Can a Catholic believe differently to what the Pope or the Church officially says?

Answer 1

Yes. It is a well established concept in moral theology that the ultimate basis for moral judgements is the individual's conscience. This can't be just a gut feeling, however. It has to be researched and the conscience informed. A good example of this is that many Catholics in good standing with the church are using artificial Birth Control which is officially condemned by church teaching.

Roman Catholic AnswerNo. You may not be a Catholic and believe differently from what the Holy Father and the Church officially teach. The concept in moral theology to which the above answer is referring is a negative thing. "Any time you are going against your own conscience you are sinning." However this assumes that you are forming your conscience in line with official Church teaching. You would still be sinning if you following your conscience and it was formed incorrectly. There has been, and will be no, official revelation since the death of the last apostle, and the Church is the Mystical Body of Christ, here to teach you what you have to do to attain salvation. To believe something differently to what the Pope and the Church officially teaches is to became an heretic and put oneself outside of the Church, so you are no longer Catholic, especially to believe that God would impart the truth to you instead of His Church. The example used above is excellent in showing how people have elevated their own opinions above God's official teaching, artificial birth control is *always* wrong and a sin - for good reason. To decide that you know better than the Pope and the Church is to become a protestant and put oneself outside of the Catholic Church - even if you attend Mass each week. You need to discuss this with a priest in the confessional. There is no such thing as a "good Catholic" who believes something contrary to Church teaching.

Answer 2

Yes and no. The Magisterium of the Church is our source for the official interpretation of The Bible. However, the Lord may, on occasion, give us a private revelation when we read the Bible. However, this is, as I said, a private revelation and only for our own benefit. One needs to be careful and with this, however, and ask for discernment. Satan knows the Bible well and can twist its meaning to suit his own objectives.