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Dear father Angelo,
I am writing to you again to discuss a matter of conscience, trusting in your usual, kind help.
I am a 25-year-old university student. After a childhood blessed by the grace of a sincere and enthusiastic faith, around middle school, like many others, I distanced myself from the Church. Over the course of several years, I transitioned from a form of “moderate” atheism (I call it that because in discussions with my classmates, I was always the one defending the reasons for faith, out of a certain reverential respect I have always had for religion), to agnosticism, to a sort of deism, then to a private spirituality towards a god with undefined characteristics. During all those years, when asked if I was Christian, I always answered negatively (I even recall a conversation with relatives where I stated that I did not believe in the real presence of Jesus in the Eucharist), I practiced a lifestyle not in accordance with Christian dictates, and I had no problem expressing my distance from the theological and ethical positions of the Church (for example, I was an outspoken supporter of the licitness of abortion).
In 2015, following an important biographical event, I returned to faith with a passion similar to when I was young. Since then, I have led a full spiritual life: I go to Mass at least once a week, take communion, confess approximately once a week, pray, deepen my faith, serve as a reader in my parish, and try to adhere completely to the Catechism. In short, I have a life of faith that is certainly imperfect, perhaps sometimes immature, but undoubtedly (by the grace of God) deep, full, and satisfying. However, a few years later my return to the Lord’s flock, I found out that apostasy – which I feel I committed since during my “non-Christian” period I repeatedly publicly declared my lack of faith and the inconsistency of my opinions with the truth taught by the Church – incurs latae sententiae excommunication. Initially, when I learned this news, for various reasons (a bit out of neglect, a bit because I felt I was progressing spiritually – and this didn’t seem fitting for an excommunicated person – and partly because a confessor reassured me about it), I overlooked the matter, feeling confident that I was in communion with the Church. Recently, however, this scruple has resurfaced, and I fear that I might be in a state of excommunication. This disturbs me greatly because God holds a truly central role in my life, so much so that I feel called to religious life (most likely within the Order of Preachers).
Could you kindly provide clarification on this matter? Do you think my case should be submitted to the parish priest so he can intercede for me with the bishop?
Thank you for your attention, and I remember you in my prayers.
Best regards
—
Answer from the priest
Dear friend,
1. Apostasy is understood as the “total repudiation of the Christian faith” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2089). It differs from heresy because heresy consists of the voluntary and obstinate rejection of some truths of faith. But one does not explicitly abandon the Christian faith.
Here is what is read in the Code of Canon Law: “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.” (can. 751). The same thing is reiterated in the Catechism of the Catholic Church at no. 2089.
2. Evidently apostasy is a more serious sin than heresy because it involves the declared and deliberate abandonment of the Christian faith.
But just as it is not enough to say something contrary to church doctrine to be heretical—it requires obstinacy and therefore pertinacity in persevering in one’s error despite repeated calls—the same applies to apostasy.
Only when there is obstinacy or pertinacity are we faced with a “formal” heretic, meaning someone truly and properly heretical.
3. One of the greatest moral theologians, perhaps the greatest, of the first half of the 20th century, German Dominican Dominicus Prümmer writes regarding heresy: “He who errs in matters of faith out of even gravely culpable ignorance lacks pertinacity.”
Therefore he is not considered heretical by the Church and even less so apostate.
4. Now most people who actually leave Christian practice and faith do so out of lightness and ignorance.
This applies even more to young people who, although they may be studious and intelligent and think themselves learned, make statements whose significance they are not aware of.
Adolescent crises that tend to question everything, neglect religious practice, and even define themselves as atheists are not enough to say that a person has been struck by excommunication tied to heresy or apostasy.
5. Rightly so, the confessor priest reassured you when you confessed this previous situation that you had not fallen into heresy or apostasy. On this point, you must be at peace.
6. However, I do not want to overlook what you wrote at the end of your email when you said that you feel called to the priesthood and most probably within the Order of Preachers—that is, among the Dominicans.
I confess that I am struck when reading on various blogs from different provinces of our Order an affirmation that repeats almost from one end of the earth to the other: God is sending us many vocations.
I believe there is a providential design in this: many feel the need to be strengthened and confirmed in their faith.
Relativism is spreading everywhere, unfortunately even within the Church so that the faithful do not feel confirmed in their faith.
I believe that this is also why St. Teresa of Avila, a Carmelite, said that this “glorious Order” would last until the end of the world.
I gladly and constantly accompany you with my prayer so that what the Lord has begun in you may be brought to completion.
I bless you and wish you all good.
Father Angelo