Heresy

A heresy is false doctrine held by a person who intends to assent to Christ’s teaching, but who actually assents to his own choice and opinion. The word heresy means picking and choosing. A heretic is one who picks and chooses what he wishes to believe.

Heresy is a corruption of Christian faith. It has no reference to secular doctrines and opinions, but only to those that have a bearing on the faith itself.

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

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