Hi, GodsGrace, I can give you an example showing how oral tradition trumps the Bible in the Catholic Church. This is one of many.... Bear with me; this is loooong.
David C. Grabbe gives the following explanation for the unbiblical Catholic doctrine of the "Immaculate Conception."
...Catholics believe in the "Immaculate Conception" of Mary. This major doctrine states that Mary was conceived and born normally, but at the instant when her soul was fused to her flesh, she was protected and exempted from the stain of "original sin." The reasoning is that, for Jesus to be untouched by original sin, his mother, the one who conceived and bore Him, had to be "immaculate" as well.
In the Catholic Encyclopedia article on "Immaculate Conception," the writer admits this cannot be found in the Bible. Under the heading "Proof from Scripture," the article says, "No direct or categorical and stringent proof of the dogma can be brought forward from Scripture. But the first scriptural passage which contains the promise of the redemption, mentions also the Mother of the Redeemer" (emphasis ours). The rest of the article then explores the "Proof from Tradition" and the "Proof from Reason." In essence, it says that this doctrine lacks scriptural backing, but it has plenty from church tradition and human wisdom. Since Catholics cannot find, or will not acknowledge, any scriptures that disprove it, then it is settled as official doctrine.
(Bold emphasis not in the original)
Paul taught that "all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Ro 3:23 and Ro 5:12), and he made no exceptions. Therefore, the Catholic dogma of "Immaculate Conception" is not scriptural, but it is supported by Catholic Tradition. So, in this case their Tradition clearly trumps the Bible.
Something that really struck me as I looked into this doctrine is that if God could have made Mary sinless, then He could have done that for all of us. In this case, Jesus really didn't have to suffer and die for us. But in the Garden of Gethsemane, our Lord asked the Father to take the cup from Him if it was possible, but it clearly wasn't possible.
Matthew 6:36-42--
Then Jesus went with them to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to his disciples, “Sit here, while I go over there and pray.” And taking with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, he began to be sorrowful and troubled. Then he said to them, “My soul is very sorrowful, even to death; remain here, and watch with me.” And going a little farther he fell on his face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.” And he came to the disciples and found them sleeping. And he said to Peter, “So, could you not watch with me one hour? Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” Again, for the second time, he went away and prayed, “My Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, your will be done.” (ESV Bible)
I see this as a case of human logic trumping the truth. The thinking is that in order for Jesus not to be born with original sin, Mary had to be born without original sin. This is a fallacy because sin comes through Adam's corrupted seed; therefore, Mary, as Jesus' mother, didn't have to be sinless in order for Jesus to be sinless. The divine Holy Spirit was his father! No corrupt seed there. Consider what Paul said in Romans 5 and 1 Cor 15.
Romans 5:12-14--
Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned— for sin indeed was in the world before the law was given, but sin is not counted where there is no law. Yet death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those whose sinning was not like the transgression of Adam, who was a type of the one who was to come.
1 Cor. 15:20-25--
But now Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead also comes through a man. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive. But each in his own order: Christ, the firstfruits; afterward, at His coming, those who belong to Christ. Then comes the end, when He hands over the kingdom to God the Father, when He abolishes all rule and all authority and power. For He must reign until He puts all His enemies under His feet. The last enemy to be abolished is death.
