Schismatics

There is no appreciable difference in the philosophy of Protestantism, Eastern Orthodoxy and Mormonism. They all reject the papacy; they all say that they have a better, "older" way; they all say that the Church left its roots sometime during the middle ages (dates vary); they all say that they have the only "right" way to serve God.

My Eastern Orthodox friends will likely have a conniption fit over this comparison, and my Protestant friends will possibly pop a blood vessel (I do not know anyone who is a practicing Mormon), but the comparison cannot be denied; they all have the same principle driving their resistance to the Catholic Church. I am not saying that these three systems are therefore equivalent--far from it. Eastern Orthodoxy retains valid sacraments, but they also remain in schism. Protestantism is still Christian, just radically truncated and heretical in some areas, and therefore in schism also. Mormonism is an anti-Christian cult.

Of course, these three religions are not equivalent. Yet, the philosophical systems bear remarkable similarities. So similar that one must recognize that the only thing that keeps them from sliding further down the scale of total apostasy is the grace of God. That grace cannot be taken for granted though, and those within Orthodoxy and Protestantism must realize that God will not ignore their schism forever.

Philosophy reveals much about a system. It reveals the methodology of one's thinking process. It also reveals, once again, that there is only one type of separation from the Catholic faith: rejection of the unity of the body of Christ, for the sake of one's personal motivation or theological premise. Therefore, the question for every Catholic reading this post is this: do you have a schismatic heart? Do you hear the Church and yet inwardly think you have a "better way" of doing things?

The schismatics did not decide to leave the Church overnight; they slowly slipped into that sin. They resisted one thing here and another over there. Then, finally, they found themselves giving up numerous positions of the Church and choosing their own way. Every apostasy begins somewhere, and small rebellions are the first step.