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The Three Grievous Sins: Heresy, Apostasy & Schism

These three words may seem very unfamiliar or may even be

antiquated or medieval when you hear them, but the truth is these
three words are officially recognized and defined in the current
Catechism and the Code f Canon Law. And believe it or not, these
three words denotes serious sins!

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Heres how the Church defines them:

Heresy (from the Greek word to choose; a choice, instead of

receiving) is the obstinate (being stubborn) denial or obstinate
doubt after the reception of baptism of some truth which is to be
believed by divine and Catholic faith.

Apostasy is the total repudiation of the Christian faith. (an act of refusing to
continue to follow, obey, or recognize a religious faith / abandonment of a
previous loyalty).

Schism is the refusal of submission to the Supreme Pontiff or of communion with

the members of the Church subject to him. (CIC 751; CCC 2089). (formal
division in or separation from).

There are a few important things to note here.

First, these apply to people after the reception of baptism. So,

e.g., someone who is not a baptized Christian cannot be a heretic by
denying a truth of the Christian faith.

Second, notice that heresy requires obstinate denial or doubt of a

truth of the faith. If a Christian denies a truth of the faith, e.g., out of
ignorance, they are not guilty of heresy.

In such a case, the Church makes a distinction between whats

called:

1. Material heresy - Material heresy is when a person denies a

truth of the faith, though they may or may not be culpable.
 2. Formal heresy. Formal heresy is when a person denies a truth
of the faith and is culpable.

For example, most Catholics, if you asked them enough theological

questions, probably believe some material heresy (the Catholic faith
is complicated!). They are probably not formal heretics, however,
since their material heresy is probably simply due to ignorance. You
cant commit these sins on accident.

Why are these things so bad?

Because committing any of them is ultimately a rejection of Jesus!

God has definitively revealed himself through Jesus Christ. This

revelation has been passed down to us in Scripture and Tradition,
which is guarded and interpreted by the Catholic Church with the
help of the Holy Spirit. So heresy, or denying the truths of the faith
presented by the Church, is ultimately a rejection of God.

This also explains why apostasy, or repudiating the entirety of the

Christian faith, is a rejection of God.

Finally, schism is a rejection of Christ because schism is a rejection

of the Church that was established by Christ, the Church that is, in a
mystical fashion, the Body of Christ.

So if a person is guilty of one of these sins, what does it mean for them?

Since these sins are certainly grave matter, if they are committed
with full knowledge and full intentionality, they are mortal sins and
endanger a persons salvation. To return to a state of grace, the
person needs to confess their sins in the Sacrament of Reconciliation
and receive absolution.

Further, they might also incur automatic (latae sententiae - sentence

(already) passed) excommunication. Canon law says: An apostate from
the faith, a heretic, or a schismatic incurs a latae
sententiae excommunication. (CIC 1364)

For this to happen, though, canon law has a few other conditions,
which include: the person must know they were breaking canon law,
the person must be at least 16 years old, the person must have the
use of their reason, etc (cf. CIC 1321f).
The bottom line, however, is this:

If you are a baptized Christian, you should hold fast to the teachings
of the Church, keep practicing the faith, and maintain unity with
your bishop and especially the Pope.

Doing anything less is abandoning Christ and his Church!