Important Definitions Related to Dissent

There are many important definitions that are related to the topic of dissent. The full definitions, as obtained courtesy of the Catholic Encyclopedia, are linked within the individual definitions. The summary of these definitions are:

1.   Dissent - An act of will to deny, refute or knowingly disobey the teachings of the Church. A person who dissents is called a dissenter. Dissent is the general term applied for refusing to accept (e.g. assent to) God's revealed religion with the person's will. Dissent has several forms and can result in loss of Faith as shown below.

2.   Heresy - Practically speaking, this is false teaching against the dogma and doctrine of the Church. A person who obstinately follows false teaching is called a heretic. Canon Law #751 says "Heresy is the obstinate denial or doubt, after baptism, of a truth which must be believed by divine and catholic faith." One notable heretic was Martin Luther, the founder of the Protestantism. As St. Thomas Aquinas writes, "The believer accepts the whole deposit as proposed by the Church; the heretic accepts only such parts of it as commend themselves to his own approval." A more commonly used term today in this regard might be "cafeteria Catholic."

3.  Schism - Refusal to obey the rightful authority of Divinely constituted hierarchy of the Church. A person who knowingly and obstinately disobeys the hierarchy is called a schismatic. Canon Law #751 says "Schism is the withdrawal of submission to the Supreme Pontiff or from communion with the members of the Church subject to him."

4.   Apostasy - Abandoning of the Catholic Faith. One who abandons their Catholic Faith is called an apostate. Canon Law #751 says "Apostasy is the total repudiation of the Christian faith."

5.   Anathema - A condemnation. Although not in popular use today, the Church would condemn via Canons specific false beliefs as promoted by heretics. Vatican II departed from the traditional method of Canons by using a prose style for its documents. One example from the fifth session of the Council of Trent is "5. If anyone denies that by the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ which is conferred in baptism, the guilt of original sin is remitted, or says that the whole of that which belongs to the essence of sin is not taken away, but says that it is only canceled or not imputed, let him be anathema."

6.   Modernism - Essentially, modernism is a belief system whereby truth is relative rather than absolute; where truth "evolves" over time and needs to be "best understood" relative to the current "modern age" in which one lives. Simply put, "newer is better." This is a general term which can be understood under many other practical, more focused names, such as "moral relativism" or "situation ethics." A person who follows modernism beliefs is called a modernist. Pope St. Pius X aptly called Modernism the "synthesis of all heresies."

7.   Liberalism - Liberalism is a common form of Modernism today. Its most fundamental principle asserts an absolute and unrestrained freedom of thought, religion, conscience, creed, speech, press, and politics. The necessary consequences of this are, on the one hand, the abolition of the Divine right and of every kind of authority derived from God; the relegation of religion from the public life into the private domain of one's individual conscience; the absolute ignoring of Christianity and the Church as public, legal, and social institutions; on the other hand, the putting into practice of the absolute autonomy of every man and citizen, along all lines of human activity, and the concentration of all public authority in one "sovereignty of the people". Liberalism is the root of heresy, the tree of evil in whose branches all the harpies of infidelity find ample shelter; it is today the evil of all evils and is therefore the radical and universal denial of all divine truth and Christian dogma, the primal type of all heresy, and the supreme rebellion against the authority of God and His Church. As with Lucifer, its maxim is, 'I will not serve; whereby it is the dogmatic affirmation of the absolute independence of the individual and of the social reason. Liberalism and Modernism are sinful.

8.   (Radical) Feminism - A female focused version of Liberalism which intends to create its own religion based on "feminist theology" which purports to free itself from an "oppressive patriarchy." When analyzed, one will clearly find a new age pagan influence in their "new morality and spirituality" featuring, in many cases, "sacred prayer circles," "feminine deities" and "God as Mother." These traits are common with Wicca, a form of witchcraft.

9.   Sedevacantism - Belief that the Catholic Church has had the Chair of Peter empty for many years, and claiming that the true Pope of today, Pope Benedict XVI, is a false and heretical pope. One who believes this is called a sedevacantist. Sedevacantists are always schismatics since they refuse to assent to the Pope's teachings because of their belief of current Papal falsehood. Sedevacantists usually say that Pope Pius XII was the last true Pope, this being driven by their position that Vatican Council II was false. Therefore, they conclude that the Popes who started and finished the Vatican II Council, John XXIII and Paul VI respectively, were also false Popes (as was John Paul I who was Pope for only 33 days).

Of course, sedevacantists also then claim - and try to prove - that the teachings of Vatican Council II were different than past Church teachings and are therefore heresy. Some of these sedevacantists even claim they have elected a new "Pope Pius XIII" on October 24, 1998. What the sedevacantists fail to understand is that the problems in the Church are not because of the Vatican II Council, but rather the modernists and liberalists who largely began infecting the Church with their heretical poison during and after the Council.

Modernism and Liberalism, with their female focused branch of radical Feminism, happen to be the popular heresies which afflict the Catholic Church particularly today, although they have been common throughout the entire 20th century and date back even to the late 19th century. One could categorize this entire set of dissenting ideas the "liberal left" side of the Church.

Why are these definitions important? Because various people claim that dissent is not only alright, but actually is required! The truth is that these dissenters are simply another form of either modernist, heretic, schismatic, or apostate, who are following the father of lies. The Catholic Church, even in Vatican II, never promotes dissent, which is contrary to the claim of many dissenters today. There was nothing wrong with the Second Vatican Council itself. What went wrong is that liberal and modernist people and groups took the liberty of giving and impementing their interpretations of the post-conciliar documents (16 in number). They used as their foot-in-the-door a term that has become nauseating - 'The Spirit of Vatcian II.'

Nuns threw away their habits, statues went on the trash heap or eBay, priests and seminarians stopped wearing cassocks and many stopped reciting the Divine Office, and perhaps the most serious of liberties taken, a concerted effort to negate the Real Presence of Our Lord Jesus Christ in the Most Blessed Sacrament and denounce and downplay the Blessed Virgin Mary and Her Most Holy Rosary and devotions.

Altar rails and kneelers were removed from our churches, organs almost silenced while new age instruments introduced and songs instead of hymns resounded in the 'worship centers' as they have now become known, each with a 'gathering space.' Of the over 200 plus 'Catholic' colleges and universities, only about 20 are really Catholic in their strict adherence to Catholic doctrine and dogma and loyalty to the Magisterium and Holy Father in particular. Christendom college, in my opinion, is thee consumate Catholic College...there are others as well...not many, but about 20 or so.

One of my nieces as I have related before graduated after eight years of Catholic Parochial School. I gave her, among other things, a rosary. She thanked me and asked me if I would show her how to say it. I almost dropped my platter of ham, potato salad, and a slice of pizza. "You don't know how to say the rosary?" "No I don't" came her response. What are they teaching I wondered? Is the Catechism of the Catholic Church being taught?  My guess is no it is not.

That school closed shortly afterwards. There were no Nuns there at all except one 'modernist Nun' who seems to have lost her habit but knows where her hairdresser is. Sometime after, a new Pastor was appointed, a young Priest who wears a cassock, says the Breviary and rosary, and who before he unpacked his things in the rectory, went over to the Church and put the tabernacle back on the main altar where Jesus belongs. A year or so later, the convent was reopened and there are now in residence, three Dominican Nuns in full habit and more on the way.  

There are several huge issues facing the Church in the modern world and numerous ones right here in America. Currently and for some time, so-called Catholic politicians insist on receiving the Most Blessed Sacrament while holding fast to their pro-abortion stance. The same is true for those who support gay or same-sex unions or marriage. Added to these are the numerous so-called "catholic" groups touting women priests and married priests. The Church teaches the truth but these groups have a better idea they think.

In short, one cannot be Catholic and pro-choice and/or pro-gay union or marriage. Jesus makes it clear that we cannot follow nine of the ten Commandments nor add an eleventh. You follow the Catholic 'rules' if you wish to be Catholic. The matter of excommunication is very serious for it can lead to eternal damnation, the loss of one's soul for all eternity. What does it merit someone who gains the whole world but who looses their immortal soul. Stick with the Holy Father and you are on safe ground. Jesus gave him full authority and the Holy Spirit is his guide as he promulgates in matters of faith and morals. The abortion and gay issues are matters of both faith and morals.

De Facto excommunication occurs automatically and does not and usually is not formally levied upon someone by an ecclesiastical authority such as a Bishop. The person excommunicates themself before God by their act of disobedience. Grace is cut off and the soul is in its greatest danger. Whether or not one believes they are excommunicated is of no real consequence; they are by their actions themselves. Saint Paul makes a very specific point concerning receiving the Most Blessed Sacrament unworthily - the person heaps condemnation on themself. Yet, the aforementioned politicians do so boldly and in the public eye causing scandal to others. They are heaping upon themselves spiritual condemnation. They may 'impress' others by their boldness but God to be sure is not impressed; He is offended.

To summarize, one cannot be Catholic and disobey the Church Magisterium. There is no such thing as a "Pro-choice" Catholic, "Traditionalist Catholic", "Modernist Catholic", "Feminist Catholic" or any other type of separatist Catholic. There is One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church founded by Our Lord, Jesus Christ, and handed over to Peter the Chief of the Apostles and his successors the Popes. This Apostolic Succession has been since Saint Peter to Pope Benedict XVI unbroken.