Heretics depart from the Catholic Church

Heretics Depart From the Church

De Romano Pontifice, Saint Robert Bellarmine: Finally, the Holy Fathers teach unanimously not only that heretics are outside of the Church, but also that they are "ipso facto" deprived of all ecclesiastical jurisdiction and dignity. Saint Cyprian (lib. 2 epist. 6) says: "We affirm that absolutely no heretic or schismatic has any power or right"; and he also teaches (lib. 2 epist 1. that the heretic who return to the Churhc must be received as laymen, even though they have been formerly priests or bishops in the Church. Saint Optatus (lib. 1 cont. Parmen.) teaches that heretics and schismatics cannot have the keys ofhte kingdom of heaven, nor bind nor loose. Saint Ambrose (lib. 1 de poenit. Ca. 2), Saint Augusitne (in Enchir., cap 65), Saint Jerome (lib, contra Lucifer.) teach the same.

Nor is it possible for one who has a false opinion of God, to know Him in any way at all, because the object of his opinion is not God. Therefore, it is clear that the sin of unbelief is greater than any sin that occurs in the perversion of morals. (Summa Theologica. II-II, Q-10, A-3.)

The very commission of any act which signifies heresy; e.g., the statement of some doctrine contrary or contradictory to a revealed and defined dogma, gives sufficient ground for juridical presumption of heretical depravity. There may be excusing circumstances which excuse from grave responsibility in the external forum, and the burden of proof is on the person whose action has given rise to the imputation of heresy. In the absence of proof, ALL such excuses are presumed not to exist. (The Delict of Heresy p. 35.) Note that such proof can only be presented to the Roman Pontiff.

I Timothy 1:18-20: This precept, I commend to thee, O son Timothy: according to the prophecies going before on thee, that thou war in them a good warfare, Having faith and a good conscience, which some rejecting have made shipwreck concerning the faith. Of whom is Hymeneus and Alexander, whom I have delivered up to Satan, that they may learn not to blaspheme.

Pope Pius XII in Mystici Corporis Christi, paragraph 23 stated: For not every sin, however great it may be, is such as of its own nature to sever a man from the Body of the Church, as does schism or heresy or apostasy.

De Romano Pontifice, Saint Robert Bellarmine: Saint Nicholas I (epist. Ad Michael) repeats and confirms the same. Finally, Saint Thomas also teaches (II-II, Q39, A3) that schismatics immediately lose all jurisdiction, and that anything they try to do on the basis of any jurisdiction will be null..

Wherefore, if any should presume to think in their hearts otherwise than as it has been defined by Us, which God avert, let them know and understand that they are condemned by their own judgment; that they have suffered shipwreck in regard to faith, and have revolted from the unity of the Church; and what is more, that by their own act they subject themselves to the penalties established by law, if, what they think in their heart, they should to signify by word or writing or any other external means. Ineffabilis Deus, December 8, 1854, Pope Pius IX (DZ 1641)

All apostates from the Christian faith and each and every heretic or schismatic incur the following penalties:

1.ipso facto excommunication;

2.If they have been admonished and to not repent, they shall be deprived of any benefice, dignity, pension, office or other position which they may hold in the church; they shall be declared infamous, and, if they are clerics, they shall after renewed admonition be deposed;

3.If they have joined a non-Catholic sect or have publicly adhered to it, they incur infamy ipso facto, and, if they are clerics and the admonition to repent has been fruitless, they shall be degraded. Canon 188, paragraph 4, provides, moreover, that the cleric who publicly abandons the Catholic Faith loses every ecclesiastical office ipso facto and without any declaration, Canon 2314, paragraph 1