To warn Catholics about being overly influenced by the groups or personalities they follow, Marcel LeJeune argues that we must not treat our personal “tribe” as if it were the Church’s true authority. Having preferences is normal, but problems begin when these preferences shape how we judge the Church, other Catholics, and even truth itself.
He identifies four clear signs our bias is not fully conformed to Christ: (1) seeing everything as allies vs. enemies, reducing people to labels, and (2) only listening to voices that agree with us. This leads to a kind of “DIY Magisterium,” (3) where a person replaces the real authority of the Church—like the Pope and bishops—with opinions they find comfortable.
If you go too far to either extreme, (4) you end up far from the center of the Church. The extremes—left or right—are cold places because they lose the balance and fullness of Catholic life. Instead of holding the whole faith, they often just react against the other side.
“The poles are always the coldest place, and not by accident. To live at the extreme ends of Catholic life – whether on the left or the right – is to trade the warmth of the Church’s full tradition for the heat of reaction.”
True Catholic life calls for humility, charity, and obedience. It means striving to understand others, recognizing what is good in them, and remaining faithful to the authority God has established—even when it is difficult.
Ultimately, the solution is ongoing conversion. Christ must shape not only what we believe, but how we think and respond. Real discipleship resists tribalism and remains rooted in the fullness of the Church, not in personal preference.
Marcel LeJeune is based in College Station, Texas and serves as the founder and president of Catholic Missionary Disciples. He is an international speaker, campus ministry leader, and holds a Master of Theological Studies in pastoral theology.
He is the author of several books including The Contagious Catholic and Cleansed: A Catholic Guide to Freedom from Porn, focusing on evangelization and practical Christian living.
Read his full article Your Tribe Is Not Your Magisterium here.
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