Let’s consider something that may well be unique to the Catholic Church: that the doctrines of the Church apply to everyone, without exception.

Try to think of anyplace else in our world where such an equal application of rules and laws can be found.

It is not present in civil government, ours or those anywhere else in the world, where laws often are made for everyone to follow except government leaders.

Certain private companies have long sidestepped rules and regulations that were put in place to safeguard the environment, human rights and fair trade.

And then there are individuals who simply behave as though they are exceptional. They do what they want to get what they want, regardless of promises made, people hurt or rules broken. These include spouses who don’t take their vows seriously, people who promote themselves at the expense of their company or other employees, and parents who think school policies should be bent on behalf of their wayward children.

A common sense of irresponsible lawlessness is part of our mainstream culture as implied by the television series, “How to Get Away With Murder,” about a professor-lawyer who represents hardened criminals in court and teaches her students “the dark truth about the law and our justice system” (according to the show’s website).

The Catholic Church runs counter to that trend by teaching its doctrine as meant for all its members even as it recognizes that each person is a unique individual created by God.

In imitating Jesus who so masterfully brought both mercy and responsibility to His ministry, the Church provides the sacrament of confession to renew us as we continue on to try to live with heaven in mind.

But, again in imitation of Jesus, after being forgiven we are expected to strive to sin no more. In other words, we still are held to the original standards. The Ten Commandments never become the ten suggestions — not even for those who psychologically can’t love father and mother, or who are kleptomaniacs, or who have every earthly reason to enact deadly revenge upon another.

There is a beautiful solidity in this insistence on the-rules-apply-to-all. Priests can’t complain that they are expected to follow regulations that their bishops can ignore. A mother superior has made and is expected to keep the same vows as the lowliest nun. Parishioners can become saints right along with Church leaders by embracing the same, hard task of following Christ in radical, sacrificial holiness.

Of course there will be Catholic people who want changes in how the Church lives its doctrine. They may want to behave within the Church like they do in the world. Or they may think a few alterations would simply make life and faith an easier, more pleasant road.

We all may be tempted at times to fudge Church disciplines because we want to be liked by others, or because we have come to believe society’s skewed view of fairness more than our Savior’s teachings.
But, following Jesus’ lead, the Church calls a sin, “sin,” and continues to believe He meant everything He said.

Some folks think that the recent Synod of Bishops for the family left a door open when it comes to providing Communion to persons living intimately outside of a Church marriage. But it was Jesus Himself who first called divorce and remarriage an act of adultery (Mt. 5:32; Mk. 10:11; Lk. 16:18), and the Church is charged with upholding that hard teaching.

And yet, the Church is merciful even as its discipline is firm. The sacrament of confession is a powerful mercy. The annulment process is a tremendous service of mercy as well.Neither bends or breaks the doctrine of the Church.

Those who seek to bypass those mercies will never know the healing power within them or experience the wholeness that comes from accepting that Church doctrines apply to all.