Calling a Heretic a Heretic

On December 29, 2005, NPR reported that the San Bernardino California Diocese has put Father Ned Reidy on trial on charges of heresy.

"Reidy left the Roman Catholic church in 1999 to join the Ecumenical Catholic Communion, a denomination that now boasts more than a dozen parishes nationwide. While Catholic in name, it splits with the Vatican over some fundamental church doctrines. Unlike heretics of old, Reidy does not openly rail against Roman Catholic teachings with which he disagrees. He says he just offers an alternative . . . Reidy is also charged with schism, which is defined as a failure to submit to the authority of the pope or of church leaders. Reidy doesn't deny the charges. But he says the diocese no longer has jurisdiction over him. If found guilty, Reidy would be formally defrocked and ex-communicated from the Roman Catholic Church."

In my opinion, one of the problems with the Christian church in America is that this doesn't happen often enough. This is especially true when it comes to Protestant churches. The result has been a blurring of the line between what is orthodox and what is not - a theological relativism. Relativism is as incompatible with theology as it is with itself.

Sometimes you just have to call a heretic a heretic.