Heresy

A heresy is false doctrine held by a person who intendsto assent to Christ’s teaching, but who actually assents to hisown choice and opinion. The word heresy means picking andchoosing. A heretic is one who picks and chooses what he wishes tobelieve.

Heresy is a corruption of Christian faith. It has noreference tosecular doctrines and opinions, but only to thosethat have a bearing on the faith itself.

Heresy is error, and hence cannot be tolerated by themind. It is against God, and hence cannot be tolerated by faith.Heresy is therefore not to be tolerated, but heretics are to betolerated, except in so far as they are a menace to the faith ofbelievers.

The Church receives to penance and reconciliation thosewho return after a lapse into heresy.