Bishop Paprocki Sees Heresy in Cardinal McElroy’s Views

Catholic Culture ^ | 2/28/23

[marshmallow]

An American bishop has taken the extraordinary step of charging another American prelate—a cardinal, in fact—with heresy.

In a provocative article posted by First Things, Bishop Thomas Paprocki of Springfield, Illinois, has suggested that an American cardinal is guilty of heresy and has separated himself from communion with the Catholic Church.

Although he does not mention Cardinal Robert McElroy by name, Bishop Paprocki opens his essay by quoting two passages from a recent article that the cardinal published in America magazine. “Until recently,” Bishop Paprocki remarks, “it would be hard to imagine any successor of the apostles making such heterodox statements.”

The bishop goes on to say that “it is deeply troubling to consider the possibility that prelates holding the office of diocesan bishop in the Catholic Church may be separated or not in full communion because of heresy.”

Bishop Paprocki explains that the statements he quotes from the McElroy article—saying that the Church should not bar people from the Eucharist, regardless of their behavior or beliefs—appear to conflict directly with perennial Church teaching. He then cites #750 of the Code of Canon Law, which says that “anyone who rejects propositions which are to be held definitively sets himself against the teaching of the Catholic Church.”

Someone guilty of heresy, the bishop continues—citing Canon 1364—separates himself from the Church. He reaches the sobering conclusion: “Thus a cardinal of the Catholic Church, like any other Catholic who denies settled Catholic teaching, embraces heresy, the result of which is automatic excommunication from the Catholic Church.”

[ebb tide]

Frankencardinal Ping

[LadyDoc]

Sad

[Campion]

The work of the devil will infiltrate even into the Church in such a way that one will see cardinals opposing cardinals, bishops against bishops. The priests who venerate me will be scorned and opposed by their confreres...churches and altars sacked; the Church will be full of those who accept compromises and the demon will press many priests and consecrated souls to leave the service of the Lord. -- O.L. of Akita to Sr. Agnes Sasegawa, 10/13/1973