Sententia communis
In Roman Catholic theology, Sententia communis refers to popular beliefs which are widely held, and generally accepted by theologians, but not dogmatically asserted. These are below the Sententia certa level but above the Sententia probabilis level in the hierarchy of dogmatic beliefs for Roman Catholics.
Examples of "sententia communis" beliefs which are cited by Ludwig Ott include:
• The saints in heaven can help the souls in purgatory by intercession,
• Dead people cannot receive sacraments,
However, more modern commentators, have noted that beliefs like these should potentially be classified at a higher level, in the light of the Pope John Paul II's apostolic letter Ad tuendam fidem
