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Objection 1: It would seem that a heretic who disbelieves one
article of faith, can have lifeless faith in the other articles. For
the natural intellect of a heretic is not more able than that of a
catholic. Now a catholic's intellect needs the aid of the gift of
faith in order to believe any article whatever of faith. Therefore it
seems that heretics cannot believe any articles of faith without the
gift of lifeless faith.
Objection 2: Further, just as faith contains many articles, so
does one science, viz. geometry, contain many conclusions. Now a
man may possess the science of geometry as to some geometrical
conclusions, and yet be ignorant of other conclusions. Therefore a
man can believe some articles of faith without believing the others.
Objection 3: Further, just as man obeys God in believing the
articles of faith, so does he also in keeping the commandments of the
Law. Now a man can obey some commandments, and disobey others.
Therefore he can believe some articles, and disbelieve others.
On the contrary, Just as mortal sin is contrary to charity, so is
disbelief in one article of faith contrary to faith. Now charity does
not remain in a man after one mortal sin. Therefore neither does
faith, after a man disbelieves one article.
I answer that, Neither living nor lifeless faith remains in a heretic
who disbelieves one article of faith.
The reason of this is that the species of every habit depends on the
formal aspect of the object, without which the species of the habit
cannot remain. Now the formal object of faith is the First Truth,
as manifested in Holy Writ and the teaching of the Church, which
proceeds from the First Truth. Consequently whoever does not
adhere, as to an infallible and Divine rule, to the teaching of the
Church, which proceeds from the First Truth manifested in Holy
Writ, has not the habit of faith, but holds that which is of faith
otherwise than by faith. Even so, it is evident that a man whose mind
holds a conclusion without knowing how it is proved, has not scientific
knowledge, but merely an opinion about it. Now it is manifest that he
who adheres to the teaching of the Church, as to an infallible rule,
assents to whatever the Church teaches; otherwise, if, of the things
taught by the Church, he holds what he chooses to hold, and rejects
what he chooses to reject, he no longer adheres to the teaching of the
Church as to an infallible rule, but to his own will. Hence it is
evident that a heretic who obstinately disbelieves one article of
faith, is not prepared to follow the teaching of the Church in all
things; but if he is not obstinate, he is no longer in heresy but only
in error. Therefore it is clear that such a heretic with regard to one
article has no faith in the other articles, but only a kind of opinion
in accordance with his own will.
Reply to Objection 1: A heretic does not hold the other articles of
faith, about which he does not err, in the same way as one of the
faithful does, namely by adhering simply to the Divine Truth,
because in order to do so, a man needs the help of the habit of faith;
but he holds the things that are of faith, by his own will and
judgment.
Reply to Objection 2: The various conclusions of a science have
their respective means of demonstration, one of which may be known
without another, so that we may know some conclusions of a science
without knowing the others. On the other hand faith adheres to all the
articles of faith by reason of one mean, viz. on account of the First
Truth proposed to us in Scriptures, according to the teaching of the
Church who has the right understanding of them. Hence whoever
abandons this mean is altogether lacking in faith.
Reply to Objection 3: The various precepts of the Law may be
referred either to their respective proximate motives, and thus one can
be kept without another; or to their primary motive, which is perfect
obedience to God, in which a man fails whenever he breaks one
commandment, according to James 2:10: "Whosoever shall . . .
offend in one point is become guilty of all."
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