Hi Sorrows,
How does one go about rejecting the teaching of tĥe Church in such a way a to incur automatic excommunication?
Verbum
I wouldn’t worry too much about it, Verbum.
First, contrary to popular belief, latae sententiae excommunication is rare. Yes, it’s a proper punishment for heresy (Canon 1364 sec. 1), but disagreement and heresy are two different things. Heresy is defined as “the obstinate denial or obstinate doubt after the reception of baptism of some truth which is to be believed by divine and Catholic faith” (Canon 751).
This raises the question: what truths are to be believed by divine and Catholic faith? Well,
A person must believe with divine and Catholic faith all those things contained in the word of God, written or handed on, that is, in the one deposit of faith entrusted to the Church, and at the same time proposed as divinely revealed either by the solemn magisterium of the Church or by its ordinary and universal magisterium which is manifested by the common adherence of the Christian faithful under the leadership of the sacred magisterium; therefore all are bound to avoid any doctrines whatsoever contrary to them.
(Canon 750 sec. 1).
Note that canon law has a second, lower level of truth. That second, lower level of truth is this:
Each and every thing which is proposed definitively by the magisterium of the Church concerning the doctrine of faith and morals, that is, each and every thing which is required to safeguard reverently and to expound faithfully the same deposit of faith, is also to be firmly embraced and retained; therefore, one who rejects those propositions which are to be held definitively is opposed to the doctrine of the Catholic Church.
(Canon 750 sec. 2).
The third-highest level of truth is this:
Although not an assent of faith, a religious submission of the intellect and will must be given to a doctrine which the Supreme Pontiff or the college of bishops declares concerning faith or morals when they exercise the authentic magisterium, even if they do not intend to proclaim it by definitive act; therefore, the Christian faithful are to take care to avoid those things which do not agree with it.
(Canon 752).
And the fourth-highest level of truth is this:
Although the bishops who are in communion with the head and members of the college, whether individually or joined together in conferences of bishops or in particular councils, do not possess infallibility in teaching, they are authentic teachers and instructors of the faith for the Christian faithful entrusted to their care; the Christian faithful are bound to adhere with religious submission of mind to the authentic magisterium of their bishops.
Heresy consists of obstinate denial or obstinate doubt of the first, highest level of truth. By way of example, most canon lawyers teach that believing in the possibility of female clergy is
not heresy (because JPII’s statement about the impossibility of ordaining women clearly (well, clearly to a canon lawyer) avoided using the language associated with declaring a truth to be at the highest level).
Second point: you can’t accidentally get yourself excommunicated. It has to be
obstinate doubt. “No one is punished unless the external violation of a law or precept, committed by the person, is gravely imputable by reason of malice or negligence.” (Canon 1321 sec. 1). Indeed,
The following are not subject to a penalty when they have violated a law or precept: . . . . a person who without negligence was ignorant that he or she violated a law or precept; inadvertence and error are equivalent to ignorance;
(Canon 1323 sec. 2).
Third point:
Sing, of course you have issues with the Church. And we freely admit that humans have brought error into the Church – just ask anyone who was abused by a priest whether humans are capable of (let’s be charitable and call it) error. That’s not the point; the point is, the Holy Spirit prevents the Church from definitively proclaiming matters of faith and morals in error. So, e.g., no matter how many corrupt priests, bishops, and even (sad to say) popes there might have been in the last 2,000 years, no pope has ever taught that Jesus was not Lord.
Fourth point: You don’t have to
believe everything the Church teaches to be Catholic. If you’re having a hard time accepting the Church’s teaching, so be it. Pray about it and try to understand it. Frankly, the following statement you made:
I have prayed about it, cried about it, talked to countless priests, and in the end, all that I can do is know that God sees my heart, and knows that I am trying my best to be faithful to Him.
convinces me that you are well within Church law: you’re making a submission of the intellect to the Church, despite your not “getting” the teaching.
The bottom line: you gotta try to get excommunicated, and you aren’t there.
