Definition
Dogmatic theology may be defined as the scientific exposition of the entire theoretical doctrine concerning God Himself and his external activity, based on the dogmas of the Church.
Dogmatic theology emphasizes the importance of propositional truth over experiential, sensory perceptions.
The Roman Catholic Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith is charged with ensuring fidelity to Catholic teaching regarding theology and doctrine among all members of the Church- especially in disputes or unsolved issues involving theology and the faith, and in dealing with individuals (especially clergy, religious, and catechists, where orthodoxy is a special concern, but also laypeople) whose teachings or statements have been judged erroneous at the local level. In 1989, the Congregation's International Theological Commission) prepared a document on doctrinal theology called "The Interpretation of Dogma". This happened when Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger (who was a proponent of doctrinal orthodoxy, and who became Pope Benedict XVI in 2005 after succeeding Blessed Pope John Paul II) was Prefect of the Congregation and thus President of the Commission.
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