Did I commit heresy?

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I may have received the sacraments prematurely. A month ago, when I was brought into the Church, I still had some doubts, questions, or misunderstanding about some Church teachings. Even though I had these, I obeyed the Church, and prayed for help to overcome my unbelief. Over the past month, I have been becoming less doubtful.

The other day, I read Canon 1364, which now has me worried sick. I’m worried that I received the sacraments while being a heretic, because I doubted some Church teachings at the time I received them. Until I read that Canon the other day, I didn’t know that merely doubting something could potentially be heresy. I am also worried that I have received the Eucharist sacriligiously. Must I now go to Confession? If I go to Confession, will I be denied absolution? Am I in a state of automatic excommunication?

At this point, I don’t even feel worthy to call myself a Catholic, because of what I’ve potentially done. What must I do? Is this just my OCD/scrupulosity again, or have I done something very grave?
 
Doubt in itself is temptation, not sin.

Heretic is who openly and obstinately preaches something against the Church, and thus is declared heretics.

For the sake of your peace, discuss your doubts with a priest in confession, and meanwhile trust God, that he loves you.
 
laszlo said:
Doubt in itself is temptation, not sin.

Heretic is who openly and obstinately preaches something against the Church, and thus is declared heretics.

For the sake of your peace, discuss your doubts with a priest in confession, and meanwhile trust God, that he loves you.
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But Canon 1364 includes doubt in it’s definition of heresy. I’m in great torment and fear over this.
 
TBolt1000T said:
But Canon 1364 includes doubt in it’s definition of heresy. I’m in great torment and fear over this.
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If you’re in great torment and fear, speak to a priest immediately. There’s no reason to wait. Once you talk to your priest, you might want to check out this article newadvent.org/cathen/07256b.htm. I haven’t read the whole thing, but it seems detailed. New Advent is pretty good on this stuff.
 
TBolt1000T said:
I may have received the sacraments prematurely. A month ago, when I was brought into the Church, I still had some doubts, questions, or misunderstanding about some Church teachings. Even though I had these, I obeyed the Church, and prayed for help to overcome my unbelief. Over the past month, I have been becoming less doubtful.

The other day, I read Canon 1364, which now has me worried sick. I’m worried that I received the sacraments while being a heretic, because I doubted some Church teachings at the time I received them. Until I read that Canon the other day, I didn’t know that merely doubting something could potentially be heresy. I am also worried that I have received the Eucharist sacriligiously. Must I now go to Confession? If I go to Confession, will I be denied absolution? Am I in a state of automatic excommunication?

At this point, I don’t even feel worthy to call myself a Catholic, because of what I’ve potentially done. What must I do? Is this just my OCD/scrupulosity again, or have I done something very grave?
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Yes, this is your OCD.

No you are not a heretic. No you did not commit heresy.

I suggest you stop reading canons in canon law. You do not have adequate training to understand what it is you are reading and you will needlessly worry yourself by reading something and thinking that it applies to you when it does not.
 
TBolt1000T said:
But Canon 1364 includes doubt in it’s definition of heresy. I’m in great torment and fear over this.
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Canon 1364 doesn’t include any definition of heresy. It simply says that IF you are a heretic, what the canonical penalty is. It is under the section on penalties.

Stick with the CCC rather than the Catechism and work with a good priest regarding any scrupulosity that might be creeping in.

CCC
2089 Incredulity is the neglect of revealed truth or the willful refusal to assent to it. “Heresy is the obstinate post-baptismal denial of some truth which must be believed with divine and catholic faith, or it is likewise an obstinate doubt concerning the same; apostasy is the total repudiation of the Christian faith; schism is the refusal of submission to the Roman Pontiff or of communion with the members of the Church subject to him.”
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Note the words “neglect” and “obstinate”. Any doubt you are trying to resolve cannot be considered heresy.

Oh and Congratuations on coming home! 👍
 
Corki said:
Canon 1364 doesn’t include any definition of heresy. It simply says that IF you are a heretic, what the canonical penalty is. It is under the section on penalties.

Stick with the CCC rather than the Catechism and work with a good priest regarding any scrupulosity that might be creeping in.

CCC

Note the words “neglect” and “obstinate”. Any doubt you are trying to resolve cannot be considered heresy.

Oh and Congratuations on coming home! 👍
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What exactly does the CCC mean by “obstinate” doubt?

I may have referred to the wrong canon, but the same exact language is in both the CCC and Canon Law concerning this matter, and I apparently don’t have a good understanding of it. I can’t even read the CCC without my OCD going nuts!

I have an appointment with a priest tomorrow about my scrupulosity, and I’m really nervous about it, since it also involves Confession.
 
TBolt1000T said:
What exactly does the CCC mean by “obstinate” doubt?

I may have referred to the wrong canon, but the same exact language is in both the CCC and Canon Law concerning this matter, and I apparently don’t have a good understanding of it.

I have an appointment with a priest tomorrow about my scrupulosity, and I’m really nervous about it, since it also involves Confession.
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No more talking about it here! You have to talk to the priest. With your OCD and scrupulosity, you simply cannot come to this board and ask these sorts of question.

Everything will be fine tomorrow. I’ll pray for you.
 
Doubt when used in this context is more like willfull doubt; it’s almost more like willful rejetion, or maybe just sort of willful rejection.

It’s not the same as doubt that stems from lack of knowledge or faith, which is “understandable” doubt. “obstinate” doubt is refusal to consider the liklihood that something that one doubts is true could really be true.

For example, you say the grass on planet Zenon is pink. I doubt that is true. But my doubt is not obstinate, it stems from the fact that I do not know if there is a planet named Zenon or not; nobody has ever told be about it, nor have they told me about the pink grass on Zenon.
But if a space probe came back with fuzzy pictures of what might be a planet with what might be pink grass, I might be able to overcome my doubts about what you said about Zenon’s pink grass.

On the other hand, if I had obstinate doubt, I would soundly reject ANY evidence presented to me about the planet Zenon and its grass.

Weird analogy, I know…perhaps others can do much better.
 
nicolep said:
No more talking about it here! You have to talk to the priest. With your OCD and scrupulosity, you simply cannot come to this board and ask these sorts of question.

Everything will be fine tomorrow. I’ll pray for you.
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Your prayers were answered! I confessed it. It’s gone! Alleluia!
 
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