Doctrine & Dogma, What's the Difference?

At last month's "Why Catholic?" lecture, guest speaker, Jason Vaughan wanted to provide further information regarding doctrine and dogma. Here is some clarification. Thanks Jason! From Modern Catholic Dictionary by Fr. John A. Hardon, S.J. DOCTRINE. Any truth taught by the Church as necessary for acceptance by the faithful. The truth may be either formally revealed (as the Real Presence), or a theological conclusion (as the canonization of a saint), or part of the natural law (as the sinfulness of contraception). In any case, what makes it doctrine is that the Church authority teaches that it is to be believed. This teaching may be done either solemnly in ex cathedra pronouncements or ordinarily in the perennial exercise of the Church's magisterium or teaching authority. Dogmas are those doctrines which the Church proposes for belief as formally revealed by God. DOGMA. Doctrine taught by the Church to be believed by all the faithful as part of divine revelation. All dogmas, therefore, are formally revealed truths and promulgated as such by the Church. They are revealed either in Scripture or tradition, either explicitly (as the Incarnation) or implicitly (as the Assumption). Moreover, their acceptance by the faithful must be proposed as necessary for salvation. They may be taught by the Church in a solemn manner, as with the definition of the Immaculate Conception, or in an ordinary way, as with the constant teaching on the malice of taking innocent human life. - - - - - - - - - - To learn more about dogma and which Church teachings are dogmas get a copy of, Fundamentals of Catholic Dogma, by Dr. Ludwig Ott Here are two other helpful links about church teaching: Four Levels of the Church's Teaching The Heirarchy of Truths and the Truth