth is guaranteed by its intrinsic connection with the doctrine of revelation (theological conclusions) but not yet promulgated by the church.
5) Common teaching.
6) Theological opinion.

[HarleyD]

Oh, is it the Vatican's doctrine to have priests to counsel women on having abortions and priest to live gay life styles? And what about the certainly differences between the Vatican II crowd and the other group? And the emphasis of including Hindu practices in services in India seems a little bit unbiblical, doesn't it?

It never ceases to amaze me the Catholics can claim doctrinal unity and look the other way on these problems. Meanwhile, the church remains very silent on Catholics like Ted Kennedy and most likely will give full honors when he goes to his reward. You know it and I know it.

Ignoring problems in the church does not make for unity. I don't buy your argument in the least.

[OLD REGGIE]

(HarleyD) And I would hope that you won't tell me there is unity in the RCC today.

Doctrinal unity, absolutely. There is a range of authority regarding Church teaching, however, ranging from "De Fide" dogma which must be believed by all Catholics through the more difficult to discern authoritatively "ordinary Magisterium" through theological consensus, speculation and opinion.

You are correct in theory but what is the actual practice?

Newsweek polls and surveys show that only 15% of Catholics believe they should always obey Church teaching, nearly as many Catholics think abortion is permissible as non-Catholics, and 75% of Catholics disagree with Church teaching forbidding divorce and contraception. Another study revealed that only 25% of Catholics now believe in the Real Presence and only 50% of the priests.

Doctrinal unity in the RCC. Actual or theoretical?