Can Catholics call protestants heretics?

[Nelka]

If a Protestant believes in a heresy, is he not a heretic because he never knew the full truth?

 

[Mystophilus]

No. I’m saying your initial post immediately attacking him is unacceptable. Many of us here respectfully disagree with Contarini, and he respectfully disagrees with others. But not once has he ever posted in a tone even remotely approximating yours. It’s not your position I’m attacking, it’s your manner. You haven’t even formed a relationship with the man, and you condescend to him like that?

No. You do not get to treat him that way.

:clapping::clapping::clapping:

(Not because it’s Contarini, not because he is a good chap, just because it’s something which needs to be said, repeatedly.)

 

[StGerardMajella]

I read that in Vatican II, it was established that catholics can’t call protestants heretics, it this true?

As a Catholic, it would never be my place to call anyone else a heretic, Protestant or otherwise, even before Vatican II. We are called to be humble, and express love for our fellow brothers and sisters, regardless of their faith perspective. You attract bees with honey, not vinegar.

I’m sure there are numerous theological treatises defining what technically constitutes a heretic according to “official Church teaching” that can be debated ad infinitum. Keep it simple - Christ called us to love one another.

Certainly, after Vatican II, our relationships with other faiths has changed. But again, you will have debates on both sides of the aisle about even this topic.

 

[porthos11]

:clapping::clapping::clapping:

(Not because it’s Contarini, not because he is a good chap, just because it’s something which needs to be said, repeatedly.)

And further, he tears into Contarini based on a post dating back more than seven years. This is hardly fair, since a newcomer cannot know the journey a soul can take over seven years. This should be one reason zombie threads should never be revived. People can evolve and mature significantly over seven years, and even a quick peek at Contarini’s “Religion” entry in his profile ought to give one pause before attacking him over a post such as that from seven…years…ago.