Posted on 12/30/2008 11:05:11 AM PST by NYer
"... So that if any presbyter or bishop or metropolitan dares to secede from communion with his own patriarch and does not mention his name as is ordered and appointed in the divine mystagogy, but before a synodical arraignment and his [the patriarch's] full condemnation, he creates a schism, the Holy Synod has decreed that this person be alienated from every priestly function, if only he be proven to have transgressed in this. These rules, therefore, have been sealed and ordered concerning those who on the pretext of some accusations against their own presidents stand apart, creating a schism and severing the unity of the Church. But as for those who on account of some heresy condemned by Holy Synods or Fathers sever themselves from communion with their president, that is, because he publicly preaches heresy and with bared head teaches it in the Church, such persons as these not only are not subject to canonical penalty for walling themselves off from communion with the so-called bishop before synodical clarification, but they shall be deemed worthy of due honor among the Orthodox. For not bishops, but false bishops and false teachers have they condemned, and they have not fragmented the Church's unity with schism, but from schisms and divisions have they earnestly sought to deliver the Church" " Canon XV of the First-Second Council of Constantinople (861 AD)
Heresy always leads to schism (but not all schisms are caused by heresy).
Not worried about this. The economic situation is going to drive the Episcopal Cult under within 12 months. Many of their “churches” are already on the verge of closing or declaring bankruptcy.
Simple answer - No. It is better that there is the Catholic Church and 3,000 Protestant denominations than a Catholic Church that no longer defends Catholicism.
Any doubts, look what happened to the Republican Party and their "Big Tent" philosophy.
3,000? Try 40,000! Yes ... like cancer cells, the non-Catholic denominations continue to split and divide faster than Wikipedia can keep track.
The irony is great- the Episcopal Organization has over the last few years pointed out how much money it will be able to spend on suing the righteous and faithful in the worldly courts. Now a down economy is cleaning out those bank accounts and the Episcopal Organization is begging for money so it can continue the law suits.
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