Innovation may be suspected of disloyalty. Sometimes ecclesiastical sanctions are invoked in order to repress those who persevere in what is considered erroneous. Spirituality is also invoked to contain this quest. It is contended that a Christian must be humble, obedient to authority, conserve the unity and communion of the church, and not give room for others, especially the fundamentalists, to point an accusing finger at us. Reformers may consider that their spirituality demands loyalty to one s lights, fidelity to the search for the truth in our circumstances, and even bearing any suffering for such a cause.
Authenticity demands faithfulness to one s conscience.
To traditionalists such standing for one s convictions may seem as being stubborn, obstinate, duped and estranging one from the community. The guardians of orthodoxy may judge that such views are erroneous and should be squelched in one way or the other. Yet, invoking of Canon Law sometimes even without the due legal process, and threatening or imposing ecclesiastical penalties may not be productive of faith and goodwill. Dialogue within the churches seems to be as important as inter-religious dialogue. The latter seems not likely to progress far without the former.