Scrupulosity and failing to uphold the spirit of the law can certainly be problems in certain Catholic circles. Both scrupulosity and on the opposite end, laxity, have their origins in dogmatic/rigid beliefs about who Jesus Christ is.

Example of who Jesus is to a scrupulous person: "I believe that Jesus Christ is the truth and He demanded that we be perfect as the Father is perfect in Matthew's Gospel. Jesus affirmed observation of the commandments as the bare minimum necessity to achieve eternal life in Mark's 10:18. He also spoke forcefully many times about the existence of eternal punishment for not following His commands/desires/pathway. Therefore I am scrupulous about the law."

Example of who Jesus is to a spirit of the law person: "I believe Jesus when He said 'I desire mercy not sacrifice'. I see that Jesus relaxed the Mosaic law numerous times in favor of mercy. Jesus' new commandment is simply to LOVE! Therefore rules are unimportant to me."

Each attitude is based on dogma.