[fidelis]

This is one old misunderstanding that never dies. Of course you know that the anathemas of Trent were (and are) directed at Catholics who were (or are) embracing heresy.

An anathema can only apply to a member of the church that is declaring them.

Modern-day Protestants are not (in most cases have never been) members of the Catholic Church, so these anathemas from Trent DO NOT and CANNOT apply to them. They aren't heretics, they simply (from the Catholic point of view) hold erroneous views.

http://socrates58.blogspot.com/2007/01/catholic-understanding-of-anathemas-of.html

[dangus]

Yes, you can’t excommunicate someone who isn’t in communion with you.

[IrishBrigade]

Modern-day Protestants are not (in most cases have never been) members of the Catholic Church, so these anathemas from Trent DO NOT and CANNOT apply to them. They aren’t heretics, they simply (from the Catholic point of view) hold erroneous views.

...don’t tell the OP that...you’ll destroy his raison d’etre...

[.45 Long Colt]

It does not matter whether Rome says the anathemas apply to modern Protestants. I could care less if Rome declares me anathema. I know I can neither saved nor damned by an institution. What does matter, however, is if Rome still holds to the same doctrinal views. And the answer to that is a resounding yes on every point.

[Salvation]

**They aren’t heretics, they simply (from the Catholic point of view) hold erroneous views. **

But once they know the truth and still choose to disobey Christ, aren’t they heretics?

[piusv]

Modern-day Protestants are not (in most cases have never been) members of the Catholic Church, so these anathemas from Trent DO NOT and CANNOT apply to them. They aren't heretics, they simply (from the Catholic point of view) hold erroneous views.

More post-Vatican II Modernist hogwash. Let's listen to a Catholic pope:

Leo XIII makes it plain that separated members cannot belong to the same body: “So long as the member was on the body, it lived; separated, it lost its life. Thus the man, so long as he lives on the body of the [Catholic] Church, he is a Christian; separated from her, he becomes a heretic” (Encyclical Satis cognitum of June 29, 1896).

[CTrent1564]

fidelis:

This is 100% accurate and concisely well stated. A heretic from a Catholic Theological Definition refers to one who is Catholic and denies or rejects a central tenant of the Catholic Faith post Baptism. Protestants hold erroneous views from a Catholic perspective and one could argue material heresy, but objectively, one can’t label the term de facto heretic against a Protestant since none of them were ever in full communion with the Catholic Church.

[RnMomof7]

Curses are direct ...trent does not say this applies to only former RC’s they are blanket curses

[Salvation]

Great site and article:

**The vivid Greek term anathema, meaning “accursed,” is directed by the Council of Trent and other Catholic ecumenical councils primarily towards doctrines, rather than persons, based on the ancient practice in the Church of condemning heretical teachings — a procedure itself derived biblically from passages such as Galatians 1:8-9 and 1 Corinthians 16:22 (the latter has anathema both in Greek and in many English versions). There is nothing improper whatsoever in defining correct doctrine and rejecting contrary notions. St. Paul does this constantly. The Catholic Church, however, makes no presumption as to the eternal destiny of any individual whatsoever (not even Martin Luther, whom many Protestants might suspect was on our “damned” list). **