Catholic Church Heresy

The Catholic Church has done many battles over false teachings of the Church, heresy, for over 2000 years. The word heresy means a teaching of the Catholic Church that is explicitly stated yet a person knowingly rejects this teaching for a different point of view. Donatism is a famous heresy that came around during the year 311 in response to Bishops being ordained when they had rejected the Bible during the persecution of Diocletian a few years prior. It states that a priest, under sin, who administers the sacraments will not be valid to. The Church rejects this heresy and through this shows the effectiveness of the sacraments and the reliance on God for His love and forgiveness, rather than be like Judas and go into despair.

The origins of the Donatist can from the Bishop of Casae Nigrae, Donatus in response to the fact that during the persecution of Diocletian, while some Christians gave up their lives for Christ, some were willing to betray the faith and give up the sacred books. These people were known as “Traditors” ( The Catholic Encyclopedia,

But, as long as the proper minister uses the appropriate matter, form, and intention, the sacrament is effective with regard to his personal state of grace” (Our Lady of the Rosary Parish Bulletin, The Donatist Heresy, www.rosarychurch.net). This means that as long as the priest uses the right word, the forms and items, the matter, such as the Mass having unleavened bread and wine, and has the right intentions, meaning he knows what he is doing and intends to do it, then it is a valid sacrament. The intent, while does help give more graces, does not rely on the person receiving the sacrament, but just the priest. If a priest fails to use the right forms, matter, and/or intentions then it is not a valid