What classifies as a heretic?

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What makes someone a heretic? Is simply believing something contrary to something in the Catechism classify as heresy? Also, in this article on this site (catholic.com/library/Salvation_Outside_the_Church.asp) it says “However, for those who knowingly and deliberately (that is, not out of innocent ignorance) commit the sins of heresy (rejecting divinely revealed doctrine) or schism (separating from the Catholic Church and/or joining a schismatic church), no salvation would be possible until they repented and returned to live in Catholic unity.”

I know many Catholics who believe things contrary to the Faith, such as thinking contraception is okay. Does this make them a heretic and damned to Hell?
 
From Canon Law:

Can. 751 Heresy is the obstinate denial or obstinate doubt after the reception of baptism of some truth which is to be believed by divine and Catholic faith; apostasy is the total repudiation of the Christian faith; schism is the refusal of submission to the Supreme Pontiff or of communion with the members of the Church subject to him.
 
Listening to the audio series on EWTN, Fr. Connor said that those who are cafeteria Catholics, would be considered “material” heretics, rather than “formal” heretics, since they have invincible ignorance on the issues that deviate form the teaching of the church.
I might have gotten this a little off, so you might want to listen to the series yourself. He talks about what is a heretic on the first program of the series.

The Great Heresies by Father Charles Connor
 
hamburglar said:
What makes someone a heretic? Is simply believing something contrary to something in the Catechism classify as heresy? Also, in this article on this site (catholic.com/library/Salvation_Outside_the_Church.asp) it says “However, for those who knowingly and deliberately (that is, not out of innocent ignorance) commit the sins of heresy (rejecting divinely revealed doctrine) or schism (separating from the Catholic Church and/or joining a schismatic church), no salvation would be possible until they repented and returned to live in Catholic unity.”

I know many Catholics who believe things contrary to the Faith, such as thinking contraception is okay. Does this make them a heretic and damned to Hell?
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In the first place the person has to know the Church teaching on a particular issue. If they don’t then they are not committing heresy by rejecting it. If they know what the Church teaches and then reject it that would be heresy. Don’t judge too quickly. Many Catholics believe things which are against Church teachings because they don’t know any better.
 
I have friends that believe contraception is okay. They know what the Church teaches.

Are they deemed heretics and damned to Hell?
 
hamburglar said:
I have friends that believe contraception is okay. They know what the Church teaches.

Are they deemed heretics and damned to Hell?
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No; they are sinners, and without repentance, they are damned to Hell, because the use of birth control is not a doctrinal issue; it’s a moral issue.

To use birth control is a sin; not a heresy.

If they are teaching others to use birth control (their children, for example, or any students they may have), they are committing scandal, which again is also punishable by Hell.
 
jmcrae said:
No; they are sinners, and without repentance, they are damned to Hell, because the use of birth control is not a doctrinal issue; it’s a moral issue.
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What about wanting women to be ordained Priests? That’s doctrinal.
 
hamburglar said:
What about wanting women to be ordained Priests? That’s doctrinal.
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This one is definitely disobedience, and also displays an incredible lack of understanding of how the Sacraments work - I hesitate to call it “heresy” though - and I’m not sure why; it’s more of a gut reaction, at the moment. I need to think it through.

Sorry! :o
 
hamburglar said:
For the salvation of their souls. I want to help them, and if they are in fact heretics, I NEED to help them.
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Why does it matter whether they are heretics, or sinners, or blasphemers, or scandal mongers, or just plain confused?

Why can’t you help them without labeling them?
 
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