Thursday, October 21, 2004

Bush, Kerry, and the Catholic Church

How fascinating. Making Light notes that according to the Catholic News Service, John Kerry is not a heretic, and, according to NewDonkey*, George W. Bush is one. (From the Catholic perspective, of course.)

Some of the specific heresies, as a Protestant, and specifically Methodist, to which President Bush may be prone,

Pelagian:
The theological doctrine propounded by Pelagius, a British monk, and condemned as heresy by the Roman Catholic Church in A.D. 416. It denied original sin and affirmed the ability of humans to be righteous by the exercise of free will.


Donatism:
a schismatic Christian religion in northern Africa from the 4th to the 7th century; held that only those who led a blameless life belonged in the church or could administer the sacraments.


Jansenism:
The theological principles of Cornelis Jansen, which emphasize predestination, deny free will, and maintain that human nature is incapable of good. They were condemned as heretical by the Roman Catholic Church.


That's
  • Original Sin, no, free will, yes. Human nature as perfectable.
  • Sanctity required for church membership - a blameless life required.
  • Predestination, yes, free will, no.


Now, Bush is identified as a Pelagianist, and maybe, a Donatist, Hussist (I couldn't get a good definition on that one) and a Jansenist as well. Some of these seem inherently contradictory as I don't see how one can have free will, and no free will, at the same time.

The implication of all three taken together is that one is predestined into one's righteousness, or in President Bush's case, his holy/political office.


[*] NewDonkey is an unofficial weblog sponsored by the Democratic Leadership Council. One must note the lack of endorsement from the Vatican. Caveat emptor.

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