We’re used to being dogmatic. After all, the Church has laid out truths we must believe — truths we should be willing to die for.
But this doesn’t mean everything is a dogma.
In fact, there is still a wide range of opinions — even theological ones — that the Church hasn’t officially decided on.
"Don't demand uniformity where the Church allows diversity of opinion and custom."
Bishop Edward Malesic of Cleveland, Ohio, has a great saying: “Color within the lines.” He means that there are boundaries of belief and practice that Catholics shouldn’t cross. However, within those lines, there’s a lot of room for diverse opinions, devotions, and personalities.
There’s room for Dorothy Days, Flannery O’Conners, Fulton J. Sheens, and Óscar Romeros. There’s space to do or think things that haven’t been done or thought of before. For example, some of St. Thomas Aquinas’ ideas were radical in his time, but they still grew from within the boundaries of the faith.