Faith, Heresy, and the Church - Fr. Nicolás E. Despósito 08-27-23

Summary

Fr. Nicolás E. Despósito presents a detailed reflection on the Gospel passage from St. Luke 17:11-19, where Jesus heals ten lepers, but only one, a Samaritan, returns to give thanks. This narrative is interpreted allegorically to symbolize the ten principal sins afflicting society, with a particular focus on the sin of heresy. Fr. Despósito elaborates extensively on the nature of heresy, defining it as the partial or total renunciation of Christian faith by those born into it, often influenced by modernist ideas that distort the traditional understanding of faith. 

Fr. Despósito emphasizes the Catholic doctrine of faith as a supernatural virtue infused by God, essential for salvation, and inseparable from the acceptance of all revealed truths. Any denial of a single dogma constitutes heresy, expelling the divine virtue of faith entirely. The crisis of faith today is linked to the perceived heresies and deviations introduced by Vatican II and the current papacy of Jorge Bergoglio (Pope Francis), who is accused of publicly promoting heretical views. Fr. Despósito argues that such heresies invalidate his papal authority, suggesting he cannot be recognized as a true pope. The integrity of faith and the Church’s indefectibility are central themes, warning Catholics against accepting modernist errors lest they lose their faith. The Samaritan leper’s return to give thanks is seen as an example of true faith and conversion, with a hope expressed for a future resolution of the modernist crisis and the restoration of true papal authority.

Highlights

• The Gospel of the ten lepers symbolizes the ten principal sins in society, with heresy as the first sin discussed.
• Heresy is defined as a renunciation of Christian faith, often influenced by modernist ideas that reject revealed truth.
• Faith is a supernatural virtue infused by God, requiring acceptance of all revealed dogmas; denial of one dogma expels true faith.
• Modernism’s notion of faith as a subjective religious experience contradicts the Catholic teaching of faith’s divine authority.
• The current crisis in the Church is marked by doctrinal, liturgical, and disciplinary ruptures originating from Vatican II.
• Pope Francis is accused of public heresy, which, according to the speaker, invalidates his papal authority and calls for questioning his legitimacy.
• The Samaritan leper’s gratitude symbolizes true faith and conversion, offering hope for overcoming the modernist crisis.

Key Insights

• Symbolism of the Ten Lepers as Sins: The ten lepers represent the principal sins afflicting society, highlighting that spiritual maladies require divine intervention for healing. This allegorical framework invites believers to identify their own sins and seek true healing through faith in Christ. The focus on heresy as the “first sin” underscores its foundational threat to spiritual health and communal integrity.
• Nature of Heresy and Its Consequences: Heresy is not merely a theological error but a grave rejection of revealed truth, leading to the total loss of the infused virtue of faith. This total expulsion means that heresy severs the individual from the supernatural foundation necessary for salvation, emphasizing that faith is all-encompassing and cannot be selectively accepted.
• Supernatural Virtue of Faith: Faith is portrayed as a divine gift, not attainable through human effort alone, but infused by God’s grace. The intellect receives faith, moved by the will, and it requires acceptance of every revealed dogma. This understanding challenges modern notions that treat faith as subjective or experiential, stressing objective assent to divine authority as the essence of true faith.
• Modernism as a Distortion of Faith: Modernist theology, which regards faith as a universal religious experience accessible in any religion, is identified as a denial of the necessity of Christ’s revelation. This idea undermines the Church’s teaching that salvation comes only through Christ and the Catholic faith, thus fostering a relativistic approach that the speaker condemns as heretical.
• The Crisis of Authority in the Church: Fr. Despósito attributes the current crisis to Vatican II and the papacy of Pope Francis, highlighting doctrinal ruptures and public heresies that contradict established dogma. This crisis challenges the Church’s indefectibility—the belief that the Church cannot err in its essential teachings—and calls into question the legitimacy of contemporary ecclesiastical authority.
• Papal Authority and Heresy: The argument that a pope who publicly teaches heresy cannot be a true pope is grounded in the understanding that papal authority is divinely granted to teach, govern, and sa