A Sincere Heretic

“... you have no guarantee that there will be any tomorrow—for you.”
Thomas à Kempis. Meditations on Death: Preparing for Eternity (Grapevine Press) (p. 12). Kindle Edition

Cardinal Wilton Gregory, Archbishop of Washington, D.C., has said President Joe Biden is ‘very sincere about his faith,’ despite Biden’s very public rejection of Catholic teaching on the sanctity of human life and human sexuality, among other things. This is the same prelate who, when Biden was elected, said he would not deny him communion. In fact, Biden is so sincere that he openly blasphemes by making the Sign of the Cross at a pro-abortion rally.

One of the early heresies that plagued the Church for decades was Arianism. “Arianism was perhaps the most typical and persistent of the ancient heresies. Basically it involved a denial of the divinity of Jesus Christ. It was first effectively advanced by Arius (256–336), a priest of Alexandria in Egypt, who denied that there were three distinct divine Persons in the Holy Trinity.” (Catholic Answers) If you look into Arianism, you see that he, too, was sincere. However, that didn’t make his position any less heretic and needing correction.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC) defines heresy as “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 ...” (CCC 2089). The string of heretical pronouncements by our “sincere” and “devout” Catholic president cries to heaven for rebuke and correction. Some say it would be wrong to deny communion to Biden or to take the next step and excommunicate him, thinking it punishment. They think it would turn an ecclesial issue into a political one. However, that is not the purpose of either of those actions and it is a purposeful misdirection on the part of those with little or no faith but who want to emphasize political issues for their own benefit.

Denying communion to someone who so publicly and consistently pushes programs counter to Catholic teaching while claiming to be a devout Catholic guided by his faith is not punishment but is rather concern for the profaning of the Blessed Sacrament as well as the individual’s immortal soul. Admonishing the sinner is one of the spiritual works of mercy along with instructing the ignorant and counseling the doubtful. Considering Biden to be ignorant of the Catholic faith would be generous as he has repeatedly declared his devoutness and mentioned his faith formation (unless the nuns he always refers to were also heretics) and goes so far as to wave a rosary to the cameras or make the sign of the Cross while pushing an abortion agenda. Nevertheless, it is incumbent on the bishops and the faithful to educate, counsel, and admonish this public affront to the faith.

St. Augustine acknowledges the importance and the desired effect of such admonishment. “Then when it is necessary let us apply discipline. Otherwise, the evil may grow by the relaxing of discipline.

•  “If the sin is private, correct the sinner in private. If it is public and manifest, apply the correction in public so that the sinner may be led to betterment and others may conceive a salutary fear.” St. Augustine, New Testament Sermon No. 33

Similarly, C.S. Lewis noted the effect of uncorrected bad behavior on the part of Christians when he said, “When we Christians behave badly, or fail to behave well, we are making Christianity unbelievable to the outside world.” Mere Christianity

This attitude of permissiveness on the part of the Church is brought out in a recent Pew Research report that notes that approximately 60% of Catholics believe that abortion should be permitted (legal) in some or most cases. This statistic, as well as others in the report, points to a serious failing on the part of the Church leadership. While vocally they decry the positions of these politicians, only rarely (e.g., Archbishop Cordileone in San Francisco and Archbishop Paprocki of Springfield, IL) do they take action, and we all know the old adage, “actions speak louder than words.”

“But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.” (Jas 1:22) Lack of action in this regard only serves to confuse those in the pews, the Body of Christ. It also leads to scandal. The Catechism defines scandal as “an attitude or behavior which leads another to evil.” (2384) It expands on this by noting that the person causing the scandal, by their actual position or that relative to those scandalized can increase the gravity of the scandal. “Scandal is grave when given by those who by nature or office are obliged to teach and educate others.” (2385) Or, as Jesus describes them, wolves in sheep’s clothing. (Mt 7:15)

So despite the fact that Church leaders like Cardinal Gregory acknowledge Biden’s public denial of Church doctrine in many areas (Gregory called him a “cafeteria Catholic”) they still refrain from acting. As leaders of the faithful, it is incumbent upon them to present a unified front for the faithful. Instead it would appear that they are perverting the faith as St. John Henry Newman warned, “The truer doctrines are, the more liable they are to be perverted.” St. John Henry Newman, Apologia Pro Vita Sua.

Instead of bishops teaching the faithful today we have a professional football player speaking at a Catholic college graduation to speak the truth. Of course the secular progressives immediately attacked him, but the truth is the truth, even if no one will acknowledge it. A united US Council of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) should support this brave young man publicly and vocally. And then they should follow by reinforcing the teaching of the truth. “It is obvious that truth cannot be created through ballots. A statement is either true or false. Truth can only be found, not created.” (then Cardinal Ratzinger, The Ratzinger Report, 1985)

So, not only is it the duty of the bishops to correct such egregious violations on the part of these public politicians for the sake of their souls, but it is also necessary for the good of the Church. Again, referring to St. Augustine on the meaning of rebuke; rebuke causes useful pain such “that you may seek the Physician [God]; for it is not profit unless it makes a man repent of his sin.” (St. Augustine, On Rebuke and Grace) The time for our nation and our religious freedom is getting short. Action is needed now.

“Never will we understand the value of time better than when our last hour is at hand.” St. Arnold Janssen