Topic:  What is a heretic?

Source of this posting: Moderator response

Date originally posted: March 24, 2003

Moderator who originally posted this source: Father Robert

Question:  Someone has recently asked me about Copernicus being burned as a Heretic for saying that the Sun didn't revolve around the Earth. I'm not sure how to deal with this, and I need some help. What makes a heretic? Is it someone who claims to be Catholic, yet disagrees on a point of dogma only? Or is it any teaching of the Church? Was the idea that everything revolves around Earth a point of dogma or just a theological idea? Any information would be grateful. The person I am discussing this with is not a Catholic, or of any church, as far as I am aware.

Answer: 

David,

Thanks for your great questions. St. Thomas Aquinas, a medieval philosopher, cleric, and one of the greatest theologians in the history of the Church, defined heresy as rejecting Christ or the teachings of Christ found in the dogmas of the Church. Heresy is definitely not someone who disagrees with any teaching of the Church. And, you can privately disagree with a dogma of the Church but submit to the greater wisdom of the Church without being a heretic. It is a great Catholic idea that no individual has a monopolp on the Holy Spirit. The Spirit guides each of our lives, and on points of common beliefs that tie us together, it guides the whole Church. St. Thomas himself said that the Immaculate Conception did not make sense to his brain, but he accepted it in faith because he knew that there was a greater wisdom out there that went beyond the limits of his own understanding. I think it would be very rare for someone to be declared a heretic. Dissent plays an important and holy role in the Church.
I question whether Copernicus was burned as a heretic. I read several biographies of him. Do a search on copernicus and you will find lots of pages summarizing his fascinating life and work. None mentioned he was put to death as a heretic. However, a man named Bruno later extended his theories and was burned at the stake. (A horrible low point in the Church!) Also check out the fascinating story of Galileo. How the planets move is a matter of science, not theology. However, some in the Church at that time in history mistakenly believed it the Earth being at the center was critical to faith. It was never a dogma. Today, the Church is wiser, thank you Holy Spirit. Scientists are discussing how the universe started. That is not a matter of faith. Faith simply says however it started it was the creation of God. The interface between science and faith is important and fascinating. The Church certainly now supports scientific inquiry and believes that science is a gift from God that helps us understand our World better. Theologians can help us see how new scientific discoveries help us understand God better.
Hope that helps,
Father Robert