The Four Tenets of the Church
The Catholic Church has four basic tenets: tradition, universality, reason, and analogy. Tradition includes all the teachings contained in the Bible. Universality — remember, the word
St. Augustine, one of the great fathers of the Church, had this to say about the important relationship between faith and reason. The right use of reason is “that by which the most wholesome faith is begotten … is nourished, defended, and made strong.”
Human powers of reason aside, God does not leave the faithful to figure out his mysteries on their own. The Bible reveals God's wisdom and teachings and is an essential part of divine revelation. Catholic doctrine holds that neither the Gospels nor the Bible's other books are self-explanatory. To understand these texts and see the truths they contain, people need the guidance of the Church. The highest authority in interpreting the Scriptures is the pope.