Regarding A.D. 787 - Anathema for non-veneration of sacred images

[worldwideweary]

To anyone with appropriate sources:

Are those who do not salute or venerate sacred images still under anathema by the competent authorities, or has the Catholic church changed stance regarding the council of II. Nice A.D. 787?

From the “Nicene & Post-Nicene Fathers” from the Acts Session 1
(Labbe and Cossart, Concilia, Tom. VII., col 53)

(and example link of this: 7 ecumenical councils - XVII.)

Anathema to those who do not salute the holy and venerable images.

to those who have a doubtful mind and do not confess with their whole hearts that they venerate the sacred images, anathema!

 

[veritatisstella]

The Catholic Church hasn’t changed its stance on iconoclasm. The Church teaches it is good to venerate sacred images and people who do not hold this belief remain outside of her communion.

Although all doctrinal principles remain in effect, the anathema as a specific penalty does not apply today: Anathema | Catholic Answers

 

[po18guy]

What must first be understood is that Church councils act, almost always and everywhere, against heresy. Thus, the language used may, in the manner of our Lord, be hyperbolic. It is not a requirement that the faithful salute, only that one does not oppose those sacramentals which are in sacred image form.

 

[worldwideweary]

Thanks for the link. One of the more informative points in it was:

Over time, a distinction came to be made between excommunication and anathema. The precise nature of the distinction varied but eventually became fixed. By the time of Gregory IX (1370–1378), the term anathema was used to describe a major excommunication that was performed with a solemn pontifical ceremony.

At any rate, thanks for verifying that people who do not hold to the belief that it is good to venerate images are excommunicated or “remain outside of her communion.”

 

[veritatisstella]

I’m not sure whether it’s considered heresy to say it’s bad to venerate images, and I believe the Church would still censure any priest or bishop within her communion who taught veneration of images was bad, but it wouldn’t amount to the penalty of anathema.

 

[stpurl]

However, there is a difference between believing that one ‘does not have to venerate images’ and believing that "venerating images is WRONG’.

IOW, venerating images was and is a good thing, but it is not an absolute requirement for salvation. So thinking, “I don’t want to venerate images, so I don’t have to”. . .that’s fine. But even if it’s not required, to think something like "I don’t want to venerate images because I think veneration is only for GOD, and graven images are forbidden, so I’m glad I don’t ‘have to’ because it’s a bad, wrong thing’. . .that’s not right.