Material Schism Does Not Separate From Church?

[Eliakim]

Would like to get informed opinons from people on this site about the following:

 

If someone is a material schismatic or heretic, are they still joined to the Church? 

 

Is it a sin to be in material schism/heresy? 

 

thanks

E

[Perigrina]

I like checking the Catholic Encyclopedia when I have questions like this. Here is the article on heresy:  http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/07256b.htm

And schism:  http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/13529a.htm

 

It is theoretically possible to be in material schism without sin.  For example, if there are two rival claimants to the papacy and it is genuinely difficult to determine who has the legitimate claim, those who are wrong are materially in schism but not guilty of sin.  St. Vincent Ferrer took the wrong side during the Great Western Schism and is nevertheless recognized as a Saint.

 

You may find that this article from the EWTN site also addresses your question: https://www.ewtn.com/expert/answers/heresy_schism_apostasy.htm

[Eliakim]

I like checking the Catholic Encyclopedia when I have questions like this. Here is the article on heresy:  http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/07256b.htm

And schism:  http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/13529a.htm

 

It is theoretically possible to be in material schism without sin.  For example, if there are two rival claimants to the papacy and it is genuinely difficult to determine who has the legitimate claim, those who are wrong are materially in schism but not guilty of sin.  St. Vincent Ferrer took the wrong side during the Great Western Schism and is nevertheless recognized as a Saint.

 

You may find that this article from the EWTN site also addresses your question: https://www.ewtn.com/expert/answers/heresy_schism_apostasy.htm

 

Thanks Perigrina,

I actually came across your 3rd site yesterday - and found it very on target, and have the checked the previous two prior to responding to your question in the other thread.  We are on the same page! 

 

If anyone leaves Rome's communion to become a Protestant or Orthodox, they at most can only be called a material heretic/schismatic.  The "material" is the objective declaration.  But if they willfully with full knowledge and obstinacy persist with wicked motives, then they are a "formal" heretic/schismatic.  This however can never be known to the Church...only to God.  So the Church just can only declare it thinks or assumes the person is in a state of formal heresy or schism. 

 

Like mortal sin...Church can only move against someone breaking a "grave" matter.  God alone knows if the motives line up to make it a mortal sin.