Pope Francis answers questions from journalists aboard his flight from Estonia to Rome Sept. 25. While he may have expressed opinions to see the reaction of bishops and the faithful, he has never spoken them ex cathedra, writes Msgr. Lopez-Gallo. (CNS photo/Paul Haring)
Some of my readers have called me to ask if Pope Francis has committed acts of schism or heresy. Before I answer, I need to explain what these acts are that separate a Catholic from the faith.
Heresy is the formal denial or doubt of any defined doctrine of the Catholic faith. Originating from the Greek word denoting “choice,” it is a belief or practice contrary to the true and orthodox doctrine. Since its earliest days the Church has claimed teaching authority and consequently condemned heresy, following Christ’s command: “If he refuses to hear the Church, let him be unto thee as the Gentile and the publican” (Mt 18:17).
Schism, a Greek word meaning “tear,” is a formal and willful separation from the unity of the Catholic Church. In a technical sense the word is first encountered in the works of St. Irenaeus. Schism is distinguished from heresy in that the separation involved is not at basis doctrinal. While heresy is opposed to faith, schism is opposed to charity, though in the early Church this distinction was not at all clear-cut.
To be heretic or schismatic it is necessary to make a formal act to defect from the Catholic faith. Canon 1117 uses the term actu formali (“formal act”). Strictly interpreted, it is not a simple abandonment of the practice of the religion, but a formal withdrawal.
The most characteristic heresy was Arianism, started by the Alexandrian priest Arius who formally denied the mystery of the Holy Trinity. The basic tenet was a negation of the divinity of Christ and subsequently of the Holy Spirit.
At the Council of Nicea (325), some of Arius’ writings were read and rejected as blasphemous by a vast majority of the conciliar fathers. The Nicene Creed, with its anathemas against Arius’ propositions, was drawn up to exclude his errors.
It is only normal that during the long life of the Church over 20 centuries and her global extension in the world, changes occur, keeping however the divine revelation of the sacred scriptures and dogmatic traditions. But these changes are never substantial, and to maintain uniformity the ecumenical councils were proclaimed – to mention some: the Council of Nicaea, the Council of Trent, and the last one, the Second Vatican Council.
As private secretary of Cardinal Eugene Tisserant, Dean of the College of Cardinals, I was fortunate to participate in the Second Vatican Council, and I must admit there was a lot of criticism and objection to Pope John XXIII’s calling for such a universal assembly. After reading the agenda and many of the changes the Pope desired, many were very opposed to approving his proposals – for instance, the anticipated Mass on Saturday afternoon. Initially they protested: “The Pope is crazy. Saturday is a holy day for the Jews, not Catholics” … “Mass in the vernacular? Latin is the liturgical language!” … and most surprising was the proposed retirement of bishops at age 75.
I remember we were three young priests – Father Joseph Ratzinger, secretary of Cardinal Josef Frings of Cologne; Father Thomas Winning, future Cardinal of Glasgow, and me – having a discussion about bishops retiring at 75. Winning was in favour: “Yes, bishops at that age are senile.” I was opposed: “No, Thomas, we are priests forever. A bishop must remain active until his death. If he is sick he can have an auxiliary or coadjutor bishop. What is your opinion, Joe?” “It depends,” he said. “Some people are old at 40, others at 90 are young.”
The proposal was not accepted by the fathers of the Council, who preferred the requirement to be optional. It was Paul VI who, personally, decreed the obligatory retirement of bishops at 75 years of age.
And now is the time to answer my readers: No, Pope Francis is neither heretic nor schismatic. He has never denied a defined dogma. Perhaps he expressed some opinions to see the reaction of the bishops and the faithful, but he never spoke these ex cathedra. He continues to be infallible in matters of faith and morals.
Every pope has his particular personality and certainly few of the supreme pontiffs have had such a charismatic presence. Francis’ love for the poor is clearly manifest. He wants to resolve new challenges that today’s culture wants our Church to define in a way it never had to until now.
Pope Francis needs our prayers. The world is changing and the big crises in the Church today are problems of gross misconduct by some of her priests and lack of practice of the faith by the faithful – the Sunday obligation is disregarded, parents do not baptize their children, young people do not want to get married, and if they do they immaturely regard it as a social engagement that can be ended by divorce.
God save his Church, which is always under attack but never conquered!