Expert: Edward Bode - 10/3/2010

Question
Pax et bonum!
I have understood that the roman catholic church had no dogmas in the beginning but it added more and more dogmas as time wne tby. that means that i some hundred years in the future we will have even more dogmas? what is the reason for needing to have many dogmas now when the church had no dogmas in the beginning?

Answer
Tack!
In the usual meaning of a dogma [a truth revealed by God], the Catholic Church began with the truths revealed in Scripture [written revelation] and those taught [oral tradition] by Jesus Christ.
With the passage of time, some truths became questioned or disputed within or outside the Church.  For example, how does one explain the biblical teaching about God?  The solution was to acknowledge and defend that in the one God [divine nature] are three distinct divine Persons [Father, Son, Holy Spirit].  A little later, the question arose about the divinity of Jesus Christ, which was proclaimed and defended.  
So, many dogmas have been defended when questioned by a reference to the truths contained within written or oral revelation.
So, my short answer, Hank, is that the Church had dogmas in the beginning and has continued to clarify and explain the revelation of God, which ended with the Apostles [who had listened to the oral teaching of Jesus].  When truths were challenged, they had to be defended and explained in order to remain faithful to the message of God.
For more on the development of Catholic doctrine, I refer you to The Catechism of the Catholic Church, availabe online:
www.usccb.org/catechism/text/index.htm
The relevant information begins on page 24 [paragraph 74].
I hope these thoughts are of some help.  If you have some specifice issues that you wish to discuss, please feel free to write again.
Bästa önskningarna.