Jesus & Mary
The Apostle James is NOT the brother of Jesus
NOT HERESY
Mary had no other children.
God cannot be known with certainty by the light of natural human reason.
HERESY
"If anyone says that the one, true God, our creator and lord, cannot be known with certainty from the things that have been made, by the natural light of human reason: let him be anathema." (Decrees of Vatican 1).
Ever since Adam and Eve, the natural state of man has been born into a state of Original Sin.
NOT HERESY
This is basic Catholic teaching.
Only men can be priests, not women.
NOT HERESY
The priesthood is for men, sisterhood is for women. The priests are called to be in Persona Christi, in the person of Christ. Therefore, they must be a celibate man in the same way Jesus was a celibate man. Female priesthood is condemned in Ordinatio Sacerdotalis.
There is no marriage in Heaven.
NOT HERESY
Jesus Himself tells us that Marriage is for Earth. That is why priests are not married, since they are ready for Heaven on Earth.
Jesus, the son of God, was created out of nothing by God The Father.
HERESY
This is a 4th century heresy known as Arianism. This is why in the creed we say: "Begotten, not made."
The Pope has the authority to declare doctrines infallibly (without error).
NOT HERESY
This is a part of the Pope's papal authority.
If you deconvert or apostatize from the Catholic faith, you are still able to re-enter it through Confession.
NOT HERESY
Believing that apostates can't re-enter into the Church and be forgiven is a heresy known as Novatianism.
Priests MUST pray the Liturgy of the Hours every single day (outside of their regular responsibilities such as Mass.)
NOT HERESY
Purgatory is not a final place in of itself, but simply the process of purification on the way to Heaven. Everyone in Purgatory is destined for Heaven.
NOT HERESY
Purgatory purifies us on the way to Heaven. It is not a final destination in of itself. The only final places are Heaven and Hell.
Mary was the mother of Jesus' human nature, but not His divine nature.
HERESY
This is a heresy known as Nestorianism. This mistakenly fractures Jesus' nature as if it can be divided between human and divine. Jesus is fully God and fully man, therefore Mary is the mother of both man and God.
All Religions are equally valid
HERESY
Religious indifferentism is condemned by Pope Leo XII & XIII, Pope Gregory XVI, Pope Pius IX, X, XI, XII, etc. Truth cannot be equal to error. It either is true or isn't.
Mankind is able to obtain moral perfection through sheer willpower by itself, through human nature alone.
HERESY
5th century heresy called Pelagianism. Mankind needs the grace of God to reach moral perfection; it cannot reach moral perfection without God's grace.
Everyone is baptized as a priest, prophet, and king.
NOT HERESY
This is called The Doctrine of The Threefold Office of Christ. This, of course, is different from supernatural priesthood. This is known as common priesthood.
Your soul does NOT pre-exist your body.
NOT HERESY
The body and soul are created at the same time.
The Old Testament God is harsh and wrathful whereas the New Testament God is nice and merciful.
HERESY
This is a heresy known as Marcionism. God is the same in both Old and New Testament, He never changes. What may change, perhaps are the degree of sins and rebellion of people.
One may show devotion through the use of statues and images, as representations of Holy Saints and even Christ Himself.
NOT HERESY
To deny the usage of statues and images in contemplation and prayer, would be the heresy of iconoclasm, which mistakes devotion with worship.
Belief in evolution.
NOT HERESY
The Church has never formally condemned evolution as a theory. The only requirement is that we must believe that Adam and Eve were still literal human beings, despite whatever evolutionary process exists.
If a priest is in a state of mortal sin, his consecration of the Eucharist is invalid.
HERESY
This is a heresy known as Donatism. The sanctity of the sacrament comes from the grace of Jesus Christ Himself, not the priest administering the sacrament.
There are different degrees of glory in Heaven based on merit and charity done on Earth.
NOT HERESY
(Romans 2:6–7).
(1 Corinthians 15:41-42)
Jesus Christ and God The Father are the same one person.
HERESY
Known as Modalism. God The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are all 3 persons in 1 God. Godhood and divine nature are not the same as personhood. This is why Jesus is able to speak and pray to God The Father.
Morality and religious dogmas may change over time.
HERESY
This is known as the heresy of Modernism, condemned by Pope Pius X in 1907. What the Church teaches about religious dogma cannot contradict the faith and morals that came before it, otherwise it is in error.
The material world is bad and should be rejected. We must escape it, in favor of the spiritual world.
HERESY
This is a heresy known as Gnosticism.
When God created all of creation, He called it "Good." The material world is inherently good, though we ultimately live for God and not creation.
Priestly celibacy and married vocations are equal.
HERESY
This is a 4th Century heresy known as Jovinianism. Celibacy is considered the greater and more difficult path.
“The Church, throughout her history, has always defended the superiority of this charism [celibacy] to that of marriage” (Pope John Paul II, Familiaris Consortio 16)
Eventually, all human souls, all fallen angels, demons, and even the Devil will be redeemed and saved from Hell.
HERESY
This is known as the heresy of Universalism. In scriptures we can see a direct parallel between Heaven being eternal and Hell being eternal.