What must we do if the vast majority of the members of the Catholic Church here on earth profess heresy and are thus excommunicate?
score:2
St. Vincent of Lerins, in his Commonitory lib. 1 cap. 2 n. 6-8, says to "follow universality, antiquity, consent."
“Also in the Catholic Church itself we take great care that we hold that which has been believed everywhere, always, by all. For that is truly and properly Catholic, as the very force and meaning of the word shows, which comprehends everything almost universally. And we shall observe this rule if we follow universality, antiquity, consent. We shall follow universality if we confess that one Faith to be true which the whole Church throughout the world confesses; antiquity if we in no wise depart from those interpretations which it is plain that our ancestors and fathers proclaimed; consent if in antiquity itself we eagerly follow the definitions and beliefs of all, or certainly nearly all, priests and doctors alike.”
“What, then, will the Catholic Christian do if any part of the Church has cut itself off from the communion of the Universal Faith? What surely but prefer the soundness of the whole body to a pestilent and corrupt member?
“What if some novel contagion seeks to infect the whole Church, and not merely a small portion of it? Then he will take care to cling to antiquity, which cannot now be led astray by any novel deceit.
“What if in antiquity itself error be detected on the part of two or three men, or perhaps of a city, or even of a province? Then he will look to it that he prefer the decrees of an ancient General Council, if such there be, to the rashness and ignorance of a few.
“But what if some error spring up concerning which nothing of this kind is to be found? Then he must take pains to find out and compare the opinions of the ancients, provided, of course, that such remained in the communion and faith of the One Catholic Church, although they lived in different times and places, conspicuous and approved teachers; and whatever he shall find to have been held, written and taught, not by one or two only, but by all equally and with one consent, openly, frequently and persistently, that he must understand is to be believed by himself also without the slightest hesitation.“
Upvote:-2
To start, considering the definition of heresy as defined (in part) on the King James Bible Page on av1611.com, specifically
- A fundamental error in religion, or an error of opinion respecting some fundamental doctrine of religion. But in countries where there is an established church, an opinion is deemed heresy, when it differs from that of the church. The Scriptures being the standard of faith, any opinion that is repugnant to its doctrines, is heresy; but as men differ in the interpretation of Scripture, an opinion deemed heretical by one body of Christians, may be deemed orthodox by another....
Further God's law, as set forth in Deuteronomy 19:15 provides
A single witness shall not prevail against a man for any crime or for any wrong in connection with any offense that he has committed; only on the evidence of two witnesses or three witnesses, shall a charge be maintained.
Finally, the item in the Help center about questions not to ask, which provides, in part
insist that opinion be backed up with facts and references
Taking note that in his answer to his own question, the OP has provided a but single witness, but has provided no facts and references have been provided to support of the charge that "the vast majority vast majority of the members of the Church here on earth, including those comprising the hierarchy or even the Pope, profess heresy", the question as it stands is mere opinion, and unanswerable, except to take recourse to the teaching of Jesus Christ, in the parable of the sower (Mt. 13:34 ff). Jesus, the Sower of the church, holds the sole prerogative, to determine if there are heretics, and if so, who they are, and to separate them out at the harvest.
Upvote:0
And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom ye will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the river, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land ye dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” Joshua 25:15. We have no control over what others choose...only the choices we make ourselves.
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