First of all, I think it’s important to point out to some Protestants (esp. all those who are NOT Calvinists), that this is not an emotional topic. It is a question of Truth. We are not “insulting” you when we state that you may be (or are) a heretic. Some might say that “heretic” is a strong word. Maybe. I would say that it is an objective word that means an objective thing.
Anyway, I would first of all like to answer an objection raised by Doxiemom:
Non-catholic Christians are just that …Christian. Did not Jesus Himself say that ALL who call upon His Name shall be saved?
Yes He did, but He also said in Matthew 7:22: “Many will say to me in that day: Lord, Lord, have not we prophesied in thy name, and cast out devils in thy name, and done many miracles in thy name? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, you that work iniquity.” If Jesus says to someone, “I never knew you,” I don’t think we can call that person a Christian.
Regarding the original question, let’s allow St. Thomas Aquinas to shed some light on it:
Now it is manifest that he who adheres to the teaching of the Church, as to an infallible rule, assents to whatever the Church teaches; otherwise, if, of the things taught by the Church, he holds what he chooses to hold, and rejects what he chooses to reject, he no longer adheres to the teaching of the Church as to an infallible rule, but to
his own will. Hence it is evident that a heretic who obstinately disbelieves one article of faith, is not prepared to follow the teaching of the Church in all things;
but if he is not obstinate, he is no longer in heresy but only in error. Therefore
it is clear that such a heretic with regard to one article has no faith in the other articles, but only a kind of opinion in accordance with his own will.
[Summa Theologica, 2nd Part of the 2nd Part, Question 5, Article 3]
It seems to me, then, that if a Protestant, in good faith, (1) believes in Jesus and tries to follow his teaching, (2) is in invincible ignorance regarding the truths of the One, Holy, Apostolic Church, then we could say that he has faith. He is not a heretic, even though his beliefs may be full of errors.
However, the moment that he is presented with the truth of the One Church, but he clings to his own opinions out of willfulness, pride, pig-headedness, inconvenience (that is, the inconvenience of making his outward life conformable to the rule of faith, such as arises when folks realize that they are in an adulterous marriage), or a host of other reasons, then I would say that he is no longer merely “in error,” but a “heretic.” He is no longer in “good faith.” His will has been tested, and the result is that he chooses his own will and rejects God’s will. Now that he knows more about the *real *Jesus, he rejects Him, and says with Lucifer, “I will not serve.” That Protestant has no faith, but a mere collection of personal opinions he proudly cherishes for the mere sake that they are his own.
