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It looks Catholic — that's the problem.
At multiple times throughout the Church's 2,000 years, schisms have erupted, and adherents to these schisms first develop and then come to embrace the idea that the Church is in error about one thing or another, and they want no part of that error. So they break away and believe themselves to be breaking away from error, and, therefore, they are the true Church.
They refer to themselves in many ways: "The Remnant," "Eternal Rome," this or that "Catholic Church" — but they are all schismatic. Most famously, even the Eastern Orthodox fall into this camp. When Church historians, in fact, reference the "Great Schism," it is the 11th-century schism with the Orthodox that is being talked about.
When it comes to heresy, most often they eventually leave the Church — although they have remained somewhat stubborn about that in recent decades. But historically, they leave, and, over the ensuing generations, Catholics no longer have any kind of relationship with them. They simply left. They no longer even claim anything Catholic, at least in substance. There might be some overlap, but the differences are pretty stark. They are a different religion, distinct from Catholicism.
But when it comes to schism, an entirely different aspect is at play. It's not that they so much leave but stick around and claim a legitimacy they do not actually possess. They keep the Catholic shingle hanging above the entrance to the door, but inside the store — not so much. This is where a type of seduction comes into play. It looks Catholic, and in some way, still is — valid sacraments, for example, but what could be called a "breakaway mentality" has set in, and that rules the day.
The approach they have and present is sometimes found in the political realm when, for example, Ronald Reagan types will say, "I didn't leave the Democratic party. The Democratic party left me." That certainly rings true in politics but in the Church — not so much. In fact, it's impossible. The world of politics does not enjoy the promise of divine protection the Church does.
Primary Video source and transcript continues here: https://www.churchmilitant.com/video/episode/vort-seduction-of-schism
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> *[Church Militant](https://www.churchmilitantaction.org/) (a 501(c)4 corporation) is responsible for the content of this commentary.* If you also seek the truth, then please consider joining Church Militant today by supporting our work. Sign up for a [Church Militant Premium account](https://www.churchmilitant.com/gopremium) or simply [make a donation](https://www.churchmilitant.com/donate). Feel free to [contact Church Militant](https://www.churchmilitant.com/contact) with your questions, comments, or concerns, at anytime. And now, let's begin with today's [*Vortex*](https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL91feG5gFxM80FB-x7ZBqmNbz3c7Mk0p8)...
> > **It looks Catholic — that's the problem.**
> > At multiple times throughout the Church's 2,000 years, schisms have erupted, and adherents to these schisms first develop and then come to embrace the idea that the Church is in error about one thing or another, and they want no part of that error. So they break away and believe themselves to be breaking away from error, and, therefore, they are the true Church.
> > They refer to themselves in many ways: "The Remnant," "Eternal Rome," this or that "Catholic Church" — but they are all schismatic. Most famously, even the Eastern Orthodox fall into this camp. When Church historians, in fact, reference the "Great Schism," it is the 11th-century schism with the Orthodox that is being talked about.
> > When it comes to heresy, most often they eventually leave the Church — although they have remained somewhat stubborn about that in recent decades. But historically, they leave, and, over the ensuing generations, Catholics no longer have any kind of relationship with them. They simply left. They no longer even claim anything Catholic, at least in substance. There might be some overlap, but the differences are pretty stark. They are a different religion, distinct from Catholicism.
> > But when it comes to schism, an entirely different aspect is at play. It's not that they so much leave but stick around and claim a legitimacy they do not actually possess. They keep the Catholic shingle hanging above the entrance to the door, but inside the store — not so much. This is where a type of seduction comes into play. It looks Catholic, and in some way, still is — valid sacraments, for example, but what could be called **a "breakaway mentality" has set in**, and that rules the day.
> > The approach they have and present is sometimes found in the political realm when, for example, Ronald Reagan types will say, "I didn't leave the Democratic party. The Democratic party left me." That certainly rings true in politics but in the Church — not so much. In fact, it's impossible. The world of politics does not enjoy the promise of divine protection the Church does.
Primary Video source and transcript continues here: https://www.churchmilitant.com/video/episode/vort-seduction-of-schism
> Please consider [Church Militant Evening News](https://www.churchmilitant.com/video/archive/evening-news) for daily hard-hitting news and analysis through an authentic Catholic lens, covering the latest developments in the Church, across the nation and around the world.
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