Catholics, please answer...?

Question

"He is a heretic who does not believe what the Roman Hierarchy teaches. --A heretic merits the pains of fire. --By the Gospel, the canons, civil law, and custom."--148, 169

Does this mean that who ever does not agree with your teachings is a heretic and must die?

Answer 1

Modern historians have long known that the popular view of the Inquisition is a myth. The Inquisition was actually an attempt by the Catholic Church to stop unjust executions.

Heresy was a capital offense against the state. Rulers of the state, whose authority was believed to come from God, had no patience for heretics. Neither did common people, who saw heretics as dangerous outsiders who would bring down divine wrath.
When someone was accused of heresy in the early Middle Ages, they were brought to the local lord for judgment, just as if they had stolen a pig. It was not to discern whether the accused was really a heretic. The lord needed some basic theological training, very few did. The sad result is that uncounted thousands across Europe were executed by secular authorities without fair trials or a competent judge of the crime.

The Catholic Church's response to this problem was the Inquisition, an attempt to provide fair trials for accused heretics using laws of evidence and presided over by knowledgeable judges.

From the perspective of secular authorities, heretics were traitors to God and the king and therefore deserved death. From the perspective of the Church, however, heretics were lost sheep who had strayed from the flock. As shepherds, the pope and bishops had a duty to bring them back into the fold, just as the Good Shepherd had commanded them. So, while medieval secular leaders were trying to safeguard their kingdoms, the Church was trying to save souls. The Inquisition provided a means for heretics to escape death and return to the community.

Most people tried for heresy by the Inquisition were either acquitted or had their sentences suspended. Those found guilty of grave error were allowed to confess their sin, do penance, and be restored to the Body of Christ. The underlying assumption of the Inquisition was that, like lost sheep, heretics had simply strayed.

If, however, an inquisitor determined that a particular sheep had purposely left the flock, there was nothing more that could be done. Unrepentant or obstinate heretics were excommunicated and given over to secular authorities. Despite popular myth, the Inquisition did not burn heretics. It was the secular authorities that held heresy to be a capital offense, not the Church. The simple fact is that the medieval Inquisition saved uncounted thousands of innocent (and even not-so-innocent) people who would otherwise have been roasted by secular lords or mob rule.

Where did this myth come from? After 1530, the Inquisition began to turn its attention to the new heresy of Lutheranism. It was the Protestant Reformation and the rivalries it spawned that would give birth to the myth. Innumerable books and pamphlets poured from the printing presses of Protestant countries at war with Spain accusing the Spanish Inquisition of inhuman depravity and horrible atrocities in the New World.

With love in Christ.

Answer 2

When Vatican II Council met, they changed the religion. A change in religion creates a new religion. Which means the Vatican changed the ways of the Roman Catholics. These people are following heretics from the hierarchy. In the Bible it says to "hold fast to the traditions". Most of the traditions were cut out at the Council meetings. And YES, you all will go to hell if you do not see your way clear and find the TRUTH.

Answer 3

Catholics are not Biblical literalists. To assume that they are misses the entire point.

The teachings are love of neighbor, faith in God, belief in the truth of the resurrection. These are beliefs which we invite you to live. We believe that living these teachings and seeking to be Christlike to others is the way to life.

We seek to protect, promote and share a culture of life, respect and devotion to God. We seek to emulate the wisdom, gentleness, and strength of Mary. We seek and give mercy and charity.

This is very different that what you are inferring above. I have no desire to kill heretics. I don't recall Jesus blowing anything up...except for elitist , discriminatory social conventions. Those he challenged - and challenges.

I don't want to kill anybody, I'm a Catholic!

Answer 4

What? Don't you believe in the FIRES OF HELL? If you find the official records of the Holy Inquisition, you'll see that executions weren't common.

There are also too many negative steriotypes of religion during that time period, most of the steriotypes being historically innacurate.

My suggestion, take a look at Martin Luther's writing on Catholics and compare them to the Catholic writings on heretics.

Then ask Catholics and lutherans what their historical perspective is.

Answer 5

No! We do not judge the hearts of people, only their actions.

A heretic is someone who has had the truth, been baptized, then obstinately rejects a portion of Jesus Christ message.
(IE King Henry VIII, Martin Luther, etc.)

Apostasy is the total repudiation of the Christian Faith.
Schism is the refusal of submission to Catholic Church Authority.
(IE. John Kerry, Ted Kennedy, etc...)

This person then inflicts their own punishment upon themselves! They die in their chosen sin.

Answer 6

I'm fully Catholic. Just not Roman Catholic.

I vote "no". Sounds like nonsense. A heretic, by Catholic (KATH = "according to" HOLOS = "the whole" in Greek) standards is someone who denies the Trinity... the Deity of Christ.

Answer 7

no, it means that those who by deception teach that Jesus is not the Son of God or that He did not rise from the dead, or refute this teaching are Heretics and are self condemned.

Answer 8

Heretics are already dead and do not know it.

Answer 9

no. it means that this is a mythological cult belief with no basis in fact or reality. why not ask yourself what IMPACT things like the story of Peter Pan will have on our lives...

answer: nothing. it's a fairy tale, too!!

Answer 10

I am confused as to where your citation is coming from. You give numbers, but no reference point.

certainly if that is a position, it is wrong