Free Republic

Just some questions looking for clarity so that I can ever grow in knowledge, love, and service of our Lord. First I would like to explain how I have understood things growing up as a catholic then when you have seen where my understanding has strayed please help me to see it clearly. I would like to start with truth we are told that truth exits outside of time and that it always was and always will be and that it is not a matter of belief but rather of what is.Although of course all belief should be based on truth. Then the next fact of truth is that one of the attributes that is the Nature of God and yet very essential to man is order for with out order there is chaos the opposite of God. So God in His Wisdom Knowing the failings of man left an order right here on earth for us so that we could fly directly to Him.Now I was also taught that all authority was ordained by God and that no man has power except thru Gods Will whether direct or permissive and that man being man is also subject to his own will and when acting outside of what God Wills would then be subject to sin and fallen nature. Yet if he so chooses to act this way does that take away his position of authority?Now going back to truth there are things that are concrete and will never change despite what one may believe and then there are things that are matter of discipline and possibly growth in knowledge so that we may ever become closer to knowing God and loving and serving Him so that we may some day enjoy that blissful union with Him that we worked out here in this life with our cooperation to His Grace. So getting back to authority and order seeing how God left one head for us here on earth and that Authority is ordained by Him how much leeway is the pope given on matters that aren't nessarly concrete but rather matters of discipline and growth? Also in many a saints life that I have read the one thing that struck me the most was how much importance they placed on obedience so much so that even if our Lord commanded them to do something they were not to do it unless they got the consent of their superior. I do understand that God is the ultimate Authority and that we are never to do what would go against truth but what about matters that are more of theological opinions are we to disobey a current pope for ones of the past? How are we to know what are matters of truth and what are matters of theological opinion and what if we think that a theological opinion is wrong then where does our obedience lie to ones own conscience or to the God ordained authority? I love the church and want more then anything to see her as one holy and apostolic entity standing on truth and relying on her members for order and obedience. For without the church then life is chaos. My God I Love You Save Your Church. Lost Lamb