APOSTASY

Christ wishes us to be in communion with him and one another through his Church. There are, however, various ways in which persons can deliberately separate themselves from union with the Church.

The schismatic believes in the truth that Christ has revealed, but does not accept his will coming to us through the principal authority (held by the successors of St. Peter) instituted by Christ so as to maintain the communion of his followers. The separation of the heretic is much greater, though still partial. He or she deliberately rejects some doctrine or doctrines taught by the Church in Christ’s name, as part of the deposit of faith entrusted to her.
The apostate repudiates the faith in its entirety.

Many people today have “fallen away” from the faith. Usually this is due to moral weakness; to letting oneself be influenced by bad example; to not clarifying doubts (faith being a virtue, temptations – doubts – are bound to come and need to be rejected); to a failure to read explanations of Church teaching that accurately present its content and show its beauty (every Catholic assailed by doubt should consult the Catechism of the Catholic Church, for instance), etc.

These people are not yet apostates, for their attitude is one of apparent indifference rather than deliberate and total rejection. Such persons very often retain a longing to find God, but have to be helped over difficulties or prejudices before there is any possibility of their returning to the fold of Christ. The attitude of practicing Catholics toward them can be decisive; it must show the affectionate concern of one whose brother or sister has had the misfortune to leave the family, and whose constant prayer is that he or she will find the way back home.

See: Church, Membership in; Faith, Act of; Faith, Virtue of; Heresy; Religion, Virtue of; Schism.



Russell Shaw. Our Sunday Visitor's Encyclopedia of Catholic Doctrine. Copyright © 1997, Our Sunday Visitor.

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Last Updated: Sunday, April 01, 2001 03:24:19 PM